http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Landmark-Waco-restaurant-becomes-casualty-of-I-35-expansion-project-442772693.html
WACO, Texas (KWTX) After nearly 55 years, Waco's El Chico restaurant has closed its doors and the Interstate 35 expansion project is the reason.
"The building was impacted and the property was acquired by TxDOT," Texas Department of Transportation spokesman, Ken Roberts confirmed Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a sign on the restaurant door just off the circle in Waco and near the new restaurant Chip & Joanna Gaines plan to open on the site of the landmark Elite Caf, surprised Central Texans reading, "We will miss you. We enjoyed serving you and hope to see you in another of our restaurants soon."
"We have been honored to serve Waco for more than five decades. Our restaurant has closed to make way for the expansion of I-35. Please dine with us in Temple," restaurant spokesman Bill Watson said Tuesday.
A former El Chico employee said TxDOT purchased the building with "plans of building straight through the parking lot."
The estimated $390 million expansion project will widen I-35 from three lanes to four lanes in both directions from South Loop 340 to North Loop 340.
The project will be divided in two phases, with El Chico's property being in phase two.
TxDOT spokeswoman Jodi Wheatley says no date has been set to begin construction in phase two.
Phase one will get underway from South 11th Street and continue northbound until reaching North Loop 340.
Construction for that is planned sometime in 2019, though some local businesses have already started feeling the effects.
Wheatley said the state has acquired 175 properties so far.
"It impacts a lot of people, a lot of businesses, and a lot of property owners," said Wheatley.
Fifty businesses will be affected.
The Popeyes at 1401 Park Ave. closed its doors on Jan. 31.
Just a few blocks away, the Clay Pot relocated to downtown Waco on Franklin.
Phase two will only force one restaurant out.
"El Chico is the only one where we could avoid clipping the building," Jodi Wheatley with TxDOT said.
Wheatley says the parking lot of nearby Texas Roadhouse will affected.
"It will take a portion of their parking lot, but it does not impact the building itself."
El Chico in Waco opened in 1963.
WACO, Texas (KWTX) After nearly 55 years, Waco's El Chico restaurant has closed its doors and the Interstate 35 expansion project is the reason.
"The building was impacted and the property was acquired by TxDOT," Texas Department of Transportation spokesman, Ken Roberts confirmed Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a sign on the restaurant door just off the circle in Waco and near the new restaurant Chip & Joanna Gaines plan to open on the site of the landmark Elite Caf, surprised Central Texans reading, "We will miss you. We enjoyed serving you and hope to see you in another of our restaurants soon."
"We have been honored to serve Waco for more than five decades. Our restaurant has closed to make way for the expansion of I-35. Please dine with us in Temple," restaurant spokesman Bill Watson said Tuesday.
A former El Chico employee said TxDOT purchased the building with "plans of building straight through the parking lot."
The estimated $390 million expansion project will widen I-35 from three lanes to four lanes in both directions from South Loop 340 to North Loop 340.
The project will be divided in two phases, with El Chico's property being in phase two.
TxDOT spokeswoman Jodi Wheatley says no date has been set to begin construction in phase two.
Phase one will get underway from South 11th Street and continue northbound until reaching North Loop 340.
Construction for that is planned sometime in 2019, though some local businesses have already started feeling the effects.
Wheatley said the state has acquired 175 properties so far.
"It impacts a lot of people, a lot of businesses, and a lot of property owners," said Wheatley.
Fifty businesses will be affected.
The Popeyes at 1401 Park Ave. closed its doors on Jan. 31.
Just a few blocks away, the Clay Pot relocated to downtown Waco on Franklin.
Phase two will only force one restaurant out.
"El Chico is the only one where we could avoid clipping the building," Jodi Wheatley with TxDOT said.
Wheatley says the parking lot of nearby Texas Roadhouse will affected.
"It will take a portion of their parking lot, but it does not impact the building itself."
El Chico in Waco opened in 1963.