The short one-story Willerton Block has a south facing façade that stretches approximately twenty-five feet wide. The building is constructed of brick with a stepped brick cornice. The bulkhead is constructed of modern siding material and the storefront is a replacement system. The door is recessed in a vestibule and an illuminated sign projects from above the vestibule with the business name “Red Dragon” on the sign. The building is painted red. On the east end of the façade is a portion of the wall that remains from the demolished Rialto Theater which was located directly to the east.

The Willerton Block, constructed in 1911, was the first of three commercial buildings constructed for William and Emma Willerton on Diamond Avenue in Hillyard. The Willertons lived in a house at 112 Diamond (pre-annexation address, demolished) that was situated at the back of the lots in which both the Willerton Block and the Photo Play Theater were constructed. The house sat between the two commercial building once they were constructed. William Willerton was a railroad conductor for the Great Northern Railroad and he, along with his wife, developed much of the commercial blockfront on the north side of Diamond between Haven and Market.

The first business to fill the space appears to have been a 5-10-15 cent store, followed by a confectionary and lunch counter. The confectionary and lunch counter had multiple different operators until 1922 when the business filed for bankruptcy. Then the building transitioned into a variety store.

By 1935, less than two years after the end of Prohibition, the building became home to a beer parlor and it has remained in food and beverage service since. One of the longest running establishments was Gene’s Tavern, opened by Italian immigrant Eugene S. Bafaro around 1940. Gene operated the business up until 1949, but the business retained the Gene moniker until the late 1980s. Subsequently it was Ray and Sam’s Bar and then Chubbie’s Bar. The current tenants, Red Dragon Restaurant, moved into the space around 2010 and continue to operate there in 2024.

Management Agreement