Historical Bandera, Texas Restaurant Goes Up For Sale
Old Spanish Trail (O.S.T.) Restaurant in Bandera, Texas Poises for New Ownership
Opened in 1921, the Old Spanish Trail (O.S.T.) Restaurant serves as one of the oldest, continuously operated, restaurant’s in the State of Texas. Under its current Ownership (Gwen Janes) it has served the dining needs of hungry ‘Cowboys’ and ‘Cowgirls’ alike for the past 40-years. Originally the namesake of the restaurant was coined by the former Cattle Drive Trail established in the early 19th Century and the famed restaurant still holds to its historical roots. Positioned along the largely unchanged Main Street in downtown Bandera, Texas, the O.S.T. has expanded to a 5,800s.f. full-service restaurant with more than 30 employees.
The building was originally the old Davenport Grocery Store and, where the famed “John Wayne Room” is now, there was once a horse corral. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, the O.S.T. was also a dance hall where many famous singers and bands played.
Bandera is affectionately known as the “Cowboy Capital of the World” for its western culture, famed World Champion Cowboys and Cowgirls and various Dude-Ranches that are scattered in the Bandera County Hill Country. Dudes, Cowboys, Cowgirls, Winter Texans, Clubs and locals all express their like of the O.S.T. for its ranch-house, share-the-tables, friendly and at-home atmosphere. Numerous National travel magazines, newspapers, news channels, special interest segments and Tour-books have featured the O.S.T. as one of the best places to eat and visit in Texas. If your appetite calls for down-home cooking, served by friendly and dedicated staff, the O.S.T. is your go-to stop.
After serving as only the third Owner/Operator of the restaurants history, Janes has decided that it is time to ‘turn-over-the-reins’ to another Owner/Operator that can carry on the tradition and embrace the history of the restaurant. “It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to step-down, but it is time that I think about retirement and focus on me and my family” Janes stated. She goes on to say “the O.S.T. has served as a conduit for my family to grow and expand and I feel confident that a new set of eyes/ideas will serve to keep this piece of history in Texas and serve the daily meals of folks wanting to experience a Texas Tradition”.
Janes wrestled with the idea of selling the restaurant and finally came to the conclusion that the sale of the restaurant and the accompanying real estate was the best way to provide for a smooth transition and offering. In presenting the idea to staff, there were many concerns; however, the employees (some who have worked at O.S.T. for more than 20-years) soon realized their role in the long-term success and continual operation of the business. “All of the employees have been so gracious in my decision to sell the restaurant and I genuinely can’t thank them enough for what they have done to make the business so successful”. Janes felt that the open discussion with staff would serve as a olive-branch and with such excellent staff, the new Owner/Operator of the restaurant will be able to “transition with full support of employees”.
According to Janes, the placement of the business and real estate for sale was not a conventional ‘cookie-cutter’ deal and she wanted someone who not only knew the intricacies of the Historical Real Estate Market, but one who was familiar with the region. JVL Real Estate (Jerrett V. Lamb – Broker) was selected as the Exclusive Broker to negotiate on behalf of Janes and sort-through prospective Owner/Operator candidates to procure a ‘Best-Fit’. Although ready for the next steps in her life, Janes is eager to ‘teach-the-ropes’ of the business to a new Owner and give her time to ensure that the patrons of the O.S.T. are provided with the same customer service and quality foods they have come to expect.
Serving as the original site of the First National Bank building prior to its move to the (now) Main Street, the building served many roles in Bandera's infancy. Originally constructed in 1920, the building transitioned through hardware store, retail, antiques and its current phase as a fully-functioning limited service Restaurant. The building was expanded and remodeled with new plumbing, wiring, roofing, siding and the addition of a commercial kitchen were added in 2018.
With the rich history and the excellent visibility along 11th Street, this iconic building is ready for a new Owner or Owner/Operator. The building (real estate) can be purchased independently without the commercial kitchen equipment and service coolers, or could be continued and purchased in-full as a functioning restaurant. The expansion of service hours woudl directly augment the gross sales for the hungry patrons of the Bandera area. The possibilities are endless and await your ideas and dreams.
If you are ready to establish your very own place in History and step back in time to a more friendly atmoshphere in the restaurant business, Don’t miss this select opportunity to stake your claim in the famed history of Bandera “The Cowboy Capital of the World”.
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Historical First National Bank Building - Bandera, Texas
Bandera County
** Sold **
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Historic First National Bank Building
Downtown Main Street - Bandera, Texas
Constructed in 1890, the former First National Bank building was a Main Street fixture of the growing City of Bandera in its infancy. Occupied through the 1940’s, the banks history includes a suspected robbery by the infamous ‘Newton Gang’, where the banks safe was breached and all the contents stolen.
Since its glory-days as a financial institution, the building has served as a residence, retail store, bakery, flower-shop, dance studio and various venture businesses in-between. The Owners of the building operated a coffee shop (The Dog-Leg Coffee House) for a number of years and turned to leasing the building after closing down the bistro.
With the rich history and the excellent visibility along Bandera’s Main Street, this iconic building is ready for a new Owner. The building could be combined with the O.S.T. Restaurant building and could serve as an excellent opportunity to offer a Saloon/Bar/Restaurant/Fine Dining opportunity or simply a stand-alone business. The possibilities are endless and await your ideas and dreams. Don’t miss this select opportunity to stake your claim in the famed history of Bandera “The Cowboy Capital of the World”.
The First National Bank Building is positioned well to combine with the Historic Old Spanish Trail Restaurant and would serve as a unique combination Restaurant/Bar, Restaurant/Retail or a stand-alone Professional Practice or Dual-Tenant Retail. Buildings of this nature do not come on the market often and with the expansive growth of the San Antonio MSA, the bedroom community of Bandera is a great location to take advantage of the expansion, while still offering a feel of 'small-town' Texas.
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9742 SH-16 South - Commercial/Retail - Pipe Creek, Texas ** SOLD **
Property Description:
This 1/2-Acre Tract is located next to E-Z Mart, along the South Line of State Highway 16, South within the unicorporated area of Pipe Creek, Texas. An excellent piece of Prime Un-Zoned property with concrete threshold for Ingress/Egress to/from S.H. 16 already in-place for a new retail/residential property. Property is located in the growing northwest corridor, which is experiencing rapid expansion. This is an excellent opportunity for retail/office, owner-occupied, professional practice, restaurant, etc.
Location Description: Hwy 16 South between Helotes and Bandera and more particularly located next to E-Z Mart Convenience Store.
8161 SH-16 South - Pipe Creek, Texas
** SOLD **
Property Description: Excellent combination residential/commercial acreage located along the State Highway 16 corridor between Pipe Creek and Bandera, Texas. The main home offers over 2,700 square feet of living space in a remodeled/expanded two-story home and offers four (4) full bedrooms and two (2) full baths. Coupled with the home is a large retail/warehouse building with dock-high loading as well as grade-level area currently serving as a feed store, which has been in operation for nearly 40-years. In addition, the property offers numerous outbuildings and enclosed covered barn/storage areas. The rear portion of the land is level and open and could be used to expand on a new business opportunity or held as managable lands for agricultural projects. The property includes a smaller guest house as well.
Location Description: The City of Pipe Creek has long been a bedroom community of San Antonio that enjoys excellent traffic flow as well as providing for year-round activities through the highly visited Cowboy Capital of the World (Bandera, Texas). The subject property is centrally located along the primary traffic arterial and enjoys a major traffic count component and excellent visibility. The subject improvements are uniquely aligned to provide for high visibility, excellent continuous traffic flow as well as some nice mature trees to enhance the overall development appeal of the property.
JVL Real Estate, as Broker, asserts that the information contained herein is submitted without representation or warranty. All information is subject to error, omissions, price change, changes in terms and conditions, prior sale, and withdrawal from the market without notice. JVL Investments, LLC (dba: JVL Real Estate) is a Texas Licensed Real Estate Brokerage License Number 0471133
