RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — In honor of Black History Month, we’re celebrating Myrtle Dumas-Johnson, a trailblazer in Richmond hospitality for nearly 30 years before her passing in 2006 at the age of 79.
Myrtle Johnson was the owner of Johnson’s Grill and Restaurant, located on the 1800 block of East Franklin Street in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood.
For nearly 30 years, Johnson’s Grill and Restaurant prepared and served what was known as “the best soul food in Richmond.”
Early Life & Inspiration
It was not an easy run for Johnson, but with hard work and perseverance, she was able to push forward towards her dreams.
Born in 1926 and raised in the rural town of Mount Gilead, North Carolina, Johnson grew up on a farm with a family that raised chickens and grew their own crops. Johnson learned her way around the kitchen as a child, watching her mother cook.
In 1946, Johnson came to Richmond on a bus to study cosmetology. She attended Apex Beauty School, eventually working as a beautician and a part-time waitress at Golden Gate Restaurant.