Where you eat with both your mouth and your eyes

The sexton’s house

The building was erected as a sexton’s house in the mid-19th century. The first sexton known by name was Carl Gustav Landmann (1831–1871); 1890–1910 the sexton was Friedrich Lorenzsohn, and 1910–1935 the sexton and organist was Pert Mielberg. By some accounts the house also held the church manor’s granary. In 1928 the trained joiner Rudolf Mets (1894–1938) rented part of it and set up a furniture and carriage workshop; after his death his widow Juuli Mets carried on the work.

The industrial works

After the Second World War the workshop was handed to a cooperative and an industrial works was formed. In 1951 the workshops were merged into the Paide District Industrial Works, renamed in 1963 the “Järva” Service Works, which employed — besides woodworkers — weavers, tailors, hairdressers, cobblers and goldsmiths.

A true story from the 1950s: old Elbre grew so tired that he decided to spend the night in the workshop. For comfort he climbed into a coffin. In the morning the cleaner was startled to hear snoring from the casket — she peeked under the lid and found the man sleeping peacefully inside.

The “Õlle 31” pub

In 1989–1992 Toivo Täht privatised the building and began selling building materials there. A few years later he built a kitchen and hall and opened the “Õlle 31” pub, held dance nights and served daytime meals. The house bore the sign: “Mild food. Come and eat.”

Memme’s eatery

“Memme’s eatery”, which had operated in the neighbouring house (Jaani 2), moved in 2014 into Toivo Täht’s kitchen and rooms at Pikk 31. Its hostess was Laili Lomp.