Pig Stand #41

Met my brother Mike and my mom for lunch at Katherine & Co. across the street from the Old Pig Stand on Calder. (Opened in 1941) It's been closed since 2006. Looking into the windows of the drive-in/diner, however, and you'll see everything is "just" as it was -- glassware waiting to be used, tables ready to be seated - a restaurant stuck in time. I didn't realize it was still filled with everything that made it the Pig Stand.

Apparently, the first Pig Stand in Dallas opened up in 1921 specializing in "pig sandwiches" (Southern-style barbecued pork on a bun), milkshakes, and car side service. The founder's philosophy was "people with cars are so lazy that they don't want to get out of them to eat." So the first carhops were born. They claim to have invented onion rings, chicken fried steak, and Texas Toast. (Thanks for helping make Texas fat, by the way...)
They never used processed foods to do it though, everything they cooked with was fresh... just really, really bad for you.
The new owners would like to raze it and build a gas station/convenience store (yeah... just what we need on that corner... oh wait. no we don't) but would be open to building one in the parking lot next to it if someone will rent the Pig Stand and "open up a donut shop". Beaumont historic preservationists are trying to get it listed on the registry of historic buildings. And with that, renovations are eligible for a 20% tax credit. (According to The Beaumont Enterprise in an article dated June 2009.)

It's a cool, iconic building on the border of "Old Town". I don't remember the food being particularly memorable (I was there for a birthday party once in 1999 I think...) but it is a part of my hometown's history.
So... enjoy a little piece of Southeast Texas history. I'm going to go hang out with my family.
Ciao ciao.