Amazingly enough, even though Roanoke, Va., is my hometown, and I have walked by the Texas Tavern at least 120 times, I have never actually been inside the landmark establishment--- not even to try their famous chilli!
The restaurant, located on 114 Church Avenue in downtown Roanoke, celebrated its 80th anniversary on Feb. 13. The restaurant was founded on that day in 1930 by Isaac Newton Bullington, who once worked for Ringling Bros-Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Bullington took a chile recipe from a San Antonio hotel, and diners have been steadily coming in ever since.
According to the Texas Tavern's web site, celebrities who have stopped have included The Three Stooges and Glen Miller.
The Texas Tavern is known as "The Millionaires' Club" by locals which is a bit ironic since the food is quite inexpensive. Hamburgers and hot dogs both sell for $1.25 and a pint of chilli goes for $3.25 while a sausage sandwcih goes for $1.10.
There was another Texas Tavern in Lynchburg, Va., but it became difficult for the Bullington family to manage both of them.
Today, the restaurant is run by Matt Bullington, the fourth-generation owner of the diner.
His father and previous owner Jim Bullington told "The Roanoke Star-Sentinel" that as was the case in the 1930s, The Texas Tavern's cheap prices allow folks to eat out even during a bad recession.
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