01/19/2026
Wishing all of you a meaningful MLK Day. This year’s observance feels especially heavy given everything happening across the United States. Because of that, I felt compelled to share and honor my great-grandfather, Burnett Griggs, whose life stands as an important example of how one can rise above racial barriers and make a lasting, positive impact on their community.
In 1919, Princeton Bank and Trust offered him a property on Witherspoon Street in Princeton, New Jersey. Eight years later, he opened Griggs’ Imperial Restaurant, which served Princeton for 42 years. At a time when many restaurants on Nassau Street were segregated, Griggs’ Imperial was intentionally inclusive.
The Imperial became a true gathering place, welcoming intellectuals like Albert Einstein, Princeton University students, and members of the broader community to share tables and conversation. When the town of Princeton attempted to restrict his business through discriminatory zoning and licensing practices, my great-grandfather fought back, making it clear that anything he did with his restaurant would be done on his terms. His legal case against the municipality became a landmark civil rights victory in New Jersey, affirming equal treatment under the law.
Even when figures like Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer suggested the restaurant was not an appropriate place for members of the Institute, Burnett Griggs kept his doors open to all.
More than an entrepreneur and a staple of the Princeton community, Griggs was also an avid deep-sea fisherman.
Happy Martin Luther King Day. I’m
looking forward to hearing more impactful stories today in honor of Dr. King.
Love,
Chloe
