Po Po is not just your ordinary
restaurant. It has a unique history with a cast of
unique characters and circumstances, a matchless plate
collection, as well as some of the best food in the Texas Hill
County. It is located six miles North of Boerne about ˝ mile off
I-10 at the Welfare exit #533. If you have ever been there, you
will never forget the good food and the nostalgic experience.
The structure was first built as a dance hall in 1929 by a
rancher and a dairyman, Edwin Nelson. There were just gravel
roads in the area then. First he built a gas station and then
the dance hall. Nelson City was put on the map at that time and
is still on the Texas Highway map., although there is no post
office now. Edwin’s son, Harold, said he was twelve years old at
the time and his job was to cook hamburgers at 5 cents. Another
interesting thing was that it was during prohibition so no
alcoholic beverages were allowed inside the dancehall. That
didn’t seem to be a problem however outside the building,
because bootleggers peddled moonshine for 25 cents a shot. You
could buy larger sizes of moonshine up to $3.00 a gallon.
There is also a story of the times of the Great Depression. At
the Nelson Dance Hall they started out with a dance every two
weeks. The orchestra, when there was one, played form 8:00 p.m.
to 2:00 a.m. and was paid $25.00. Sometimes there was just
old-time music with a violin and a guitar and the two were paid
a total of $5.00 to play. Admission started out at 25 cents each
but as the depression became worse, the price dropped to a dime
and then finally just to the passing of a hat. People didn't
have the money to buy gasoline to get there and the dance hall
failed.
Po Po was sold in 1932 to Edwin “Ned”
Houston, a very colorful rancher across the road, who is well
known for his large export operation of cattle, mules and other
animals to Latin America. His children Rena and “Fritz,” have
said that he sold to Pancho Villa in Mexico, Batista in Cuba,
Trujillo in the Dominican Republic and Somoza in Nicaragua.
Ned Houston started a restaurant in what used to be the Nelson
Dance Hall and named it Po-Po Cafe. The name is generally
accepted as coming form Popocatepetl, the great Mexican volcano.
This was well known to him in his Mexican ventures and it is
said that he wanted a short, punchy name.
View of the 2000+ plates that adorn the walls.
Houston sold Po Po to Willie Reinhard in 1934. It changed hands
several times and had some hard times until it was sold to
Luther and Marie Burgon in 1950. This is the time that the great
restaurant days of Po-Po began when it became a family
restaurant.
They
began operating
Po Po, developing the reputation of its being one
of the finest restaurants in the area. It was the place to
go for the well-known families in San Antonio and residents of
the Hill Country alike. Luther and Marie traveled one month
a year and were not satisfied with photos as a reminder of
their many travels. They began collecting plates which now
adorn the walls of the two large rooms of Po Po. They now
number about 2000+ on display, many of which were donated and each
with a special story behind it for you to see and enjoy. The
Burgons kept Po Po as a family restaurant until 1981. In
1983 it was sold to Jerry and Jenny Tilley and son, David, and
is now open as a fully operating family restaurant. With the
addition of a sound stage and covered dance area, outdoor patio
area and a complete kitchen, Po-Po is capable of serving up to
200 people outdoors for private parties.
"As of June, 2004, the restaurant was sold to Sam Bournias and
Mark Admire; with the hope and desire to continue this Texas
Tradition for another 75 years."
Whatever
your family, party or corporate entertainment needs – Po
Po is here to serve.
