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Sit Down Restaurants Texas

 

Gypsy Tea Room (Demolished)
Photo courtesy Chris Richey

The Gypsy Tea Room is worth a visit if only to see the classic neon sign in front. Check out the detailed lettering on this sign at this business located in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas. Word is the place was demolished in 2021.

 

 

H3 Ranch
Photo courtesy Chris Richey

H3 Ranch is just one of the many steak houses in the Texas area. This one sports a horseshoe shaped marquee out front and advertises its steaks and rainbow trout.

This steakhouse is located in the Fort Worth Stockyards. H3 Ranch has been around since 1998.

 

 

Elmer's Restaurant (Demolished)
El Paso, TX
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's an old classic roadside restaurant. Elmer's Restaurant appeared to be located right in the middle of blaring radios at car dealerships that were blaring music to would be buyers. Otherwise, Elmer's appears to be a great reminder to the 50's or 60's restaurants that used to dot the area. The restaurant's roots go back 72 years to 1947, when Elmer and Jewel Poulsen started a restaurant in Central El Paso that led them in 1962 to open another restaurant at the current Montana location, then called Elmer's Coffee Shop,

UPDATE : Elmer's Restaurant opened in 1945 and has been a pillar within El Paso since then. Well, Elmer's closed down in 2019 after rumors state they lost their lease. Elmer's Restaurant was then bulldozed in the past year and is now a paved parking lot. 07-23

 

Charcoaler
El Paso, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Also in El Paso is the Charcoaler "drive-in" Restaurant, featuring charcoal burgers. This marquee looks like it belongs off an old roadside. The Charcoaler restaurant originally opened in 1961 by Robert Cox Sr. at a location 3 miles away from this address. This location at 5837 N. Mesa opened in 1976 replacing the original spot.

The Cox family closed down the Charcoaler on January 31, 2017 after 55 years in business. This brought a lot of heartached to Charcoaler fans all across El Paso. Well, the closure was short as local owners of other businesses and the granddaughter of Charcoaler's founder bought the business and reopened in November 2017.

 

The Frisco Nighthawk (Closed)
Austin, TX
Photo and info courtesy Dave and Debra van Hulsteyn

The Frisco Nighthawk Restaurant and it's good lookin' neon is rumored to have been a favorite of LBJ's. Not sure what Ladybird Johnson thought of the sign though. The sign is unique in that in one view, it looks like a sack containing an oversized burger or sandwich. However, in another view, the distinct look of the "night hawk" can not be missed.

 

UPDATE 04/09 : The Frisco Shop opened its doors in 1953 and was part of the famous Night Hawk chain (number four in the chain). The Frisco burger is a famous burger from the chain that exists to this day. 04-09

See more photos and information at Roadside Peek's Lost Treasures feature on The Frisco Nighthawk

 

Bella Napoli
El Paso, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Bella Napoli Restaurant in El Paso advertises its cuisine off the roadside. Just search for the big V marquee to find the Bella Napoli. Not sure how old this sign really is though. Well this Italian restaurant at 6331 N. Mesa St. served its last meal in February 2015. According to CBS4 News, owner Luis Cordova said the restaurant first opened its doors in 1963 on Valentine's Day. The restaurant was started by Cordova's father, Alberto Sala, and an aunt. Cordova said when he and his brothers took over the business, they told their father they would run the business until its 50th anniversary. Sala passed away at 77. Cordova said in honor of his father's passing, the last operating day for the restaurant will be on the first anniversary of his death.

Today Bella Napoli looks to be an empty lot. 07-23

 

 

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse
Dallas, TX
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

This neon sign for Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse advertises this barbecue joint that was founded by William Jennings Bryan Jr. (known as Sonny) in 1958.

 

 

Pitt Grill
Buffalo, TX
Photo courtesy Chris Richey

The Pitt Grill in Buffalo, TX advertises its fine food on its fine sign. Check out the neon letters on this sign right off the roadway.

 

 

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© Copyright 1998-2023 Syd Nagoshi. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the author.