Winston Willis & the Jazz Temple

Protagonist: Winston Willis

Address: The Jazz Temple: 11400 Euclid Avenue,

previously 11339 Mayfield Road due to street name changes. “Inner City DisneyLand” was at Euclid and 105th.

On Euclid and 105th a Black man created an Empire with over 28 businesses in operation, employing over 400 Black individuals and known by Cleveland Press as “The Miracle on 105th…”. Winston E. Willis, born in Alabama, made his way to Cleveland on his way to Hollywood, creating this empire after landing in The Land in the late 50’s.

Winston was a gambling man, whose charm and luck allowed him to make thousands of dollars playing one-pocket, a billiards game, in Cleveland bars and backrooms over a few days when he first arrived in the Cleveland area. This seed money will allow him to open The Jazz Temple in 1962.

The Jazz Temple, a featured stop on the interactive map, was known for its interracial space in the college area of University Circle and amazing performers. Winston at only 19, was able to bring in acts, such as Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. Writer, Ajah Hales shared in the “Searching for a Miracle” piece for

Once The Jazz Temple was snatched away through violence, you might think this stopped Winston but it didn’t. During the days leading up to, during, and after the Glenville Shootouts in 1968, Winston was holed-up gambling. He would leave with bags of cash and enough capital to begin his Empire. The empire launched with Winston starting up his initial businesses on 105th and Euclid and developing the University Development Properties Development. Our team learned more about this night from the work of Ajah Hales and Winston’s sister Aundra, Willis Currasco

“The year was 1968. Cleveland was burning. And Winston Willis was nowhere to be found.

During the riots he was sealed in the back of one of his restaurants, playing a high stakes game of craps. Although he didn’t know it, that weekend would forever be a defining moment in Winston’s life. His sister Aundra told me all about it.

Aundra: What they didn't know in those three days that they were literally sequestered in that back room was the Glenville shootout had broken out and there was martial law all over the city.

Ajah: Winston says he won half a million dollars in three days, showing up at his sister’s house later with industrial-sized garbage bags full of money. His friends wanted to keep the game going, but Winston had other plans.

Aundra: He said, “nope, I'll catch you all later. I'm going to buy me some real estate!” And those were his exact words to them, and that's what he did.

Ajah: Winston used his winnings to found University Circle Properties Development. His goal was simple: to put Black people in charge of what urban redevelopment looked like. Winston built a $2 million dollar empire in two years, all centered around the needs of Black people, like Boon Docks Seafood restaurant, Paymaster money exchange, WinJam Studios, Mr. John’s Haberdashery, and the Scrumpy Dump theater. By 1970, he was the largest employer of Black Americans in the midwest.”
From https://www.wbur.org/lastseen/2022/03/29/winston-willis 

This “Inner-City Disneyland” had many businesses.

To understand what happened to Winston’s empire, you have to know how the Cleveland Clinic, the City of Cleveland, and White Supremacy worked against Black people and specifically, Winston E. Willis. We see that in the billboards Winston had made. 

These billboards are a reminder that Winston was unwilling to go silent while facing racism and attacks.  But Winston’s empire did come crashing down. Winston would be locked away for a bad check, and while imprisoned, his business would be torn down. Allowing for the Cleveland Clinic to scoop up the land. Though he lost his businesses Winston E. Willis continues to share his story and fight for his empire. To understand the impact that Winston E. Willis has in our community, take a listen and watch, artist Vince Robinson’s performance of E(Race)Sure. 

Want to learn more about Winston’s story check out some of the articles, podcasts, and teasers below.