Core of the Matter
The Local Palate|Summer 2024
Peeling back the layers of history gives this Mississippi café owner his purpose
ERIN BYERS MURRAY
Core of the Matter

Once a bustling epicenter of Black business and culture, Farish Street in Jackson, Mississippi, has seen its share of ups and downs—but through it all, Big Apple Inn has been a mainstay. The original was opened in 1939 by Juan Mora, who had arrived in Mississippi from Mexico earlier that decade to work for a railroad company—he found his place, instead, on Farish Street, selling tamales from a cart. Eventually he took over a brick-and-mortar space, which became a beloved gathering space where Freedom Riders and Civil Rights leaders occasionally converged alongside the neighborhood’s Black and immigrant residents. Activist Medgar Evers rented an office above the café, and jazz musician Sonny Boy Williamson once lived upstairs.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE LOCAL PALATEView all
Fit for a King
The Local Palate

Fit for a King

Tupelo beckons with great bites and beverages, plus plenty of Elvis lore

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Spring Forward
The Local Palate

Spring Forward

In a city as diverse as Houston, whatever you crave is on the plate—sometimes in the most surprising places

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Dine and Dash
The Local Palate

Dine and Dash

Small-town charm meets urban dining and culture in southern Kentucky

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
In With the Old and the New
The Local Palate

In With the Old and the New

This popular DC neighborhood keeps its historic charm while offering an increasingly diverse and eclectic food scene

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
SOAKING IT UP
The Local Palate

SOAKING IT UP

A nourishing 48-hour retreat awaits in Bath County, Virginia

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
time TRAVEL
The Local Palate

time TRAVEL

Retracing memories on a family road trip from Alabama to Tennessee

time-read
9 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans
The Local Palate

Eat Your Way from Little Rock to New Orleans

A seven-hour, food-fueled trip from one state capital to another has no shortage of great stops along the way. Just make sure to drive hungry.

time-read
7 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY
The Local Palate

A GIN-SOAKED JOURNEY

The Sunshine State is making a splash with craft distilleries

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
CHOOSE YOUR OWN (MOUNTAIN) ADVENTURE
The Local Palate

CHOOSE YOUR OWN (MOUNTAIN) ADVENTURE

In Jackson County, you'll find scenic getaways for families, couples, and solo travelers alike

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024
Island Days
The Local Palate

Island Days

Explore the land of seafood, Spanish moss, and sunsets in Jekyll Island, Georgia

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer Road Trips 2024