Cafe Texan in downtown Huntsville
Dave Ward returns to Huntsville, TX where he grew up, to visit Cafe Texan – a community staple that opened in 1936 and claims the title of oldest cafe in Texas.
In fact, the original neon sign from its grand opening in 1936 still greets visitors outside.
“As a kid, I would come here often with my father and I would order the fried tenderloin of trout, tartar sauce, mashed potatoes and English peas for 75 cents,” Dave recalled.
Ward’s father Henry, a Baptist preacher, settled his family in Huntsville to become the pastor of the city’s First Baptist Church.
Located at 1120 Sam Houston Ave, Cafe Texan hasn’t changed much since it opened more than 80 years ago and when Dave ate there with his father as a child.
General manager John Strickland took Dave down memory lane through the historic photos that adorn the cafe’s walls. A great resource that captures Huntsville’s main square through the years.
The eatery is famous for its chicken fried steak and comfort food on the menu which is all made from scratch.
You can learn more at Cafe Texan’s Facebook page.
UPDATE AUGUST 1, 2020
Cafe Texan owner John Strickland tells channel 13 he closed when the COVID-19 pandemic started and couldn’t afford to make the repairs needed to reopen.
