Then & Now: The Moors restaurant, 712 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury

Its standing as the hottest nightclub in Central Mass. had long faded by the time fire filled the building the early morning of March 25, 1978.

By then, The Moors had been remade into Simeon's, run by Simeon A. Fouracre, a Northborough businessman and town official. Instead of a nightclub, he ran a restaurant in the spot, focusing on catering and weddings.

The building was at the intersection of Route 9 and South Street, filling the southwest corner, now home to Ashford Crossing, a large apartment complex. A Price Chopper and CVS pharmacy fill other corners of the intersection.

The Moors, opened in 1940 by Max Weihrauch of Worcester, became a respected entertainment spot after the war. Louis Armstrong was among the musicians to take the stage. The main room sat 350.

Over the years the offerings expanded, at one time including a miniature golf course, a golf driving range and a very short golf course. The layout was called Little St. Andrews.

In the mid-1950s, with Weihrauch in charge, The Moors began to have financial struggles. With debts piling up, Weihrauch filed for bankruptcy protection.

The property, idle for a few years and having changed hands for a short time, was reclaimed by Weihrauch in April 1960. But an era came to a tragic end in December 1964 when Weihrauch, a standout handball player, died of a heart attack at the YMCA.

The nightclub soon closed and property was put up for sale by the estate of Weihrauch. In 1965, Fouracre took over the property. He ran Simeon's restaurant until the fire in 1978. Another fire, a year later, destroyed a pavilion on the property.

Years later, the 20-acre parcel was foreclosed on by Northboro National Bank.

Last week Then & Now: Logan Field, Mill Street, Worcester

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Then & Now: The Moors restaurant, 712 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury