Palace Saloon and Cafe

Palace Saloon and Cafe. . References to a Palace Saloon, managed by A. Kubitz, date back to at least 1890. The establishment was housed in a one-story wood frame structure at the corner of Ave. E and 7th Street, facing the railroad tracks. Sometime between 1890 and 1893, German immigrant Anton William Hinrichs (1868-1936) became manager of the Palace Saloon. By 1894, the palace installed a lunch stand run by Ed Ruhman, which served food for free to patrons of the saloon. The Palace featured a very popular cock fighting ring behind the building. For the next few years, the Palace experienced turnover of several managers, including Ed Ruhman and Louis Richter, former mayor J.C. Blohm, Paul Stuerke, Fred Hillmer, E.J. Wangemann, Adolph Darilek and William Zappe., Under the ownership of Zappe, the frame structure was torn down and replaced with a two-story brick building, constructed by William Green. After Texas ratified prohibition in 1919, Zappe sold the palace to Rudolph Chlastak, who then operated a "cold drink business." In 1921, Chlastak sold the Palace to Hugo Pohler, who would often advertise under the names Pohler's Cold Drink Bar or Pohler's Palace Bar. The Palace also sold candy, fruit, fireworks and cigars. In 1934, Pohler renovated the interior to a modern dining room and changed the name of the establishment to the Palace Café. The new café became a meeting place for the residents of Shiner. During this time, Kamila (Mikes) Lee waited tables. In 1942, Lee purchased the restaurant. In 1947, Lee and her new husband, Hugo Schwabe, purchased the business. The Schwabe family operated the Palace until 1989. After renovations, the Palace later reopened for a new generation of Shiner residents.