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Diverse Dining List

Gonzalez Restaurant in Ballinger, TX

4/12/2019

6 Comments

 

​Love the Signs!
​

Sometimes you just have to pick a restaurant because of their cool signage... even when the sign confuses you a bit!
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It was a bright summer day when Don and I spotted this unlit neon sign, with smiling face, tiny mustache and chef's hat. Was this an Italian restaurant? Wait, what about the blue sign shaped like Texas? Cowboy steaks maybe? And the words on the stone wall? (Gonzales Restaurant)  Yum... enchiladas? I was up for any and all!

​Corner of Texas Highways 83 and 67
​
T
he restaurant was just sitting there right on the corner of 2 highways, when we pulled into town on the last day of a long road trip.


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We hadn't heard about the place. No help from Yelp. No guidance from articles. No word of mouth. These finds are always extra fun... and extra daring.

The OPEN sign was lit, but it was almost 1:30. We parked and crossed our fingers as we headed over.  Small town restaurants make their own rules.

On the Corner Since 1901
​

I read later that the building has been sitting here for more than a century. As we headed to the entrance I studied the stone work above. 
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I wondered how many different kinds of businesses have enjoyed this corner spot, over the years. Then I took a good look at the painted windows. It looked like we would be having a festive Mexican lunch!

Welcoming Staff
​

​Don and I usually try to avoid being the last diners, at any restaurant.
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  There's nothing more uncomfortable than eating your meal, while brooms sweep nearby and chairs go up on tables. When we stepped inside, we saw no lingering diners. That was not a good sign.

The Buffet
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​The idea of a buffet at the end of a shift, was also unappealing. But the women at the door welcomed us, with such enthusiasm. 
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And the Mexican decor was fun and we could eat quickly and get on the road! We stayed and found a few decent foods at the Fajita and Salad Bar Buffet. Best of all, we ended up having a fun time chatting with the staff.
​
Happy Chatter

​There was a lot of playful banter between the folks running the place... I believe 2 sisters and a brother? They happily included us in their weather talk, when they found our we were from Houston.
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"Oh it was 114 here yesterday! I remember when I was a kid, the weather never bothered me. I could be out picking cotton or collecting sheep's wool and I never felt it. Now I can't even work in the garden!"

Eerie Hall & Stories
​

​I took a trip to the restroom and came back grinning. The journey had amused me. The hall had been long and dark. I didn't get a picture of the decorated walls, or the darkened "dining room"  where a TV glowed in the corner. I pictured festive family gatherings and celebrations.
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When I returned to the table, the ladies began telling us stories about the old building. "It's haunted, you know." 

​Cowboy Ghost
​

​They shared some articles about the old building, which had been a saloon until prohibition. 
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After some years as a department store, the building reopened as a restaurant in 1954. Supposedly Norton, the Cowboy Ghost has been haunting the place for a very long time.
​
No Signs of Norton
​

​Norton is not the chef on the sign. We never found out anything more about the smiling chef. Supposedly Norton is the name of the ghost, who was once a  notorious character in Ballinger, until he was gunned down by Texas Rangers, in this very building. Yikes!
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One of the women laughed about Norton. "A lot of girls claim he pinches or touches them. Nobody in my family has ever been touched!" She grinned. "Maybe he's just prejudiced!"
​

​So we had a curious little dining adventure, as our last meal on a a 2-week road trip. Maybe we need to revisit for an evening meal... and be the last diners again!
​
6 Comments
John Smith
2/9/2021 12:33:27 am

I grew up in this restaurant basically, my Dad was the head cook and I guess assistant manager from I think the mid 80's til mid 90's and after that he focused on the Wingate Cafe. That bathroom hall was a lot longer when I was 5 years old, dining room was a lot darker too. I was terrified to go to the bathroom haha. I've had some feelings in that building, one was hunger, lol I tried my first jalapeño by accident. I was in the kitchen looking for something to eat picked up this green vegetable and took the biggest bite WOW! and potato chips did not help, I didn't tell Dad either. Years later at the age of 19 I was renting out a room upstairs from Mr. Six, it was set up like a dorm, with the bathroom down the hall, you think the dining room is creepy, you have no idea about upstairs, especially in the wee hrs of night (im getting goosebumps just typing this) it was even more scary on stormy nights, I was the only one in the building, all kinds of noises. If you want the original stories, I'm sure my Dad would love to type it up or interviewed or something. I think my Dad had kinda started this story up one late evening, sold a lot of chicken fried steaks over this story. Always loved Dads stories about Norton, feel free to contact me [email protected]

Reply
Beth
2/9/2021 09:58:49 am

John,
I can't thank you enough for sharing your memories of being a child at the restaurant and later, living upstairs. It's so fun imagining what you described. Poor little guy, trying to find relief after eating a jalapeño! You were a pretty brave young man, living upstairs! I'm so curious about Norton! Did I have that story right about "Norton the Ghost" ?
Thanks for sharing your memories and email. I'll contact you for more info, I so love hearing the inside scoop!
Beth

Reply
Mary Dela Cerda Ortegon
7/29/2022 06:37:01 pm

I worked there in late 60’s ,Dale Baird was the owner and Mr.Knight was the cook and Thelma managed . I started bussing table and later washed dishes . Mr.Knight had a son George ,he was a classmate and helped his dad in the kitchen. My sisters waited tables. Best Chicken fried steaks every. That place you could hear all kinds of noises , I would come around 6am and it pretty dark and quite. that long hall way and back dinning room were pretty eire . One time I did hear some banging around . Near saw any figures but lots of movement. I loved working there back then there were child labor laws so I worked a couple of summers there.

Reply
Beth
7/30/2022 09:35:24 am

Mary, thanks so much for sharing your memories. I wish we could go back in time and meet up there for some chicken fried steak! You could tell me more stories!

I'm guessing the photos I took, look very different than the restaurant you remember. It's been over 3 years since my visit, so it may have even changed since then!

Thanks again for taking the time to comment!

Beth

Reply
John Smith link
12/31/2024 05:50:05 am

Here's a link to the Texas Country Reporter Episode if it hasn't been seen before 😁

Reply
Beth
12/31/2024 08:50:10 am

Thanks John!
I clicked on the link (arrow) near your name and saw the news clip with interviews about Norton the Ghost! You're not kidding when you talk about the eerie upstairs! I don't think I'd have the nerve to be in that building alone!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Beth

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  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!