Waco in McLennan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Elite Cafe

Photographed by Gregory Walker, September 5, 2013

1. Elite Cafe Marker

Inscription. The first Elite cafe opened in downtown Waco in 1919 and was acquired by the Greek immigrant Colias family in 1920. The Colias brothers opened this Elite cafe in 1941 on "The Circle," a traffic hub built on Waco's suburban edge in the early 1930s. A highly recognized local landmark, and one of the best remaining regional examples of mid-20th century roadside architecture, the building exhibits a distinctive Spanish Colonial style popular in the southwest. Recorded Texas Historic Landamrk - 1995

Erected 1995 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1454.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 31° 31.476′ N, 97° 7.963′ W. Marker is in Waco, Texas, in McLennan County. It is at the intersection of South Valley Mills Drive and The Circle, on the right when traveling west on South Valley Mills Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2132 South Valley Mills Drive, Waco TX 76706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bell's Hill School (approx. one mile away); Site of Old Texas Cotton Palace (approx. 1½ miles away); Dr. Andrew Joseph Armstrong and Mary Maxwell Armstrong

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(approx. 1½ miles away); The Armstrong Browning Library (approx. 1½ miles away); Albert Turner Clifton House (approx. 1½ miles away); Confederate Veterans Monument (approx. 1½ miles away); Confederate Veterans Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Robertson (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waco.

Elite Cafe with marker visible image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, September 5, 2013

2. Elite Cafe with marker visible

Elite Cafe as seen from the street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, September 5, 2013

3. Elite Cafe as seen from the street.

The Elite Cafe and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 26, 2023

4. The Elite Cafe and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2013, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,690 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 15, 2013, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. 4. submitted on October 8, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.