Albert

Well, if you knew who I was talking about, you’d want to go there too. Of course, you think this post is about you, don’t you?

As you might have read in my other Furr’s post, the Western Plaza store is gone forever. That leaves this Furr’s as the only Cafeteria Furr’s in Amarillo, fact is it’s the only cafeteria in Amarillo, period. The food is always exactly the same, which is why it’s so great to go to Furr’s.

Basil Doc’s opened about a week ago. We went today for lunch. It’s a slick and cool Pizzeria. The pizza is great. Reminds me of the old Cafe Americana (anybody remember that?).

I only got to go to Java Moon once or twice. It really surprised me. I thought it would be a run-of-the-mill country coffee shop with less than best coffee—it’s not. It’s a full bistro and deli with great coffee (bold, dark, full of flavor), good snacks, and great disert. It might be the coolest place in Sheridan.

I wasn’t sure about adding Barnes & Noble as a place within 43p, but I’m trying to add all the bookstores in Amarillo. You know Barnes & Noble—it’s a big company bookstore. Compared however, to the other new bookstore company in Amarillo (Hastings) it’s a bit better over all. The store is quieter and more condusive to book buying than Hastings (Hastings is more about Music and Video, and always seems to be playing some really loud pop music crap and talking on the PA system).

This is the newest used bookstore in town. Strangely to me, they put it right behind Barnes & Nobles. It’s a clean and organized place, but I think it could use a whole lot more stock. It’s been open about a year now, and I’m surprised it still seems to lack inventory.

(The last picture of the old Western Plaza Furr’s just after it closed)

Furr’s started in 1947 in Hobbs, New Mexico. I don’t know when it first came to Amarillo but it’s been here all my life. Once there were three, then one burned and there was two. The old mall which held one of the Furr’s slowly died, but for years Furr’s has been the last anchor for the old mall. Finally last year the owners of the mall announced they were planning to raze it and rebuild a fancy new mall. It was announced Furr’s would shut down the cafeteria in Western Plaza, but that they were building a new Furr’s out by Westgate Mall. The big change was that the new location would not be a cafeteria but instead would be a buffet. This still leaves the old cafeteria in Wolflin Village.

Forever, I have been eating at Furr’s Cafeteria. We would go there when I was just a wee lad. I always ate the same thing. For years I ate the same thing: a leg of fried chicken, smashed potatoes with cream gravy, macaroni and cheese, a roll, and chocolate pie with meringue. Eventually I began to change it up a little bit but not too much. I felt the greatest sense of accomplishment the first time I carried my own tray to the table. On the weekends a piano player would be in the cafeteria and would play horrible easy listening. I hated it as a child but now remember it more fondly as a symbol of a bygone time, of the simplest time which is childhood, of a time when my parents were still alive and meant everything in the world.

I knew the world was changing a few years ago when they got rid of their trademark linen napkins in which the silverware was rapped and began rapping in paper napkins. Now the cafeterias are going too, replaced by the ever encroaching buffets.

This new Furr’s is fine, don’t get me wrong. If you’re in a hurry and passing through but don’t want to eat any more fast food, then you should stop. The food is great, and Furr’s has always been famous for its comfort food. The new buffet has many new items which were never a part of the cafeteria and they still have all their staples like smashed potatoes. Still, I will always think back to Western Plaza and the Furr’s of old.

I’ve been through Colorado and I’ve spent a bit of time around Trinidad and Colorado Springs, but really I’ve never explored the state like I need to.

My uncle is a historian. Specifically he studies the history of the Native Americans. If you should ever need to know a fact about the Kiowas or their history in the Texas Panhandle just let me know. Anyway, he use to spend every Saturday in the archives. Well, I was a kid and I ended up spending most of my Saturdays up there as well. Hour, after hour I spent wandering the halls looking at dusty artifacts. I think I grew as old as those old rocks. And then when my school would make us go, it was just painful. “Oh, look at this” or “look at that”, I had seen it all thousands of times.

This is the largest historical Museum in Texas. It’s big and the exihibits have improved over the years. When I was younger the place went through a period when nothing ever changed—years and years of the exact same exhibits. But the last decade has seen many changes and improvements. The place is really a pretty nice museum now.
It includes:
Native American History
Transportation History (with lots of cars and buggies)
Old West town
Several Art Galleries
Archives and Documents
Palentology