Do you guys remember the old "restaurant row" on South Valley Mills: it included J.T. McCords and Steak & Ale. I thought there were 1-2 other restaurants in that little strip ... anyone remember what other restaurants were there?

Harrison Bergeron said:

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Do you guys remember the old "restaurant row" on South Valley Mills: it included J.T. McCords and Steak & Ale. I thought there were 1-2 other restaurants in that little strip ... anyone remember what other restaurants were there?

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Underwoods' (Steakhouse), or maybe they came on the scene after Steak 'n Ale departed.

Steak & Ale > law office
JT McCords > torn down, dry cleaners & oil change
Underwoods > Piccadilly > EOAC offices
Western Sizzlin > bank
Taco Bell > Spiciness
Long John Silver's > STILL THERE!!

The JT McCords building prior to being torn down became a Mexican restaurant called Zapata's from 95- about 98, which was pretty good. Then it was a Cajun place called Le Beouff's for a short time in the late 90s.

The Underwood's I also recall being something other than a Picadilly. I never went to it but I remember the sign out front had a fish on it around 2000. I assumed it was a seafood type place. Again that was only open a year or so.

I remember the Underwoods property being a boat selling place for a short time before becoming what's currently there. Anyone?

Delmar 2.0 said:

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I remember the Underwoods property being a boat selling place for a short time before becoming what's currently there. Anyone?

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What was once Yowell's Boat Yard is now Ferguson plumbing showroom next door to what was Underwood's. Yowell's moved to the old Duncan Buick on Franklin.

I don't remember all of them but do remember that in the late 90s and early 2000s that was where all the restaurants were located, or just slightly off from there.

Applebees, Chilis, Rollo's, Baris, Golden corral, Schlotzky's, etc. It seemed all the places to eat were on Valley Mills, a few on Franklin and a few by Richland mall.

Then when Walmart moved to Franklin a few more opened up there in the early 2000s.

Then the market place and I35 development and mostly everything moved over there and away from Valley Mills

However the areas places you speak of are not really close to the locations of Steak and Ale etc. even the ones you mentioned that were on VM drive. That said you are right the meal and entertainment development area has moved to 35 this century.

PartyBear said:

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However the areas places you speak of are not really close to the locations of Steak and Ale etc. even the ones you mentioned that were on VM drive. That said you are right the meal and entertainment development area has moved to 35 this century.

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What do you mean they weren't close?

Some of them were literally in the same location.

STeak and ale was Valley Mills and Bosque.... where Chili's was. Where Schmaltzs is.

So yeah that is the same area.

Sure the Franklin mentions and Applebees were further down but the point of my post was about how the restaurants started there and were all along Valley Mills.

Calling 2 restaurants a "row" is a bit of a stretch.

In there somewhere for a brief while was Zapata's (or Zapato's). Pretty decent place, wish it stuck around.

Steak and Ale was next to Skaggs (Alpha Beta, the Albertson's) on Cobbs and Valley Mills. Sacking groceries was my first job. We used to deliver carts of bagged ice to Steak n Ale when their machine broke.

Chili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

Schmaltz is still going strong in the TownWest Center on Valley Mills across from the big island of commerce. Fuddrucker's is turning into a Chinese Food joint. Hasting's became some type of home furnishings / plumbing supply thingy.

Mr Tulip said:

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Steak and Ale was next to Skaggs (Alpha Beta, the Albertson's) on Cobbs and Valley Mills. Sacking groceries was my first job. We used to deliver carts of bagged ice to Steak n Ale when their machine broke.

Chili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

Schmaltz is still going strong in the TownWest Center on Valley Mills across from the big island of commerce. Fuddrucker's is turning into a Chinese Food joint. Hasting's became some type of home furnishings / plumbing supply thingy.

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Locke Supply is awesome. Its plumbing/electrical/hvac stuff and better prices for AC registers and filters than home depot. Better selection in stock too.

Lots of good replacement parts like the trim ring around ice maker box and washing machine box that is recessed into the wall. These are always discolored, broken, or missing when we do home renos.

I guess I am proof that as you get older you just create fake memories. I'll get to part two in a moment.

I know where Underwood's was - the building was very distinct. Waco directions make no sense, but it was a little toward the lake. Chili's was a little bit south toward the Interstate.

I would swear there were at least three restaurants right there together: McCord's, Steak & Ale, and one more ... but I must be dreaming. Could it have been Black Eyed Pea? Monterrey House?

Speaking of ... had my graduation lunch at Zapata's. We LOVED that place. The guy that used to cut my hair - Ray from the Hair House (yes, in an old house in North Waco) was the manager.

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Along with my senility ... I swear there were two steak houses on Lakeshore Drive in the early 90s ... Lake Brazos Steak House and Miller family Steak House. I know one burned and I think maybe moved spots, but I would swear driving the MCC in the early 90s I passed both.

Wasn't Miller over there on the other side of the river from Cam Park now the building is a Slow Rise or was that Lake Brazos Steakhouse?

Black Eye Pea was in the building that is now Cotton Patch in the parking lot of Target.

There was a place called People's in the middle 80s. Kind of near JT's and Steak and Ale. But it was not right by them. It was popular with Baylor kids in its hey day. Maybe you were thinking of that? It was in that strip center on the corner of Bosque and VM. In the late 80s a Panchos was in that spot. There have been several things there since. Now it is local Mexican place in there.

Speaking of false memories. I'm not sure if this is a false memory or not but weren't there two Taco Cabanas built at the same time. The one that was there a long time on 35 near campus but also one that wasn't there long in that parking lot in front of the then Lake Air Mall near where Cotton Patch is now? Maybe where now sits Panda Express?

PartyBear said:

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Wasn't Miller over there on the other side of the river from Cam Park now the building is a Slow Rise or was that Lake Brazos Steakhouse?

Black Eye Pea was in the building that is now Cotton Patch in the parking lot of Target.

There was a place called People's in the middle 80s. Kind of near JT's and Steak and Ale. But it was not right by them. It was popular with Baylor kids in its hey day. Maybe you were thinking of that? It was in that strip center on the corner of Bosque and VM. In the late 80s a Panchos was in that spot. There have been several things there since. Now it is local Mexican place in there.

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Correct on Millers and BEP.


Peoples > Pancho's > Shogun > Abuelita's

Across Bosque in Parkdale Center, they tore down the Dairy Queen to build the Chili's, which they tore down to build Slim Chickens. And the Luby's that became a Summer Palace Chinese hog trough buffet is now an Auto Zone.

PartyBear said:

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Wasn't Miller over there on the other side of the river from Cam Park now the building is a Slow Rise or was that Lake Brazos Steakhouse?

Black Eye Pea was in the building that is now Cotton Patch in the parking lot of Target.

There was a place called People's in the middle 80s. Kind of near JT's and Steak and Ale. But it was not right by them. It was popular with Baylor kids in its hey day. Maybe you were thinking of that? It was in that strip center on the corner of Bosque and VM. In the late 80s a Panchos was in that spot. There have been several things there since. Now it is local Mexican place in there.

Speaking of false memories. I'm not sure if this is a false memory or not but weren't there two Taco Cabanas built at the same time. The one that was there a long time on 35 near campus but also one that wasn't there long in that parking lot in front of the then Lake Air Mall near where Cotton Patch is now? Maybe where now sits Panda Express?

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I vaguely remember People's. Seem like it was open for one year ... and it had the weird sign with people's knees and feet. It must have been a Texas chain.

I do believe there were two TCs. Feels like one night our full freshman nerd tookover and we thought it would be kick ass to hit the other TC for wine margaritas. But I am probably dreaming that too.

PartyBear said:

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Speaking of false memories. I'm not sure if this is a false memory or not but weren't there two Taco Cabanas built at the same time. The one that was there a long time on 35 near campus but also one that wasn't there long in that parking lot in front of the then Lake Air Mall near where Cotton Patch is now? Maybe where now sits Panda Express?

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Correct. Lake Air location torn down and replaced by Panda Express; campus location replaced by Hawaiian Bros.

And after Taco Cabana (and Two Pesos) came and went in the 90s/2000s, we have just gone through it again with the demise of Velvet Taco (bad location hidden behind Mod Pizza) and Fuzzy's Taco (awful food/bad franchisee).

PartyBear said:

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Wasn't Miller over there on the other side of the river from Cam Park now the building is a Slow Rise or was that Lake Brazos Steakhouse?

Black Eye Pea was in the building that is now Cotton Patch in the parking lot of Target.

There was a place called People's in the middle 80s. Kind of near JT's and Steak and Ale. But it was not right by them. It was popular with Baylor kids in its hey day. Maybe you were thinking of that? It was in that strip center on the corner of Bosque and VM. In the late 80s a Panchos was in that spot. There have been several things there since. Now it is local Mexican place in there.

Speaking of false memories. I'm not sure if this is a false memory or not but weren't there two Taco Cabanas built at the same time. The one that was there a long time on 35 near campus but also one that wasn't there long in that parking lot in front of the then Lake Air Mall near where Cotton Patch is now? Maybe where now sits Panda Express?

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This may be memory blending together but you are correct that Miller's was on the other side of the river.

If I remember correctly wasn't it Millers then Lake Brazos, then a Mexican place and now slow rise.

It burned down, was rebuilt and was Lake Brazos (maybe even another name first If I recall) then the Mexican place built the outside stuff, boat docks, etc. but then closed and became slow rise.

It is just such a weird location and nothing else has ever developed out there in terms of restaurants or any sort of strip center. The development that has taken place on that side of the river has all been closer to 35 still leaving Slow Rise by itself.

Yes there was a Mexican place there about 15 years ago. You just reminded me.

Has it been 15 years since they were in business? I thought they only went out of business right before covid.

Wasn't it Manny's on the river? Or just Manny's

Edit: I googled it and they opened in 2014 and closed in 2016.

Actually I was basing that on when I went there and it was actually about 12 years ago. I have no idea when it closed. It seems Slo Rise has been there at least a few years.

Am I hallucinating or was there a Chinese place at the back corner of the shopping center where Hobby Lobby and Drug Emporium now are?

Lund Vernquist said:

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Am I hallucinating or was there a Chinese place at the back corner of the shopping center where Hobby Lobby and Drug Emporium now are?

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there was.. samurai steakhouse

Mr Tulip said:

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Chili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

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I, too, was one of the original hires when they opened. My clock number was #14. I have no clue why I still remember that other than thinking that I was the 14th person hired when they opened.

Chili's has changed significantly since the '90's. Gone are the actual glass mug for drinks. They're all cheap plastic now. The chicken tenders are the cheap breaded ones that you can buy at Sam's. They used to be fried in a light and fluffy Tempura batter. Gone are the curly fries. My wife and I ordered from the "new" one near I-35 around the Covid time frame. I won't be back. Too many other quality restaurants in town.

I remember a Dairy Queen in the location (Bosque @ Valley MIlls) that became Chili's and is now Slim Chickens; am I dreaming this? And the Drug Emporium was a Piggly Wiggly in a former life?

Coke Bear said:

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Mr Tulip said:

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Chili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

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I, too, was one of the original hires when they opened. My clock number was #14. I have no clue why I still remember that other than thinking that I was the 14th person hired when they opened.

Chili's has changed significantly since the '90's. Gone are the actual glass mug for drinks. They're all cheap plastic now. The chicken tenders are the cheap breaded ones that you can buy at Sam's. They used to be fried in a light and fluffy Tempura batter. Gone are the curly fries. My wife and I ordered from the "new" one near I-35 around the Covid time frame. I won't be back. Too many other quality restaurants in town.

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First time I used one of those plastic mugs, I almost tossed my Coke over my head. I was expecting mass. Chili's kind of made its name around being pretty close to scratch made (we knew it really wasn't), so when they start short-cutting everything, they kind of stop having a reason to exist. They're out on the end of Valley Mills near the Interstate now, so if I'm going that far, I'll just go to Rudy's instead.

I remember Paul, the manager, Chis Sypho a cook and schoolmate of mine, TJ was a cook I worked with at Skaggs. Myron was nicknamed "Pig Feet". My wife Robin met Tina there, who eventually married my college roommate and best man at our wedding.

Of course, I can't remember when the dog gets medicine, but I can recall the staff of a restaurant from 35 years ago.

Delmar 2.0 said:

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And the Drug Emporium was a Piggly Wiggly in a former life?

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Yep. Then became a Sun Country Farms (kinda like an early Whole Foods/Natural Grocers) before Drug Emporium moved in.

Lund Vernquist said:

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Am I hallucinating or was there a Chinese place at the back corner of the shopping center where Hobby Lobby and Drug Emporium now are?

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I only remember the one that was across the parking lot from Chili's. Summer Palace if I remember correctly. Not sure I have paid attention to if it is still there or not.

cowboycwr said:

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Lund Vernquist said:

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Am I hallucinating or was there a Chinese place at the back corner of the shopping center where Hobby Lobby and Drug Emporium now are?

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I only remember the one that was across the parking lot from Chili's. Summer Palace if I remember correctly. Not sure I have paid attention to if it is still there or not.

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COVID killed Summer Palace. Sat empty for 5+ years. Now repainted as an Auto Zone, which I presume is open but have no reason to visit.

Hello! Mr. Gattis? Can't remember the name of the shopping center it was in.

Coke Bear said:

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Mr Tulip said:

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Chili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

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I, too, was one of the original hires when they opened. My clock number was #14. I have no clue why I still remember that other than thinking that I was the 14th person hired when they opened.

Chili's has changed significantly since the '90's. Gone are the actual glass mug for drinks. They're all cheap plastic now. The chicken tenders are the cheap breaded ones that you can buy at Sam's. They used to be fried in a light and fluffy Tempura batter. Gone are the curly fries. My wife and I ordered from the "new" one near I-35 around the Covid time frame. I won't be back. Too many other quality restaurants in town.

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I doubt there is another restaurant that has managed to make as many dishes that I really liked, and then killed them off the menu. Chili's has shown a remarkable talent for that. There probably are at least 7-8 different dishes -- plus one dessert. When you consider how many places almost never change their menu, it's a bit of an accomplishment.

TenBears said:

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Hello! Mr. Gattis? Can't remember the name of the shopping center it was in.

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Gatti's started in Diamond Point (now Ridgewood Village) in the late 70s, where Salty Dog is now. Moved in the late 80s/early 90s down to the building that was built for a Neal's Ice Cream and Delicatessen (now a Title Company next to Sonic). Lasted until some time in the early/mid 2000s.

Mr Tulip said:

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Coke Bear said:

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Mr Tulip said:

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Chili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

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I, too, was one of the original hires when they opened. My clock number was #14. I have no clue why I still remember that other than thinking that I was the 14th person hired when they opened.

Chili's has changed significantly since the '90's. Gone are the actual glass mug for drinks. They're all cheap plastic now. The chicken tenders are the cheap breaded ones that you can buy at Sam's. They used to be fried in a light and fluffy Tempura batter. Gone are the curly fries. My wife and I ordered from the "new" one near I-35 around the Covid time frame. I won't be back. Too many other quality restaurants in town.

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First time I used one of those plastic mugs, I almost tossed my Coke over my head. I was expecting mass. Chili's kind of made its name around being pretty close to scratch made (we knew it really wasn't), so when they start short-cutting everything, they kind of stop having a reason to exist. They're out on the end of Valley Mills near the Interstate now, so if I'm going that far, I'll just go to Rudy's instead.

I remember Paul, the manager, Chis Sypho a cook and schoolmate of mine, TJ was a cook I worked with at Skaggs. Myron was nicknamed "Pig Feet". My wife Robin met Tina there, who eventually married my college roommate and best man at our wedding.

Of course, I can't remember when the dog gets medicine, but I can recall the staff of a restaurant from 35 years ago.

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LOL! I nearly did the same thing when I grabbed the plastic mug!

I remember those folks, as well. Paul was a pretty chill dude. All the girls seemed to like him. I always wondered if he and some of them ... Anyway, I completely forgot about "Pig Feet!"

When I worked the lunch shift on the weekends, I'd make it a point to get there after they finish cooked the ribs. I'd sneak back the walk-in where they were cooling a take one rib from a few of the racks. Apologies to anyone in the early 90's who was shorted a rib.

I remember one of the waitresses was really upset about something a table said or did to her. She was in the kitchen and one of the salad cooks got pissed off and spit in that person's salad and mixed it around. I have NEVER been rude to waitstaff in my life because of that situation.

I wish I could remember the name of one of guy managers, who was a little smaller, had brown hair, and kinda looked like Rob McElhenney from Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He asked me a couple times about getting into the Chili's management program. I politely turned him down due to the work schedule and hours. One of the other reasons was that I saw a few managers quit or leave due to substance abuse and relationship (infidelity) issues.

He was really cool. One night after a long shift, I was the last employee left and still closing the bar, and he asked if I wanted a beer. Of course, I said yes. I grabbed to mugs from the chiller and poured us a couple. We hung out and talked over our beers. When we finished, I rinsed the mugs, put them back in the chiller, and clocked out and left. Those were much more simple times.

TechDawgMc said:

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Coke Bear said:

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Mr Tulip said:

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TChili's was in the parking lot of Sack n Save (used to be Woolco). The building was built on the remains of an old filling station / car battery shop. The dirt was too polluted to build, so it had to be remediated. My wife (then girlfriend) was an original waitress when they opened. It's another grotty chicken tender chain now.

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I, too, was one of the original hires when they opened. My clock number was #14. I have no clue why I still remember that other than thinking that I was the 14th person hired when they opened.

Chili's has changed significantly since the '90's. Gone are the actual glass mug for drinks. They're all cheap plastic now. The chicken tenders are the cheap breaded ones that you can buy at Sam's. They used to be fried in a light and fluffy Tempura batter. Gone are the curly fries. My wife and I ordered from the "new" one near I-35 around the Covid time frame. I won't be back. Too many other quality restaurants in town.

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I doubt there is another restaurant that has managed to make as many dishes that I really liked, and then killed them off the menu. Chili's has shown a remarkable talent for that. There probably are at least 7-8 different dishes -- plus one dessert. When you consider how many places almost never change their menu, it's a bit of an accomplishment.

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Truer words have never been spoken!

whitetrash said:

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TenBears said:

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Hello! Mr. Gattis? Can't remember the name of the shopping center it was in.

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Gatti's started in Diamond Point (now Ridgewood Village) in the late 70s, where Salty Dog is now. Moved in the late 80s/early 90s down to the building that was built for a Neal's Ice Cream and Delicatessen (now a Title Company next to Sonic). Lasted until some time in the early/mid 2000s.

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We had open campus for lunch in the 80's at Midway. We'd break multiple traffic laws racing to get there because they never put out enough pizza at a single time.

I believe Gattie's opened the Valley Mills location in April or May of '88, because we all went there after practicing graduation, IIRC.