When dining out in Waco, it's easy to forget the time that went into creating and perfecting our favorite local establishments. In an attempt to connect with our rich and delicious past, I did some research on the oldest restaurants in town.
Here's a brief history of eight of Waco's most establish restaurants (counting down from relative youngest to oldest):
8. Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shoppe
The youngest entry on our list, Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shoppe, has held a presence in Waco since their first location opened on the Baylor Campus in 1975. That location has since closed, but two other locations, one on North Valley Mills and the other in downtown, have been open for business for several years. The current owner of the franchise, Nelson Rue, purchased Schmaltz’s from the original owners in 1978.
Surprisingly, Rue never planned to purchase Schmaltz’s, but upon turning in an application to work there, the owners asked if he would just buy the franchise from them instead, so that’s exactly what he did.
7. Health Camp
Who knew that the Waco Airport is partly responsible for the delicious malts and burgers served up in Waco?
That’s right. Health Camp, the first restaurant on our list that’s located on the Waco Traffic Circle, actually has its roots trace back to 1948 and the James Connally Air Force Base, which was closed in 1968 but then immediately reopened as TSTC Waco Airport. Originally opened by Jack Schaevitz as a mobile canteen, its primary focus was to serve the military personnel of the Air Force Base. Due to popular demand, however, in 1949 Schaevitz opened up Health Camp’s current location after only a year in business. Health Camp would eventually pass hands to its current owner, J. David Tinsley, and Tinsley has since kept the spirit of Health Camp’s classic 50’s feel.
6. Tony DeMaria's Bar-B-Que
We’ve written before about how Tony DeMaria’s isn’t old, it’s legendary, and also how much we love it; so it should come as no surprise that this epic place for eats is one of the oldest in Waco. Originally opened as a a grocery store and meat market, Tony DeMaria’s was founded in 1946 by, you guessed it, Tony DeMaria. Since then, the restaurant has only exchanged ownership once, and it was to Tony’s son, Geoff.
In 1995 Geoff built the new building that’s home to Tony D’s today, and it’s right down the street from the original location, and while Tony D’s is no longer a grocery store, they still take large orders to go, but be sure to order early because once they sell what they’ve cooked, they’ll close for the day.
5. La Fiesta Restaurant and Cantina
Though La Fiesta has only been doing business under its current name since 1963, its owners, the Castillo’s, have been operating restaurants in the city of Waco since the early 1930s. The Aztec Café, the first restaurant opened by the Castillo family, was originally located in downtown. Later, the Castillo’s would open The Patio in 1948 and The Italian Village in 1952, which was the first restaurant in Central Texas to introduce a little dish called pizza.
Apparently, there was an Italian airman from the James Connally Air Force Base, who was a frequent diner at one of the Castillo family restaurants. He taught Antonio Castillo, the patriarch of the family, how to toss dough and layer on tomato sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, which led to the pizza’s introduction onto the menu at The Italian Village all those years ago.
4. George’s
Creator of the Big O, George’s has been a Waco landmark since 1930 when it was initially named Harry B’s after the original owner Harry Urmeister. In 1963, George Etros purchased Harry B’s from Urmeister and re-branded it George’s. That’s how George’s got its name, but get this: the current owner of George’s, Sammy A. Citrano III, was a managing partner of Health Camp and the Elite, and he purchased George’s in 1993.
Speaking of the Elite. . .
3. The Elite
The Elite is the third oldest restaurant in Waco and is currently owned by Creed Ford III, the owner of the Rudy’s and Johnny Carino’s franchises. Interestingly enough, Ford purchased the Elite from J. David Tinsley, current owner of Health Camp, who purchased the Elite from the Coliases, a team of Greek-immigrant brothers. The Coliases, however, were not the original owners. They acquired the Elite in 1920 when the restaurant was located downtown.
2. Vitek’s BBQ
Waco’s second-oldest restaurant, Vitek’s BBQ, was founded in 1915 as a grocery and meat market in Granger, Texas. The original owner, William Martin Vitek quickly moved Vitek’s from Granger to Waco and the barbecue joint has remained in the family ever since. Vitek’s has been passed down for four generations and is now owned and run by Julie Vitek Keith, William Martin Vitek’s great granddaughter.
Vitek’s is, of course, famous for the “Gut Pack,” a twist on the traditional Frito pie recipe that was thought up by the Vitek family, over 20 years ago. Last year, the Cooking Channel rated Vitek’s as having the nation's best college eats as it won a 32-food-item bracket of college-town dishes.
1. Jasper's BBQ
Jasper’s BBQ is Waco’s oldest restaurant. The restaurant was established in 1915, which ties Jasper’s with Vitek’s as Waco’s oldest established place to eat, but since Vitek’s was founded in Granger first, before moving to Waco, Jasper’s wins by technicality.
Jasper’s was founded by Jasper DeMaria, a cousin of Tony DeMaria, the original owner of Tony D’s, and the restaurant has exchanged ownership more times then the current staff can recount. The last time I visited Jasper’s, I talked with Tim Hicks, one of the current owners, and was pleasantly surprised that Hicks has been finding new ways to pump life into this deliciously historic place.
Jasper’s is delectable, and anyone who lives in Waco needs to go and check them out. The staff is friendly, the location is historical, and the barbeque is some of the best in Waco. Oh, and they also offer college students 15 percent off on Tuesdays.
That’s my list of the oldest restaurants in Waco. If you think there’s more that I missed worth mentioning, then drop a comment below and let me know. I’ll respond to comments as I see them, or you can follow me @createdlove on Twitter. I’ll tweet back at you there too.
