Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part II (Austin: tenant, nightclubs)

[E. Campbell]

In downtown S.A., katty-corner across the river from Casa Rio, there was a Mexican restaurant called "The Original". It was in the building that comes to a point on the end nearest Commerce St. How long did it last? When I knew about it was in the 1940s.

[DickZ]

Here is a post card of The Original Mexican Restaurant, available on eBay. The listing says the post card is from 1942.

[Sweetie Pie]

To my knowledge the "Original" is still there!!! Saw it last November, after eating at Casa Rio, then taking a river barge ride!!!

[Willsatx]

Originally Posted by BudB

Only went to Broadway's Mexateria once as it was a poor excuse for Tex-Mex although certainly affordable. I could use a good laff so sock it to us!

Speaking with someone who has lived in the AH area for years it seemed it was doing very good business. Well the city shut them down for horrible sanitation and just an overall dirty kitchen. From what I heard they were busy almost everyday and then out of the blue they were gone. I think it was the only place in AH shut down by the city for it being dirty.

[E. Campbell]

Growing up in Highland Park, I don't really remember very many places to eat out. With my school days being in the 1940s, eating out was a rarity. Most folks I knew ate at home. There were restaurants out Broadway, and in other parts of town (like Cristie's, Earl Abel's and Night Hawk), but when we wanted to really celebrate something special, we went to the Wolf's Inn way out Fredericksburg Road. Does anyone know about the Wolf's Inn?

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by E. Campbell

Growing up in Highland Park, I don't really remember very many places to eat out. With my school days being in the 1940s, eating out was a rarity. Most folks I knew ate at home. There were restaurants out Broadway, and in other parts of town (like Cristie's, Earl Abel's and Night Hawk), but when we wanted to really celebrate something special, we went to the Wolf's Inn way out Fredericksburg Road. Does anyone know about the Wolf's Inn?

Christies! That was the restaurant Mom & Dad would take my brother & I for special celebrations in the 60's. I always knew where we were having dinner on my birthday!
We lived on Nolan street on the eastside. The drive to Christies would take us through Fort Sam, around by the well lit Playland Park and down Broadway.

Always a great sign was the neon fish moving on the fry pan. We'd park in their shady parking lot. Cloth napkins & table cloths. Plenty of saltines, club crackers, melba toast & butter while you waited for your meal.

My favorite Christies dish was the vela cutlet.

Thanks Mom & Dad.

[*mud*]

Originally Posted by E. Campbell

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In downtown S.A., katty-corner across the river from Casa Rio, there was a Mexican restaurant called "The Original".
It was in the building that comes to a point on the end nearest Commerce St.
How long did it last?
When I knew about it was in the 1940s.

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the Original Mexican Restaurant is not listed in my 1964 City Directory.

Losoya was known as South Broadway in 1964.

Mitla was listed on South Broadway in the 1964 City Directory.
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images below are from my 1936 SouthWestern Bell Telephone Directory.
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[gy2020]

The Original Mexican Restaurant was popular in the 1940's and maybe into the fifties. It closed down completely. In the 80's, one of the famous riverwalk restaurant owners, brought the name back and created a new Original Mexican Rest. It is on the riverwalk across the street from the Original-Original.

[BudB]

[quote=mudpuddle;15095613][font=Book Antiqua][b].

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images below are from my 1936 SouthWestern Bell Telephone Directory.

Great fun looking at the old listings Mud, many thanx. I'll have to look into the Brown Skin Cafe which may have been black owned and operated. That was when eateries were segregated and its location suggests a "colored" place. Meanwhile here's a postcard of Frenchy's Black Cat on S. Alamo.
Frenchy's Wild Cat may have been a really swinging scene back in the day because the old E. Commerce strip was loaded with joints, dives, greasy spoons, pimps & hookers plus all the other clubs, pool halls, barber shops and shine parlors, Cameo Theater, Sunset Depot, some flop houses & hotels plus red-light cribs and other attractions, Sam Wo's chop suey shop beneath Avalon Grill and the Life Saver Club, etc. then Friedrich Refrigeration closing it out before the city cemeteries. Lot's of other places in between as that was a very busy stretch of real estate.

[Dwangle]

Hey did you see the ELSMERE Cafe? Thats got to be where the BLANCO Cafe is now..just down from Chris Madrids