Caprock Chronicles: Top twelve historic Lubbock eateries, Part One

Editor's Note: Caprock Chronicles is edited by Jack Becker, Librarian Emeritus, Texas Tech University. He can be reached at [email protected]. Today’s article is the first of a two-part series written by frequent contributor Chuck Lanehart, Lubbock attorney and award-winning Western history writer.

Seemingly every Lubbockite has a preferred restaurant, and many miss their favorites from years long gone. But which of Lubbock’s many eateries are truly significant from a historical perspective? Ranked in reverse order, the following are Caprock Chronicles’ Numbers 12-5 of our unscientific list.

Number 12: Lubbock’s McDonalds FranchiseOwnership Dispute Led to an Assassination Attempt

The first of Lubbock’s valuable McDonalds Restaurants opened in 1968 at 50th Street and Avenue T. A dispute over ownership of the franchise between the Boldt family and the Mraovic family boiled over in 1979 when Vaso V. Mraovic was caught hiring a hit man to murder Arthur Boldt. Mraovick was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Boldt family eventually prevailed in the franchise ownership litigation.

Number 11: The Blue Front RestaurantFirst Murder Scene

The Blue Front Restaurant was probably what we would now call a greasy spoon or dive bar. The small, wood-frame structure existed somewhere in downtown Lubbock, and in 1912, it was the site of a double homicide, resulting in the first murder trial in the history of Lubbock. The defendant, a city marshal, was acquitted of shooting down two unarmed intoxicated customers inside the establishment.

For more information see:www.lubbockonline.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2017/09/29/caprock-chronicles-lubbock-s-first-murder-trial-was/14825488007/

Number 10: The Commercial Kitchen of Lubbock Country ClubLubbock’s Oldest Existing Eatery

Founded in 1921, Lubbock Country Club’s first clubhouse was completed in 1923. Outfitted with a commercial kitchen, the club’s restaurant is known to have served golf greats Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Harvey Penick. Now a private establishment, Lubbock Country Club’s restaurant—in continuous operation since 1923—is the oldest eatery in Lubbock.

For more information see:www.lubbockonline.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2017/11/03/caprock-chronicles-lubbock-country-club-evolved-gun-and-hunting/14825415007/

Number 9: Oldest Restaurant BuildingThe Brookshire Inn, Gardski’s Loft and The Bier Haus

Perhaps the oldest building which currently houses a local restaurant is located at 2009 Broadway. Originally built as the home of the Humphries family in the 1920s, it was repurposed in 1969 as The Brookshire Inn, a restaurant featuring an upstairs bar which offered popular live music. Later, Gardski’s Loft occupied the building, and it is now known as the Bier Haus.

Numbers 8, 7 and 6:What’s Lubbock’s Oldest Public Eatery?

Michael Frank Cea opened Orlando’s Italian Restaurant in 1965, naming the eatery after his maternal grandparents. Orlando’s, which bills itself as the “oldest full-service restaurant in Lubbock,” remains in its original location at 24th Street and Avenue Q.

In 1947, Tom Clanton and Bingo Mills opened a barbeque joint in Amarillo. Tom and his wife Bettye opened the Lubbock Tom & Bingo’s Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q in 1952. The restaurant remained in the same location, 3006 34th Street, until it closed in early 2024. Tom & Bingo’s was probably the longest-serving public eatery in Lubbock’s history.

J.B. Hance opened The Pancake House at 34th Street and Quaker Avenue in 1961, then relocated it to 8th Street and Avenue Q downtown. After taking a direct hit by the 1970 Lubbock tornado, the restaurant was rebuilt and moved across the street to 510 Ave. Q, where it remains. Daymon Stotts purchased the business from Hance in the mid-1990s, and his son Jeff Stotts took over in early 2020, on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a three-month shutdown and 50% occupancy for another three months, the Pancake House survived and continues to thrive. In 2023, it was named the fourth best breakfast restaurant in the nation. The Pancake House is the oldest of Lubbock’s public restaurants.

Number 5: Hi-D-HoDrive-in of the Stars

The Hi-D-Ho was Lubbock’s most popular traditional drive-in during the 1950s and 1960s (think “American Graffiti” and “Happy Days”). As car hops skated about delivering Hidy Burgers with Hidy Sauce and Hidy Fries, Buddy Holly and his buddies sometimes provided live entertainment.

Located near Third Street and what is now University Avenue, it was the place for teens to cruise and congregate, including a young Mac Davis, who lived a block away. The structure was heavily damaged during the 1970 Lubbock tornado, but Hi Di Ho remained in business at various locations until 2005, when its owner, after almost 60 years, decided it was time to retire.

www.lubbockonline.com/story/lifestyle/2016/04/03/caprock-chronicles-lubbock-1950s-was-boom-period-growth/14922529007/

[Author’s note: there is great debate among dedicated Lubbock drive-in customers of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Some argue Char King or White Pig were on the same level as Hi-D-Ho. One such dedicated fan, Paula Lanehart — who favored Char King’s No. 4 burger — forcefully insists that Char King should be included prominently on this list. I am holding my ground.]

Part Two of this series will be published in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal next Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Caprock Chronicles: Top twelve historic Lubbock eateries, Part One