The Porthole

The Porthole opened in 1942 in the alley just off of Franklin Street near Old Fraternity Row. The building was originally an auto garage, and later housed an eatery called The Bloody Bucket — which doesn’t really stimulate the appetite. The Porthole was immensely  popular with students and was known for their homemade rolls and home-style dinners. Customers filled out their own orders, which was a new concept in restaurants at the time. In 1981, the owners converted a former storage space into a bar called The Upper Deck. Both establishments closed in 1985, citing financial troubles. The building, like much of the old-school area on Franklin,  was later sold to U.N.C. to expand their office space.