RESTAURANTS AND EATERIES





The Shangri-La Restaurant was just north of Waco on Highway 81, later called I-35.


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I remember the building as it was rotting away in the 80s perhaps even into the 90s before it was finally removed. I don't really remember when I noticed it was actually gone.

It was the Boulder City Pub in the mid 70's. Rumor was they had Coors beer a year or two before other bars.

I remember the Walnut Bowl Store being next to it. Or heck, it might have been in the same building. Some of you more senior folks may remember.

Between West and Abbott.

Come to think of it, maybe the Turkey Shoppe was next door and the Walnut Bowl Shop was across the highway.

Now I'm throwing everybody off. The turkey shop was where Still Smoking bbq is now.

Factory Store Walnut Bowls was next door to Turkey Shop in Abbott. Funny how quickly all that walnut wood turned to kindling.

whitetrash said:

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Factory Store Walnut Bowls was next door to Turkey Shop in Abbott. Funny how quickly all that walnut wood turned to kindling.

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Actually the Walnut Bowls store was a little closer to Hillsboro. It was across the interstate from Knox truck stop and Robertson's Hams. The huge sign remained there for years. There's only a makeshift building there with a tire shop today.

The only thing next to the Turkey Shop was a gas station, as I recall.

There were remnants of Shangri La visible from the interstate till at least 2003 or so when they started expansion of I-35. It always seemed like an odd place to put such an unusual restaurant.

Shamgar said:

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It was the Boulder City Pub in the mid 70's. Rumor was they had Coors beer a year or two before other bars.

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What a difference 50 years makes.

PartyBear said:

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I remember the building as it was rotting away in the 80s perhaps even into the 90s before it was finally removed. I don't really remember when I noticed it was actually gone.

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LOL. I had the exact same reaction. I remember it rotting away during school and after graduation - thanks for sharing. Always wondered what it was as it was one of the things that welcomed me to the "Wacoplex."

Keep in mind I was not in Waco until the early 80s. The building was already in disrepair and abandoned I think when I first noticed it. I dont know when it was last used for something or when Shangrala closed. It actually looked like a cool building in its hey day. Looks awfully small though for an interstate restaurant stop.

I'm pretty sure it was still open when I got to Waco in 1967. However, I never ate there or knew anybody that did. I always heard it was pricey.

I'm not good at identifying cars by years but those cars in the photo appear to be late mid/late 60s looking to me.

PartyBear said:

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I'm not good at identifying cars by years but those cars in the photo appear to be late mid/late 60s looking to me.

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Those cars look like 61-63 or so.