The history of the Downtown East area of Baton Rouge is rich and multifaceted, with each building telling a unique story. One notable structure is the Purpera Building, constructed around 1912, as confirmed by Baton Rouge city directories and fire maps.
This building has served various purposes over the decades, starting as a meat market.
The building at 1800 North Boulevard, known as the Purpera Building, has also been a significant site for the White Palace Meat Market. On September 4, 1926, John Author “Art” Preising and J.W. Saal opened the market, which was touted as the first in the city to meet modern sanitary codes. Sanitation was a critical concern in the 1920s, as food poisoning and contaminated foods caused severe illnesses.
John Preising, a WWI veteran from Cleveland, Ohio, was committed to serving his customers with clean, high-quality meat. He was a well-respected butcher and president of the local butchers association. His dedication to his business and community was evident, and he was known for his jovial interactions with customers and his involvement in civic activities.
After John Preising's death in July 1945, his wife Beulah and George, a knowledgeable employee, continued running the White Palace Meat Market. The market remained a staple in the community until Beulah’s death in 1954.
In 1955, Carlo J. Bonura opened Vince’s bar in the Purpera Building after being laid off from Ethyl Corp. His bar quickly became a popular spot for local politicians and employees of Holsum Bread, located across the street.
Donna B. Lensing, Carlo's daughter, described the bar as having "pressed tin ceilings, a mahogany bar, a player piano, and the best roast beef po-boys in town," complete with a ticker-tape machine and a blackboard for sports scores.
Carlo Bonura was known for his gambling habits, which led to his arrest at 41 for allegedly taking illegal bets. Around 1970, he closed Vince’s and opened another bar, The Reservation, in North Baton Rouge, followed by The Tallawah on Jefferson Hwy.
The Purpera Building, now owned by Bengal Glass and Mirror, remains a landmark in the neighborhood, reflecting the rich history and evolution of the Downtown East area of Baton Rouge.
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