Amarillo Magazine | January 2019

amarillomagonline.com JANUARY 2019

INSIDE:

Getting Organized in the New Year New Life in Downtown Amarillo Prime Chophouse

$5.95 US AMARILLO MAGAZINE

Runs in the

Family The Singleton

siblings and their entrepreneurial acumen

CONTENTS

21

28

16

32

FEATURES ON THE COVER

21 Runs in the Family The Singleton siblings are all entrepreneurs. They’re in business together, navigating financial entanglements and family relationships with apparent ease.

By Jason Boyett

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

28 Impressing on Polk How award-winning new construction is bringing new life to one of the city’s most iconic blocks

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SECTIONS 14 Brushing Up The start of a new year is the perfect time to refresh your collection of makeup brushes.

16 New Systems for the New Year Organizer Cabri Carpenter helps households purge, then steps in to arrange everything that’s left.

32 Link Up Chef Coleman McNabb, of Prime Chophouse & Lounge, shares a few of the restaurant’s popular recipe combinations, paired with its Texas-Style Smoked Sausage Links.

Contributors/Online........ 6 Out & About.................... 8 Andy's World..................12 Dress Code.....................14 Home.............................16 What’s Cooking?........... 32 Events........................... 39 Let’s Eat!........................ 53 Retro Rewind................. 62 20 Questions.................64

WISE The owl has been a symbol of wisdom dating back to ancient Greece. Its piercing vision allows it to see what others cannot. The wise owl represents one of Mother Nature’s most efficient and effective creatures.

Sprouse Shrader Smith’s skilled attorneys are driven to exceed client expectations through hard work, efficiency, and innovation while honoring our commitment to family and community.

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From Ag Law to Wealth Management and everything in between, trust our wisdom to advise you.

Sprouse ShraderSmith pllc We Know Law Amarillo • Austin • Victoria SprouseLaw.com

E D I TO R ’ S L E T T E R

Group Publisher Robert C. Granfeldt rgranfeldt@amarillo.com

Regional Director of Michele McAffrey Specialty Products/Editor 806.345.3256 mmcaffrey@amarillo.com

Regional Designer

Contributing Designer

Kayla Morris Darren Hendricks

Contributing Writer Jason Boyett

Contributing Photographer Shannon Richardson

Director of Operations Belinda Mills & Advertising Sales Team Lead Cindy Ledesma

Account Jennifer Bailey Representatives Arien Canales Tracy Clark Sharon Denny Lewis Palmer Jaime Pipkin Aaron Vallance To advertise in Amarillo Magazine or on amarillomagonline.com, please contact Belinda Mills at 345.3373.

Regional Executive Editor

Jill Nevels-Haun

600 S. Tyler St., Suite 630, Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of AGN Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.

A

s an Amarillo native, it has been such a thrill to see the explosion of development and activity in downtown Amarillo. A once stagnant area has, at long last, turned into a pretty cool place to hang out.

My in-laws love to share stories of their young adulthood, when downtown was a vibrant, busy neighborhood. When my mother-in-law and fatherin-law were first dating, they would catch a movie in one of the theaters or enjoy a meal at one of the soda fountains or eateries. They also shopped downtown; it was the hub of the city.

I have no memories of an active downtown Amarillo as a young person. The shift of businesses and eateries to the southwest was already well underway. By the time I was old enough to drive, we’d drag Polk Street on the weekends, but that was about it for any time spent downtown – and nothing but trouble.

Until I began working at the Amarillo Globe-News, I rarely ventured downtown. Yes, there was jury duty or the occasional concert, but you sure didn’t want to be caught downtown after dark. The same year I started at the Globe, Crush opened its doors on the corner of Seventh and Polk. It instantly became a favorite lunchtime and early evening hangout of ours. And it is even more so now, with the gorgeous new building it shares with Six Car Pub & Brewery. Every time we visit either of the restaurants – or the new (and gorgeous) Esquire Jazz Club and Off the Hook Fine Seafood nestled above Esquire – we comment on the buzz in the neighborhood. To see younger locals walking down Polk Street, headed for a safe and fun night out is miraculous. I couldn’t have imagined it even a couple of years ago. It’s so exciting.

So this month, we celebrate the visionaries that have been brave enough to invest in downtown, which promises continued growth and a better quality of life for all of us. First, our cover story, featuring the Singleton siblings – also known as “The Triple Threat.” Talk about brave. It seems they’re not afraid to tackle anything. And then, we give you the back story on the development of the corner at Seventh and Polk – the people behind Crush and Six Car’s impressive new building.

We relished an outstanding year in 2018, and we’re delighted that we’ll celebrate our 10th anniversary in 2019. We’ve got exciting things planned for the future. Join us, won’t you?

Happy New Year,

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

Thank You for Choosing BSA!

BSA Health System is proud to be a finalist for the Best of Amarillo award in the following categories: • Best Emergency Room (2 years in a row)

• Best Urgent Care (6 years in a row)

• Best Company Culture

• Best Workplace Culture

• Best Employee Recognition Program

• Most Innovative Workplace

• Best Overall Company to Work For

• Best Allergist/Immunologist

• Best Overall Leadership

• Best Audiologist

• Best Training Program

AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS

BEST 2018 OF AMARILLO

BSA is committed to providing quality healthcare in Christian love, service and dignity for our patients, their families and the communities we serve. It’s the unwavering dedication that has made us your healthcare leader for generations. bsahs.org | 1600 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, TX 79106 | (806) 212-2000

AMARILLO

BE 20

OF AM

CO N T R I B U TO R S

JASON BOYETT Writer

DARREN HENDRICKS Designer

Jason has written more than a dozen books and is the host and creator of “Hey Amarillo,” a local interview podcast. Visit heyamarillo.com and jasonboyett.com.

Darren is a graphic designer who has worked with newspaper, publication, website and advertising clients around the country for more than 20 years. He lives in McPherson, Kansas, with his family. See his work at dviso.com.

SHANNON RICHARDSON Photographer Shannon has been photographing commercial/ advertising work for more than 20 years. See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.

amarillomagonline.com ONLINE

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OUT & ABOUT

National Philanthropy Day Luncheon On Nov. 15 the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon was held at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Thirteen awards were given to local businesses and individuals for categories that ranged from Outstanding Large Business to the Spirit of Philanthropy.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Jessica Horning, Julie Sims, Paula O’Neal and Danita Marrow

Kathi Schutz, Brandi Reed, Suzy Compton, David Kemp, Mildred Sutton and Lacy Henninger

J.Rich Sparks and Cody Chandler

Val and Pat White

Peggy McQuire and Paul Engler

Kasey Long and Lance Kieth

Emily Balderas, Yadhira Marruto, Irene Arroyo, Mirka Flores and Karina Martinez

Bruce Moseley, Shari Medford and Carolina Walden

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Jeff Gulde and Maryann Malone Hueston

Katherine Quinlin and Susie Akers

Breakfast with Santa Don Harrington Discovery Center hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa event on Dec. 1. The family-friendly breakfast included photos with Santa, activities, and crafts for children.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Aaron, Sawyer, Emily and Benjamin Hughes

James, Audrey, Easton, Kris and Ada Schultz

Juan, Tonya and Presley Price

Amanda, Chris, Nathaniel and Abby Whiteside

Kayla and Maci Lumley

Brianne, Nathan and Derek Davis

Mary Caroline, Christopher and Jack Saied

Atlyson and Jessica Cox, and Deborah Huebner

Sonia and Ace Alonzo

Nicholas and Lisa Touma JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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OUT & ABOUT

20th Anniversary Celebration On Dec. 11 Amarillo Botanical Gardens held a 20th Anniversary Celebration. The event honored members of The Senior Ambassador Coalition, and included a gift drop-off area, special speaker, and awards presentation.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Michelle Verret, Susan Thomason and Wyndella Kelly

Lyndie Craven, Vicki Stapleton and Jerry Arrellano

Glen and Laina Storlie

Debra King and Shelly Gilbreth

Johnny Puckett and Becky Milburn

Kenneth and D’Ann Berry

Christine Bollinger and Sharayah Carpenter

Jeff and Linda Comer

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Tiffany Alley and Donna Alexander

Rhonda Wilkins and Mary Lou Venhaus

North Side Toy Drive The annual North Side Toy Drive event was held on Dec. 14 at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. The black-tie event included dinner, dancing, jazz and casino games.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Randa, Nicole, Rance and Cynthia Jeter

Justin and Ronnae Nevins, JoAnna Estrada and Alexander Cordova

Darra Cunningham and Ralph Cooper

Roshanda Tinnin and Timothy Wells

Daniel and Ty-Kisha Scott

Antonio and Cynthia Calleros

Joe and Jennifer Tindall, and Dr. Dianne and David McKenzie

Delores Thompson, Maxine Brandon and Rosemary Shanklin

Elton Bradley II and Allison Roberts

Marlon Smith and Aaron Goss

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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ANDY’S WORLD

W

You Say You Want a Resolution?

ell, you know that millions who celebrate Jan. 1 as the beginning of a new year also feel the need to set goals each time it rolls around.

Not to dash anyone’s hopes and dreams, but I have noticed that the older one gets, the less ambitious the year’s resolutions.

According to a fellow named Martin Armstrong, a statistics journalist for Statista, an online entity that claims to compile data from more than 22,000 separate sources (I didn’t have time to confirm all of that.), roughly one-third of us do not bother with new year’s resolutions. Hooray for the realists.

This, however, leaves the full two-thirds that stubbornly cling to the old ways.

The most popular resolutions, of course, have to do with eating.

You know, “Eat healthier, stick to my diet, try a new diet, do that fad diet, design my own diet.” (That last one doesn’t work.

Trust me on that.)

Two decades ago, my dietary resolutions were like that of a super hero: “Take off 25 pounds, increase fiber intake, protein shakes every day, two on Sunday.” This devolved to, “Take off 10 pounds, remember the fiber, watch the fat, and keep up the protein.” I think the last time I actually wrote a list it was along the lines of, “Don’t gain any more weight, try bran flakes instead of Fruit Loops now and again, and green vegetables don’t actually kill people.” My personal trends, are, admittedly, a bit disturbing.

According to our statistics journalist, the one with more than 22,000 sources, the second hottest resolutions are related to the first.

No. 2 is “Get more exercise.”

I do understand that, for many people, time-budgeting for physical exercise is a top priority. It is unclear to me whether my lack of budget-able time is a function of age, an insanely random schedule, or a preexisting condition – that of poor time management skills. It makes me feel better about myself to believe each of the former, but it probably is, in fact, the latter. I did, however, speak with one of my old football coaches to ask if all that strenuous working out from back in the day would transfer up to the here-and-now. He told me to take five laps. Taking that as a “no.”

The third most popular resolution is maybe the toughest: “Save money” (or at least “save MORE money”). I don’t know about your house, but here’s how the money car runs at the Casa Del Cundiff: My

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beautiful and adored wife is the gas and I am the brakes. She does her job with superior zest and excellence. She firewalls it and leaves it there. It’s the Bonneville Salt Flats of Expenditure at our place, and any attempt at deceleration is severely frowned upon. Paired with money’s unfortunate tendency to lose its value in real time, it seems almost frugal to spend it while it is still actually worth something. (That last bit of reasoning makes me a little jumpy. I think I’ve been listening to the “gas pedal” for too long.)

Coming in at No. 4 is “Get more sleep.” This seems like a no-brainer and a very achievable goal, perhaps even the easiest on the old res list.

That is, unless you have kids. Or a mate.

Or a job. Or a cat. Or a dog. Or a cell phone.

You get the idea. My advice to you: power naps. Don’t lie all the way down or you will go to that stage of sleep that makes you awaken without the knowledge of what day it is. Or your name.

No. 5 is “Read more.” This is one of my personal favorites, and by far the safest of the pop resolutions.

You probably won’t pull a muscle, break a tooth, lose a limb, or put on weight while reading. Oh – I forgot to tell you – dieticians advise against snacking while reading.

(Statistic boy isn’t the only one with sources.) Reading more is always good. If you read Amarillo Magazine, I think you are on the right track.

No. 6? “Make some new friends.”

Or in a lot of cases, mine included, “Go meet the 3,273 of your 5,000 Facebook “friends” of whose identity you have no clue.

They seem friendly enough.

No. 7 is, to me, an odd one: “Learn a new skill.” I guess this has some fancy intention that deals with opening up new neural pathways, teaching an old dog new tricks, etc., but I currently have a truckload of “skills” that are stone-cold frozen at about a second grade level. The reason is that I followed this stupid resolution too many times.

No. 8: “Get a new job.” Job satisfaction is in a slump right now. I had a good friend once who literally ran off with the circus. I think he’s happy, but don’t know for sure. I haven’t heard from him in 20 years.

Not kidding.

Finally, No. 9 is: “Get a new hobby.” If you have time for that after all these others, you deserve it!

Andy Chase Cundiff The only resolution Andy is a local artist, singer and songwriter, and has I will personally vow called Amarillo home for for 2019, is “De-stress, more than 20 years. He worry less.” plays at a variety of live I wrote that music venues throughout the Panhandle. Contact one myself.

Andy at 376-7918.

Happy New Year!

DRESS CODE

Brushing Up I

n the world of makeup, most of the attention goes to the product itself. But experts in that universe know that the delivery mechanism for those products – makeup brushes – are just as important when it comes to achieving the right look. You can have the highest-quality makeup ever made, but it won’t look right if you don’t apply it the right way. Proper brushes are essential.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to refresh your collection of makeup brushes. With that in mind, we visited the experts at local retailers and asked for a few of their recommendations.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

Wash weekly. Brushes are designed to last for years, as long as you take good care of them. This means washing them every week to remove leftover makeup, facial oils, and any particle buildup. Too much gunk on your brush can lead to breakouts or rashes, especially with brushes used to apply liquid makeup. Use lukewarm water with gentle soap or makeup brush cleanser. Be sure to squeeze out the excess moisture, and then reshape the brush head before allowing it to dry.

Sigma Spa Express brush cleaning mat $25, Dillard’s

Store properly. For organizational purposes as well as hygiene, it’s best to keep your face brushes separate from eye brushes.

Sort them, then store them upright in jars or the handy travel container shown here, to make sure they retain their shape.

Vera Bradley Iconic On a Roll Case $24, Silverland

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Mind the fibers. Back in the day, women sought out brushes made from animal hair because they were so soft. Synthetic brushes were considered cheap and coarse. That’s not the case today, for a variety of reasons. One is changing attitudes toward animal cruelty. The other is because technology allows us to do it better: Most brushes today are made from highquality, artificial fibers. These days, you rarely even hear “hair” used to refer to brushes.

For instance, cruelty-free Sigma X brushes are rated highly due to the super-soft, longlasting quality of their fibers. Unlike animal hair brushes, they don’t shed. The anti-microbial fibers are designed to resist bacteria from skin and makeup. That means holding more product and causing fewer breakouts. They’re easier to wash, too.

When your brush begins to shed fibers or it becomes misshapen, it’s time for a replacement.

La Mer powder brush $85, Dillard’s

Sigma high cheekbone highlighter $20, Dillard’s

Sigma eyeshadow tapered blending brush $17, Dillard’s

Sigma eyeshadow blending brush $15, Dillard’s

The ferrule rule. The metal or chrome band connecting the brush to its handle is called the ferrule. Quality brushes tend to have more durable ferrules. In these cases, high-performing glue is used to keep corrosion to a minimum and maintain adhesion to the handle. Pay special attention to this part of the brush. Broken handles or cracked ferrules can become a breeding ground for bacteria, which may then spread to your hands and face. If the ferrule or handle breaks, replace the brush.

it Cosmetics Velvet Luxe allover shadow brush $26, Ulta

it Cosmetics Love Beauty Fully flawless blush brush $28, Ulta

it Cosmetics Heavenly Skin skinsmoothing complexion brush with anti-aging serum $48, Ulta

it Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe brow power brush $24, Ulta

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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HOME

New Systems for the

New Year F

Before

See the “after” on page 18.

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or many of us, “getting organized” is one of those classic New Year’s Resolutions: really easy to make, difficult to actually accomplish. In a culture where consumption of stuff, stuff and more stuff is just a click away, accumulating too much is far too simple.

That’s why Cabri Carpenter has been able to carve out a business in the Texas Panhandle. After several years in the corporate world – where she focused on efficiency and systems – she started Minimize then Organize to help bring those management skills to the home.

Her clients are parents, empty nesters, overwhelmed homeowners, hoarders, the chronically disorganized and more.

Carpenter’s work involves exactly what her business name conveys.

She helps households purge, then steps in to arrange everything that’s left. “I like helping clients find their true center,” she says. “I help eliminate the things that cause stress or bring more time constraints. I like to help alleviate stress by helping them get back to basics.”

Not every client will end up becoming a minimalist, she says, but everyone can return to a core of finding fulfillment and peace of mind in their home – a position where “too much stuff” no longer hinders their joy.

Carpenter’s approach doesn’t involve stepping in and, like a harsh taskmaster, telling a client to throw things away. Instead, she sets parameters that help homeowners make those decisions on their own.

In organizing a closet, for example, she will ask a homeowner to focus on manageable quantities. How many shoes do you need? How many pairs of pants do you need? How many workout tops? Once they’ve selected a number – say 10 dressy blouses – then she guides them in selecting the items they want to keep. “This helps set their expectations in the moment,” she says. “They don’t have someone preaching to them or forcing anything on them. They are the ones making that choice.”

Once items have been pared down, Carpenter helps arrange them in ways that are as efficient as they are manageable.

Here are a few of her organizational tips, as photographed in the home of a recent client.

Master Closet The divided jewelry trays shown here are stackable. “This gives you more containment,” she says. “If you are running low on space, you can stack them in the closet.” These types of containers offer more visibility than jewelry kept in a dish or jar.

One of Carpenter’s most applicable tips is for homeowners to use slim-line felt hangers. “They aren’t as thick as plastic ones and create a lot of extra space in the closet,” she says. Compared to a dry-cleaning wire hanger, clothes don’t slide off the felt, and these types of hangers don’t leave creases or shoulder divots in articles of clothing.

Because of space concerns and the number of available shelves, this client’s shoes are not arranged by style. “They’re based on color, to visually help her pick what she needs.

She can just match the color to an outfit,” Carpenter says.

While the homeowner wanted her shoes arranged by color, Carpenter helped her divide her clothing according to style.

Longer-hanging items like dresses, skirts and jumpsuits are kept together, as are blouses based on sleeve length. Going into a new year, she advises clients to turn around each article of clothing, and its hanger, on the rod. “Once you wear that item, hang it back up correctly, hooked from the outside,” she says. If several months pass and that item is still reversed in your closet, then you aren’t wearing it very often. “At that point, it’s super-easy to get rid of it,” she says.

Pantry When it comes to pantry organization, Carpenter preaches containment. “Instead of just throwing things on a shelf, put them in a ‘home,’” she says. Divide things like coffee, tea or pasta products into separate bins or small baskets. “That way, you can easily see where [an item] is and where it is supposed to be. It helps you see what you need before you go grocery shopping.”

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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Child’s Closet For her client’s 6-year-old son, Carpenter approached organization differently than she did the master closet. Here, she divided clothing by type inside the pull-out drawers – sweat pants in one, jeans in another, long-sleeve shirts together – and kept the most-used items on accessible lower bins. “He can go in and pick out a pair of bottoms and a top on his own,” she says.

Lesser-used items, like dressy clothes, are stored on a higher rod so his mom can select those outfits.

After

Toys are also arranged and stored by category. “He had a lot of dress-up items, so we created a home for each of these,” Carpenter says, listing headgear, half-masks, and capes as storage categories. Books and board games are placed higher, which requires a parents’ help so the child doesn’t pull several down at once. This photo was taken around six months after Carpenter established the system for the client. “He knows exactly what goes where,” she says. “This helps maintain organization long-term.”

Meet the expert: Cabri Campbell Cabri started Minimize then Organize in November 2017 after spending several years in the corporate world.

She is currently working on completing the training for Certified Professional Organizer status. She offers organizing services in the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains areas. Cabri lives in Lubbock with her dog, and has a Sonic sweet tea with her 95 percent of the time. Learn more at minimizethenorganize.com.

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JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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MEMORIES that last, LEGACIES that endure.

We understand the hopes and dreams of our customers. Land is more than your livelihood, it’s your legacy. Plains Land Bank makes loans on agricultural and recreational land and rural homes at very attractive rates. Let us partner with you to help you own a piece of Texas.

www.PlainsLandBank.com

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Runs in the

Family

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By Jason Boyett

t’s a late morning at Crush Wine Bar & Grill in downtown Amarillo. At a sunny table next to the currently empty upstairs bar, the Singleton siblings are dishing about their parents, Melanie and Garry Singleton.

The three laugh at each other as they identify the lessons they’ve learned from Mom and Dad. “Nobody’s gonna do it for you,” Shelly says.

The oldest of the siblings, Shelly is easily the most talkative of the three.

Next to her, Cherie laughs. “Do what’s got to be done,” she says. The youngest, Cherie is five years younger than Brian and seven years younger than Shelly. “Make it happen,” she continues.

Brian, the middle child and owner of Crush, was born two years after Shelly. He’s the quietest of the bunch but also has the most entrepreneurial experience, juggling several ventures at once.

He steps away to speak to an employee, makes a phone call, then rejoins the conversation about their parents. “Sometimes they think we’re crazy,” he says about his parents. “But we learned it from watching them.”

Like many brothers and sisters, the Singletons seem to get along with the kind of easy, fluid camaraderie that evolves over decades. They finish each other’s sentences, overlap while talking and laugh at inside jokes. They tease each other and make fun of their parents, their playfulness layered upon a deeper appreciation.

But unlike many siblings, the Singletons are all entrepreneurs. They’re in business together, navigating financial entanglements and family relationships with apparent ease. Among the three of them, they’ve spent the past year expanding or launching multiple businesses in a complex web of enterprise (see sidebar).

What’s the story with this unique entrepreneurial family?

The Singleton siblings: (L-R) Shelly, Cherie and Brian

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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T

he Singleton kids all grew up working in and around Quality Paint & Body, their parents’ downtown body shop, which until the 1990s, was located across from Plains Dairy. Garry Singleton didn’t attend college, instead spending his post-graduation years learning auto body work at the Amarillo Volkswagen dealership. He and Melanie married in the mid 1970s. Young and ambitious, she encouraged him to open his own repair business.

“She was the driving force,” Shelly explains. “She just kind of pushed him to that next level to do it themselves.”

When he finally did, in the late 1970s, the husband and wife shared ownership of Quality Paint & Body. He was the craftsman.

She ran the office and dealt with insurance companies. They were both still young, in their mid-twenties. “Mom tells stories about customers asking to speak to the owners or managers, and her saying, ‘I’m the owner.’ They were just kids operating this business,” says Shelly.

She, Brian and Cherie practically grew up in the shop. Brian spent his teenage years hauling trash and sanding cars. “I was a freshman in high school, working down there and taking cars apart.

That’s all we knew how to do,” he says.

The girls weren’t spared from the work. Learning from their parents, both developed a love for classic cars and restoration projects. They also learned self-reliance. “We joke and call Mom ‘Rosie the Riveter’ because, if she doesn’t know how to do it, she’ll figure it out,” Shelly says. “Mom is definitely not the type of person to sit around and wait for someone to do something for her. Even simple stuff like changing a tire. I’m not ever going to get stranded on the side of the road because my tire’s flat.”

All three of the children praise their parents’ work ethic, with Shelly, the oldest, describing it most succinctly. “They didn’t complain. Even during the thin times, they didn’t really let it be known. They just worked more to get the bills paid or put food on the table,” she says. “There would be nights where Dad was down at the shop until midnight trying to get a part delivered so we would have what we needed.”

The business succeeded, but the relationship didn’t last.

Eventually Melanie and Garry divorced. According to the terms, she got the house and Garry kept the business. He closed it down in the late 1990s to go to work for another shop. Meanwhile, Melanie went to college and earned a teaching degree – she and Cherie graduated from college the same year – but never found the same fulfillment in teaching she’d enjoyed from the body shop.

So a few years ago, in Shelly’s words, the divorced Singleton parents “got the band back together, so to speak.” No, the two still aren’t married or romantically involved. But they did become business partners again. With Brian as a silent partner, they opened Singleton Collision Service in 2014. It’s located near I-27 and Arden Road on Camp Lane.

The kids laugh and shake their heads when they talk about it.

“They’re back in business,” Cherie says. “They’re still driving each other crazy. It’s kinda funny. And it’s really weird.”

“Our mom is a unique woman for sure,” Shelly says.

Melanie passed that originality on to her kids.

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Shelly Singleton

I

t started with Allure magazine. “I was reading it one day and they had this section on spas all over the nation,” Shelly says. Newly graduated from high school, she was working at Dillard’s and hoping to get promoted to the retailer’s highprofile makeup counters. But the spa article used a term she hadn’t encountered before: aesthetician. “I looked it up. It was a light bulb moment.”

Unlike, for instance, a cosmetologist who might focus on personal beauty in the form of hair or nails, an aesthetician specializes in skin care, from facials to body waxing. Amarillo only had cosmetology training programs – “I had zero desire to do hair,” Shelly admits – so she found a six-month program in Lubbock.

Living in a travel trailer parked at a KOA Campground, Shelly completed the program. Upon graduating, she found her way to Austin and landed her first job as an aesthetician.

It wasn’t just any job, either. Shelly applied for a position at Austin’s renowned Halina European Day Spa – and got it. As a teenager, Halina Pradzynski had been a World War II-era Polish resistance leader against the Nazis, then became a prisoner of war, escaped, and then learned skin-care techniques in Paris during the post-war period. When Halina’s husband was offered a research position at the University of Texas, she came with him to Austin. In Texas she discovered that Americans knew all about beauty salons but next to nothing about European spas, much less the European approach to skin care. Seeing a business opportunity, Pradzynski opened her day spa in 1970.

“This was probably the second or third day spa in the United States,” Shelly says. Within the industry, Halina Pradzynski was skincare royalty. “I had no idea. I just needed a job.”

Most of Halina’s employees had been immigrants from Poland or Russia. Over the years, perhaps only two dozen American-born aestheticians have worked at Halina’s. Shelly Singleton is one of them. “As the saying goes, if you can’t study [skin care] in Europe, then study with Europeans,” she says.

After four years working with those Europeans, Shelly decided to venture out on her own. She struck out. “It didn’t work,” she says. “It’s very hard, being in that city, to make something happen when you’re someone small in an industry that’s super-saturated.”

She ended up working for a national waxing chain, European Wax Center, then took another position in Dallas with Waxing the City. “I figured out [waxing] was my forte, but I kept running into the same issues. I’m a good worker and I’ll do what needs to be done, but I don’t like to be micromanaged. I decided I needed to do my own thing and I didn’t care where it was.”

While visiting friends and family on a quick trip home, Shelly found herself looking at commercial real estate listings. One mentioned a small office space in Amarillo. Intrigued, she contacted the listing agent, visited the property, and rented it on the spot. The 300-square-foot office included space for a waiting area, a treatment room, and bathroom. “I remember calling my mom and telling her I just rented the space to open The Perfect Peach,” says Shelly, who had been keeping that business name in her back pocket.

This time around, the solo venture worked. Brian helped his sister source furnishings and equipment. Melanie helped lay the flooring and paint the walls. The Perfect Peach opened in Amarillo, and within three years, was booked solid with clients. Over the next few years, Shelly expanded and hired, then moved, then expanded

Shelly works on a client at The Perfect Peach

and hired again. By Feb. 1, 2019, The Perfect Peach will expand once more, opening a new space in Greenways Village, where the growing business will serve customers across six treatment rooms.

Why did Shelly’s waxing business fail in Austin but take off in Amarillo? “Amarillo needed someone with your experience,” Cherie tells her sister. A few other salons may have been providing body waxing services, but Shelly took it to another level.

Shelly chalks that success up to a combination of technique and hard-won grit. “The reason it worked out for me this time around is because I had so much experience. I spent 10 years perfecting what I do, and when I finally came in and did it on my own, the second time, I was more prepared. My skillset was more in-depth,” she says.

She’s not done using that skillset. In addition to the new location for The Perfect Peach, Shelly has also partnered with Brian to open Spa 79101, a new downtown concept on Polk Street, located in the second-floor space above Butler’s Martini Bar and the old Crush. Opening this month, the spa will offer massages, manicures, pedicures and a broad range of skin care. “It’s not as focused on waxing,” Shelly says. “Downtown is growing. I thought being a part of that growth would be really cool.”

Plus, with new hotels and plenty of daytime business traffic, she and Brian felt the timing was right for Amarillo’s first true downtown spa. “Our main clientele is going to be people who currently work downtown,” she says. “You can run over during your lunch break and get your brows done, get a manicure, get an express facial.”

In the months ahead, Shelly will be dividing her time between the two businesses, stepping out of the treatment room and taking on a more extensive management role. She has mixed feelings about the change – she loves interacting with clients – but feels it’s the next step in pursuit of her entrepreneurial dreams. “You don’t do what I do if you don’t like people,” she says. “But it’s necessary for the growth that I want for the businesses.”

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Cherie Singleton Scholz

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he youngest of the siblings, Cherie earned a degree in Animal Sciences from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, then landed a job as a lab tech with Hilmar Cheese Company in Dalhart. “I found a job posting in Dalhart for a lab tech and was highly qualified.

I thought, ‘I can do that,’” she says. That was 2009.

As a lab tech, she learned to operate food manufacturing equipment and developed an extensive knowledge of cheese production. By 2011, she had worked her way up to chemistry lab supervisor, where she focused on quality control, monitoring the consistency and taste of giant blocks of Hilmar Cheese.

“How much cheese did you eat in a day?” Shelly asks, laughing.

Cherie’s answer: Enough.

Just as Shelly didn’t realize the industry significance of Halina’s, Cherie was unaware of the prestige Hilmar carried within the dairy industry. But that reputation followed her as Cherie’s career progressed. Eventually, she left Hilmar behind to take another supervisor position at a dairy in Hugoton, Kansas. Then, in 2013, she returned to Amarillo to become laboratory director at Plains Dairy.

In 2016, Cherie changed again, helping open the Lone Star Dairy Products plant in Canyon as its quality assurance manager.

“The best thing I ever did for my dairy career was leave Hilmar,” she says. When that name appears on a resume, it stands out.

“There’s a lot of prestige to what they do and how they do it,” says Cherie.

But just like her sister got burned out working for other people, Cherie ran into her own frustrations. Working in management, she was a woman working in what is still largely a man’s world. “I was trying to run the quality control side and make sure everyone met the standards. I got a lot of pushback,” she says. In early 2017, Cherie mentioned to Brian that she was getting tired of butting heads at work. “I was kind of over it.”

He asked her what she might want to do instead.

All Cherie knew was food production. She knew dairies and manufacturing and food safety and quality control.

At his own restaurant, Brian was in the middle of planning a special wine dinner for Crush patrons. The final course included a popsicle made from Prosecco. Participants loved it, and Brian – ever the entrepreneur – took note. Not long after, he visited Steel City Pops, an all-natural, handmade popsicle shop in Dallas. Brian came home with an idea. The City of Amarillo was relaxing its food truck regulations. What about a gourmet popsicle food truck?

He pitched the idea to his sister, a food manufacturing expert.

“He asked me, ‘Is this something you want to do?’” Cherie remembers. She laughs. “I was like, I don’t not want to make popsicles.”

She agreed to it. Brian ordered the equipment.

At first it was a side gig. Cherie was still working at Lone Star, but traveled to Florida to learn how to formulate gourmet flavors and operate the popsicle-making equipment. “It totally tied back to my experience at Plains Dairy, where we formulated chocolate milk and eggnog recipes. That sensory evaluation ran very deep in my career, so it fit really well,” she says.

By the time she returned from training, the equipment had arrived. Shelly remembers the first batch her sister made: a total of 26 “straight-up strawberry”-flavored popsicles. “We were all there. It was a very exciting thing,” Shelly says.

“I think we all ate the entire first batch,” says Cherie. By June of 2017, with Brian and his wife, Savannah Ware Singleton, as partners, Cherie had opened her Purple Flamingo Pops food truck. She spent the summer introducing the fresh, unique flavors around town. In

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August, she resigned from Lone Star Dairy to commit to the business full-time.

By the time the summer of 2018 came around, Cherie knew she had made the right choice. “Right before school let out [in May], we hit really big with end-of-the-year parties,” she says. “The rest of the summer just kept rolling by, more and more and more.”

A downtown fixture on Saturdays at the Amarillo Community Market, Purple Flamingo’s truck became a magnet for market-goers hoping for some delicious relief from the summer heat. To prepare for each Saturday, Cherie and Savannah would make the popsicles every Sunday morning in the kitchen of the old Crush location, when the restaurant was closed. “We’d meet up and make popsicles all day,” Cherie says. “I really appreciate that time we spent together. We got to know each other a lot better. It was so much fun.”

The Amarillo Community Market also proved to be fun – and fruitful. People who first sampled the popsicles at the market began booking the food truck for block parties and other large events.

“The Community Market is such a cool thing because it draws all kinds of people from all over the city, every week,” Cherie says. On days when prior engagements required them to skip the market, customers would contact Purple Flamingo on social media to tell them how much they’d missed their Saturday popsicle.

That’s one reason Cherie and Brian are opening Purple Flamingo’s first brick-and-mortar popsicle shop this month in Wolflin Village, at the old Village Bakery location. The miniature shop will share a kitchen with a second location of Crush, which the family has nicknamed “Baby Crush.”

Cherie expects customers to stop in for a quick popsicle, or to order several and take them home for later. Combined with the food truck, the two locations give the business much more flexibility – especially during the busy summer season.

“Now we can be in two places at once,” Cherie says.

Brian Singleton

D

espite growing up in the car shop and showing an early interest and talent in art, Brian struggled to find his place in the world. Ask him where he went to college; he’ll answer, “Which time?”

His freshman year was spent attending college in Joliet, Illinois, where he played soccer. He grew tired of the intensity of collegiate sports and decided he wanted a more traditional university experience. So he moved home to Amarillo, enrolled at West Texas A&M University, and began working at El Rey, a nowdefunct Mexican food joint on Georgia Street. Later, Brian moved to Denton and the University of North Texas, where he found work at a bar and studied studio art. Finally, he returned to Amarillo and finished his art degree at WT. “I did it at my own speed, and I spent all my time working in

restaurants and bars,” he says. In 2003, Brian helped his then-brotherin-law, Brian Mason, open Zen 721 on Polk Street. Singleton started as a prep cook at Zen and made his way up into management by the time the restaurant closed. “Brian was kind of my mentor,” Singleton says.

With Bo Salling, Mason and Singleton then partnered up to open Crush Wine Bar & Deli in 2008. The upscale restaurant – which at the time was geared toward small plates, gift baskets and by-theglass wine sales and bottle retailing – was a relatively new idea for Amarillo. It was especially unique for Polk Street, which hadn’t yet reached the revitalization momentum downtown has enjoyed the past few years. “There really wasn’t anything [happening] down here,” he says. “I got a lot of feedback that this is never going to work. I did it anyway.”

By 2010, Salling and Mason had stepped away from Crush to focus on other opportunities, leaving Singleton with sole ownership.

He began to recognize that the naysayers had been at least partially correct. “We realized pretty quickly that [our initial concept] was not going to work,” he says. “The thing that saved us was lunch. We had a built-in business downtown.” Brian expanded the kitchen and added to the menu to offer more entrees and larger plates. Crush began to flourish as it transitioned not just into a popular lunch spot, but an evening destination.

In the meantime, Brian pursued other restaurant concepts, launching Public House in 2014 with partners Josh Fuller and Curtis McGill, and then opening Cask & Cork in 2017 with McGill and Chris Rhynehart.

Then another big opportunity came his way. William Ware and Tol Ware of Dubs Development had begun construction on a new building on Polk Street, across from the original Crush location, with a focus on rooftop dining. Six Car Pub & Brewery had already signed on as a tenant on the north side of the divided building, which was set to open in early spring 2018. The south side of the building was still waiting for the perfect restaurant tenant. The Wares approached Brian. Was Crush ready to expand?

Brian gave it some thought. “I loved the [original Crush] space but it was getting to the point where we needed to do some stuff to it,” he says. The kitchen needed to be updated and remodeled – Brian often found himself “elbow-deep in a grease trap trying to unclog drains,” he says with a wince. He was facing a huge expansion.

The opportunity for a total reboot of Crush was impossible to resist. So in 2018, Crush celebrated its 10th birthday by moving into a new building, revamping its menu, and expanding its beer and wine service to a full bar. The restaurant went from a dozen employees to around 50.

“It was a learning curve for sure,” Brian says. “Managing that many people is hard. We had projections, but we had no idea what to expect. We opened a can of worms, and then we had to control it.”

But right out of the chute, customers flocked to both restaurants in the new building, including Crush. “People were just ready for something different, something new,” he says.

That phrase – ready for something new – might also describe Brian, who now has his hands in a variety of family ventures, from Purple Flamingo with Cherie to Spa 79101 with Shelly to a smaller version of Crush in Wolflin Village. He says he’s learned enough over the past decade to both accept and appreciate the risks of starting new businesses. “It’s very surprising to place myself doing all of this,” he says. “Not all of them have worked as well as we want them to.

There’s always an inherent risk, but now I have a pretty good idea of what not to do. I’ve made lots of mistakes, but I’ve learned from them, too.”

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Family Planning

F

inancial advisors and entrepreneurial coaches often warn about the dangers of blending commerce with family. Family relationships are challenging anyway.

Combine those with financial relationships and you might be asking for trouble.

The Singletons aren’t worried. Shelly says she and her siblings take those warnings in stride.

“I’m sure there will be days when it’s tricky, but I trust my brother and my sister more than I trust anybody,” Shelly says. “If I’m going to take that risk, I’d rather take it with them. I don’t have any misgivings or apprehension about it at all.”

Instead, she says her siblings offer each other more support and encouragement than anything else. “When I’ve hit super-frustrating situations or things I’m not sure how to handle, I’ve got a sounding board that’s always, like, ‘chill out.’”

After all, the brother and sisters learned everything they know from their self-sufficient parents, Melanie and Garry – who built a business, divorced, and then found their ways back into business together.

“I think they’re proud of us,” Cherie says. The other two nod in agreement.

But still, it seems like a lot, right? They all manage their own businesses. They’re all opening new ventures this month. They’re all combining their separate specialties and interests to take risks together. And they’re all still smiling, friendly to each other, and immensely grateful for their family.

Are they worried … even just a little bit?

Sitting in the sunshine at Crush, Brian sighs. He laughs quietly.

Then he glances at his two sisters.

“Interview us again next year,” he says.

The Singleton Family/Business Tree Some families require a family tree to make sense of their relationships. When a family is involved in as many entrepreneurial ventures as these three, a family business tree may be more appropriate.

Shelly

Brian Crush

Purple Flamingo Pops

Greenways Village Waxing and aesthetics studio owned

by Shelly Singleton

627 S. Polk St. Bar and grill owned and operated by Brian Singleton

Wolflin Village, plus a Food Truck Fresh, gourmet popsicle restaurant co-owned by managing partner Cherie Singleton Scholz along with Brian and Savannah Ware Singleton

Perfect Peach Waxing

Spa 79101 Seventh and Polk Full-service downtown spa co-owned by Shelly Singleton and Brian Singleton, above the old Crush location

Public House 3333 S. Coulter St. Restaurant with Brian Singleton as a partner

Cask & Cork Town Square Village Restaurant with Brian Singleton as a partner

“Baby” Crush Wolflin Village New, small-plate and wine retail version of Crush, owned by Brian Singleton and located near Purple Flamingo

Lit Arcade Bar Seventh and Polk New arcade bar in the old Crush location with Brian Singleton as a partner

Singleton Collision Service 5411 Camp Lane Auto body repair shop owned by parents Melanie and Garry Singleton, who remain business partners but are no longer married, with Brian Singleton as a silent partner

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Cherie

F E AT U R E

IMPRESSING ON POLK PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGELINA MEDINA, SHORT EARED DOG PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SAD MONKEY MEDIA

How award-winning new construction is bringing new life to one of the city’s most iconic blocks

By Jason Boyett

T

hings have changed on Polk Street. As 2019 begins, the busiest stretch of this downtown Amarillo street offers an incredible contrast to what it looked like last year at this time. Permanent overhead lights shine above pedestrian traffic, even on a cold January night. A new pedicab service shuttles patrons to and from hotels, bars and restaurants.

Standing sentinel over this activity is the newest construction Polk Street has seen in decades. With two prominent tenants – the upstart Six Car Pub & Brewery in the north half and the expanded, revamped Crush Wine Bar & Grill to the south – the structure has already become a landmark.

The attention isn’t confined to Amarillo. In November, the building was recognized in the prominent Texas Downtown Association President’s Awards, winning Best New Construction for cities with a population over 50,000. Designed by architects Mason Rogers and Mike Ritter of Playa Design Studio, the building is owned by William Ware and Tol Ware of Dubs Development LLC. The story of how the building project came together – filling a notorious empty space in what had once been the shining heart of the city – is as interesting as the businesses and personalities who made it happen.

Street Cars and Fires

One of the first buildings to grace the Amarillo skyline was the city’s three-story Grand Opera House, built in 1907 in the 600 block of Polk Street. It hosted public lectures, concerts, vaudeville shows

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and more for Amarillo citizens, who knew it as one of the most distinguished buildings downtown. “It was the first, grand building on that street,” says Colin Cummings, one of the owners of Six Car. “It was a storied corner.”

Eventually, the opera house was renamed the Olympic Theater and was managed by Ross D. Rogers, a long-time civic leader who would later serve as the city’s mayor. The building also housed a ticket office for the San Jacinto line of Amarillo’s early streetcar system. (Six Car’s name is an homage to this history.)

But on an extremely cold evening on Thanksgiving Day in 1919, the opera building caught fire. Fire fighters worked to extinguish the flames, but the next morning, nothing remained but its burned-out walls and staggeringly large icicles, according to the historic photos. That storied corner at Seventh and Polk died. By mid-century, the space had become a parking lot – or as architect Mason Rogers describes it, “an empty tooth” in the rhythm of downtown.

Catalyst Project

William and Tol Ware are among the fifth-generation owners of Amarillo National Bank, one of the city’s most prominent downtown businesses. Several years ago, seeing the potential for an exciting period of growth in the heart of the city, the duo begin considering private development. The bank itself had been investing in the area, planting trees and adding “pocket parks.” William and Tol, who are cousins, saw an opportunity to fill that empty space with something exciting.

With his lease coming up, Brian Singleton, the owner of Crush, had been weighing expansion opportunities. Meanwhile, William knew that Colin Cummings and Grant James were interested in opening a downtown brewpub.

“The timing was serendipitous,” William says. “Brian was looking to grow. Six Car was looking to find a spot on Polk Street. Tol and I got together and we both wanted to help them both out.” The two men decided to set out on a new venture as developers. Both had served at various times on the board of Center City of Amarillo, and the idea of new development aligned perfectly with the family bank’s desire to see downtown continue its momentum.

“We wanted to do a catalyst project and we had interested parties that could help make this dream a reality,” Ware says. “We realized we had the capacity to do it by joining forces. This was our way of reinvesting back into the community and fulfilling a need we both saw through Center City.”

The project launched with those two tenants already lined up.

“Amarillo didn’t really have the kind of brewpub we had seen in every other city of comparable size,” says Cummings of Six Car. “You could find any other city of Amarillo’s size in just about any state, and they would have a brewpub – and it would be downtown.” He says people visiting a city want to come downtown anyway. “That’s where you’re going to learn what a city’s really like. That’s where we wanted to be.”

Meanwhile, Brian Singleton had expanded Crush to the limits of his smaller location on Polk. “We were there for 10 years,” he says.

Singleton was ready to take Crush to the next level, but in order to do so, he was facing an overwhelming remodel. Crush had been operating under an alcohol permit that only allowed it to serve wine by the glass or retailed bottles. But with plans moving ahead on the downtown ballpark, plus a lot of talk about revitalization, Singleton had dreamed of expanding into full bar service. “It would be a cool transition to come have dinner and a drink [at Crush], walk over to the ballpark, then maybe come back afterwards.”

Both envisioned a growing downtown and an exciting future, and wanted to be part of it. “We knew we could be an anchor for the growth that was going to come,” says Cummings.

The idea of two restaurant concepts – an upscale, fine-dining wine bar and an industrial, craft-focused beer hall – occupying the same building didn’t faze the developers. “We knew both restaurants would fill a niche in downtown, so we weren’t too concerned about competition,” William Ware says. “We made sure they were different enough that they wouldn’t take from each other and appealed to different markets. We wanted different types of environments and food atmospheres to attract as many people as possible.”

A Downtown Rhythm

With that in mind, the developers turned to Playa Design Studio, giving the architects substantial freedom in designing the building. “Originally, all they knew was they wanted a restaurant development,” Rogers says. “They wanted to create a hub that would redevelop that end of Polk Street. From an aesthetic standpoint, they wanted some character that responded to the history of downtown and blended in with its surroundings.”

As the developers, the Wares also wanted to reach out further with the building’s size and design than either of the two tenants could have on their own. “They wanted to make a bigger statement,” Rogers says. “They wanted something that would make a splash and last a long time.”

Rogers and Ritter worked closely with the Wares and brought in Southwest General Contractors early in the design process. They also met separately with Singleton and the Six Car partners, determining the needs of each restaurant and establishing how those would impact the final product.

It was important to everyone involved that the building “fit”

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among the other structures on the street. “It has to start with a color palette in keeping with its surroundings,” Rogers says. They also wanted it to match the proportions and visual feel of the stretch of buildings lining Polk Street.

Architectural design is about details, from the color of the bricks to the location of plumbing and electrical conduits. These elements are rarely noticed by casual observers, who might see a building and think “that’s a cool building” without really understanding why.

Rogers and Ritter are into the why. In conversation, they talk a lot about contextual elements and the “rhythm” of downtown. That’s why the Six Car/Crush building looks the way it does – because it was designed to fit into a pre-existing environment. New construction on the city limits can be bold and daring because there’s little context with which to interact, other than the land and sky. But on Polk Street, surrounded by historic buildings, context matters. They wanted it to make a statement, but a statement in keeping within the overall rhythm of the neighborhood, one established by buildings like the Woolworth Building across the street.

The Woolworth is home to Esquire Jazz Club, and jazz provides a good example of how contextual architecture works. In a song dominated by piano and a solid baseline, a saxophone solo will stand out. It feels different. It grabs the listeners’ attention within the song – but the sax still aligns with the previously established beat.

“We wanted it to march along,” Rogers says of the Polk Street rhythm. “If a building doesn’t have it, that’s a stagger step and the rhythm is broken.”

Designing the Future

Like a wailing sax solo, the new building adds a number of new elements to the street, from second-story outdoor patios to unique combinations of glass, steel and concrete. But all of those fit within an intentional framework. The vertical and horizontal lines of the building – including the height of the patio – align with the old Crush building and the historic Kress buildings across the corner.

“The concrete columns match the brick columns of Old Crush,” Rogers says. He points out how the large windows on the Crush side are divided by narrow concrete columns, while the large concrete walls on the Six Car side are divided by narrow windows. The pattern reverses from one side to the other. “They reverse from concrete columns to panels of concrete, to firm up [the design] and create a hard corner for the open space,” he says, referring to the tree-lined beer garden on the north side of the building. “The building is symmetric but it’s not perfect symmetry. You go into each of these spaces and have a different experience.”

The Wares had input into many of these details, from the yucca patterns on the lighter-colored rooftop band – a callout to the patterns on the older White & Kirk building nearby – to the pattern of the pavers on the rooftop patio. “The exposed steel and exposed concrete are something William and Tol really responded to,” Rogers says. Downtown Amarillo grew out of the railroad tracks and is adjacent to the warehouse district, giving it an industrial undertone.

But the building is also near gleaming, modern construction like Amarillo National Bank’s Plaza Two building, which reflects the blue Panhandle sky.

“We had Plaza Two behind us, so you get that view, too,” says Ritter.

“Some of the contextual elements in that building are in this building, too – the glass connection, the concrete corner.” He identifies the building’s style as “contextual modernism,” a design principle that emphasizes engagement with a building’s broader surroundings.

Those principles may have earned the building its statewide award.

William Ware gives the credit to Playa, crediting the architects as well as the firm’s on-staff interior designer, Sarah Myers, for its overall appearance. “This is proof that if you let artists do their thing – let the experts do their thing – then the building comes alive,” Ware says. “That

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really cool façade, the cool materials, the iconic feel all came from Mason, Mike and Sarah. They turned our dream into this beautiful piece of art. This was creative and inspiring people working together.”

The Wares wanted the Six Car/Crush project to inspire others. “The whole point was to get people believing in development, believing in Amarillo and believing in downtown,” he says. So far, the popularity of the two restaurants and the attention drawn to the building itself are indications of success – but Dubs Development may not be finished.

“We hope to do more projects like this. There will be more on the horizon and it all has to do with downtown revitalization and giving back,” says William. “It’s all we worked on for a long time, and now that it’s done, we’re like, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to keep this process going?’ Tol and I hope we can do a few more of these kinds of projects.”

As for matching the downtown rhythm and fitting into the neighborhood, that has also been accomplished. “We’ve actually had people ask us what used to be in the building before we were there,” Cummings says. “They think it’s an older building. That’s an amazing success from an architecture and design perspective.”

Toward the end of construction, Ritter and Rogers were on-site inspecting the work. The building’s façade includes rugged steel tie-downs, especially on the back side, where both restaurants have their kitchens. While the cross-ties provide some structural support, they also serve as ornamentation on a side of the building that lacks windows. The duo struck up a conversation with a couple from the Midwest, who had been staying at the Courtyard Amarillo down the block and were out for a walk.

“They came over and said, ‘You guys having some trouble with that building?’” Rogers remembers. “They thought it was an old building and we had to add some structural reinforcement to it, because it was planted right in the middle of downtown. They gave us the buy-in. That was a little feather in our cap.”

The building itself is a feather in Polk Street’s metaphorical cap, as well. And if all the players in this project have their say – from the Wares to the restaurateurs to the architects, contractors, and local craftsmen whose work now features so prominently inside and outside the building – it’s just one feather of many more to come.

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W H AT ’ S C O O K I N G ?

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Link Up F

or some of the most popular dishes at Prime Chophouse & Lounge, the secret ingredient isn’t a particular spice or flavor, but a combination of those things all wrapped up in the homemade sausage perfected by Chef Coleman McNabb. “Sausages can differ dramatically depending on their ingredients, their additives, the curing techniques, even the level of dryness,” he explains. He identifies Prime’s sausage as a “Texas hot link with some nice pilsner in it. It comes out a little spicy with just a little bit of cayenne.”

McNabb grew up in Albuquerque and comes from a German family that owned a sausage booth, which made regular appearances at the New Mexico State Fair and the city’s balloon festival. Using a hand crank, he draws from that background to prepare sausage weekly for Prime, curing it for a couple of days before smoking it with apple wood. In this issue, he shares with us a few of the restaurant’s popular recipe combinations, pairing the sausage with sea bass, filet mignon, and linguini pasta.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON RECIPES COURTESY OF CHEF COLEMAN MCNABB, PRIME CHOPHOUSE & LOUNGE

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Texas-Style Smoked Sausage and Linguini 1 hot link, sliced ½ bell pepper, medium dice ¼ onion, medium dice 1 cup marinara ½ cup water Cooked pasta Saute bell pepper and onion in skillet. Add sliced sausage and favorite cooked pasta – linguini or penne are good options. Add marinara and toss until warm. Serve with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Makes 1 serving

Texas-Style Smoked Sausage and Sea Bass 6 ounces sea bass 1 hot link, halved ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 cup grits 2 cups water ½ jalapeño, deseeded and small diced ¼ cup grated cheese 1 cup pomegranate syrup ¼ cup sugar Pan sear fish for 3 to 4 minutes each side. Grill sausage for 2 to 3 minutes. Place water and grits in saucepan, bring to boil, add jalapeño, lower heat and simmer until desired thickness. Add cheese and stir until melted. Make fruit sauce: Combine syrup and ¼ cup sugar and simmer for 15 minutes or until desired thickness. Serve fish and sausage with jalapeño cheese grits and top with fruit sauce.

Makes 1 serving

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

35

Texas-Style Smoked Sausage Links Grilled Filet and TexasStyle Smoked Sausage 9-ounce filet, seasoned with Prime steak seasoning 1 tomato, sliced ½ onion, sliced 1 hot link Grill filet to desired temperature. Grill sausage link.

Serve with sliced onions and tomato.

Makes 1 serving

36

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

4- to 6-pound pork butt, ground 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon chili flakes 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 16 ounces pilsner beer Grind pork butt and mix all ingredients together until well mixed.

Using a sausage pipe filler, stuff hog casings with mixture to desired length and twist off ends. Begin another link and repeat process until meat mixture is gone. Let links rest 1 day. Place in smoker and smoke for an average of 1 hour at 200 degrees. Place in refrigerator to cool. Serve cold or warm. Can use flavored wood to enhance the flavor of the sausage.

MEET THE COOK

“L

Chef Coleman McNabb of Prime Chophouse & Lounge

ike any good chef or cook worth their salt, I started as a dishwasher,” says Chef Coleman McNabb during a busy morning at Prime Chophouse & Lounge, the restaurant owned by Brian Mason on a prominent corner of Town Square Village.

McNabb grew up in Albuquerque before his family moved to Canyon when Coleman was a

freshman in high school.

“I grew up in a working household,” he says. “I got up earlier on weekends than on the weekdays because there were chores to do.” This included feeding the family’s livestock – cows, horses and goats – and doing yard work. “I’ve never been afraid of labor.” Needing gas money at 16, he applied that work ethic to his first “real” job, washing dishes at a local restaurant. Most teenagers might have grumbled at the opportunity, but McNabb enjoyed it. “Back there in the pit, just me and the dishes, I found some solace.

Washing dishes is still a peaceful thing and it still humbles me and reminds me where I came from.”

While at the sink, laboring in the back of restaurants like the long-gone Ruby Tuesday’s on Soncy, he found himself watching the cooks work. He moved up the ranks and became head bartender, then a cook himself at On the Border. At age 22, while praying about his career direction, McNabb felt a stirring to become a chef.

Not one to ignore that still, small voice, he enrolled at the Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon (now Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts). While there, he worked multiple restaurant jobs to cover his

rent, including studying under a Japanese sushi master.

Upon graduating, he made his way back to Amarillo in 2006. “Before I crossed the state line, I had people calling me,” he remembers.

“I wasn’t really looking for anything big. I just wanted to pay off my student loans.”

The demand turned into a series of kitchen positions for McNabb, from Feldman’s in Canyon to Carolina’s Wood-Fired Italian and Zen 721 in Amarillo. Neither of those Amarillo establishments still exist, but at Zen 721, McNabb connected with owner Brian Mason.

That relationship led to his becoming a prep cook at Mason’s BL Bistro.

“Then I worked my way up to take over the kitchen,” McNabb says. That was seven years ago. “I’m so thankful they gave me the shot to put my culinary skills to the test,” he says.

Last year, McNabb followed Mason to his new venture, Prime Chophouse & Lounge in Town Square Village.

“I always say Brian is the executive chef and I’m just a chef. But he would probably say I’m the executive chef and he’s the owner,” says McNabb while grinding sausage at Prime.

He’s more concerned about flavors and dining experiences than titles. “To most people, I’m just the dishwasher anyways.”

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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38

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

January

RICHARD THOMPSON,“PALETTE TROUT,” 1994, OIL ON CANVAS, COURTESY OF WILLIAM AND PAM CAMPBELL

EVENTS

2019 Achievement in Art: The Collection of William and Pam Campbell

S

ince 1994, the Amarillo Museum of Art has honored exceptional art collections with the annual Achievement in Art Exhibition. This year, the museum will showcase the collection of William and Pam Campbell, owners of the William Campbell Contemporary Art gallery in Ft. Worth.

This exhibition will include more than 50 works from a variety of artists, and will be on view from Jan. 27 through March 31.

Learn more at amarilloart.org.

Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren St. 371.5050 amarilloart.org VIEW AN UPDATED LISTING OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AT AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM. To have an event listed on the calendar, email details to mmcaffrey@amarillo.com or fax a press release to 806.345.3282.

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

39

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Jan. 25-26

Jan. 3

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “Over the River and Through the Woods”

Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!

2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 4 First Friday Art Walk 5-9 p.m. The Galleries at Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd., 353.5700

Jan. 5

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” 2:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 29 Diego Caetano, Piano 7:30 p.m.

Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St., 371.5050

Jan. 11

BENEFITS & FUNDRAISERS

Anniversary Exhibition 6-8:30 p.m.

Cerulean Gallery, 2762 Duniven Circle, 231.0615

Jan. 6

Jan. 12

portion of admission fee will benefit Type One Area Diabetic Support (T.O.A.D.S.). MJ’s Saloon and Grill, 3705 Olsen Blvd., Suite A, 398.0634

Chamber Music Amarillo presents “Concerto Extraordinaire” 8 p.m.

Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1200 Streit Drive, 236.3545

Jan. 17 Amarillo Little Theatre presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” 7:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 18-19 Amarillo Symphony presents Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 7:30 p.m. Orion Weiss, piano; Jacomo Rafael Bairos, conductor. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “Over the River and Through the Woods” 8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Comedian Kristin Key 8:30 p.m. A

Jan. 12 Tri-State Open Chili Championship 11 a.m. Funds will benefit Make-A-Wish.

Tri-State Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 13 Sixth Annual Bowl for the Horses 2 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Panhandle Safe Hayven Equine Rescue. Western Bowl, 5120 Canyon Drive, 681.5161

Jan. 19 Khiva Oriental Band Crabfest 6 p.m.

Khiva Shrines, 305 SE Fifth Ave., 373.2845

Jan. 20 Hats off to Willie 3 p.m. Donations will be

Jan. 20

accepted to benefit Blues Boy Willie. I Don’t Know Sports Bar & Grill, 1301 SW Sixth Ave., 331.7985

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “Over the River and Through the Woods”

Jan. 22

2:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Burns Supper 6 p.m. Fundraiser will

Amarillo Little Theatre presents “Over the River and Through the Woods”

celebrate the works of poet Robert Burns and feature Scottish foods, bagpipes, poetry readings and more. Funds will benefit Wildcat Bluff Nature Center. Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St., 352.6007

7:30 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Jan. 25

Jan. 24

Jan. 24-26 West Texas A&M University Theatre presents “Peter and the Starcatcher”

The Big Cheese 6-8 p.m. Funds will benefit The Hope and Healing Place. TriState Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 290.8640

7:30 p.m. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Hazlewood Lecture Hall, Canyon, 651.2804

Jan. 26

Jan. 25

will benefit The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center. Get Fit, 1911 S. Georgia St., 372.2873

Lone Star Ballet presents “Remember the Alamo” 8 p.m. Globe-News Center for

“Achievement in Art” Gala 6:30 p.m.

the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096 Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

Jan. 27

Featuring Richard Resch, baritone.

Amarillo College Music Department, 2201 S. Washington Ave., 371.5340

“AMoA Open” Reception 7 p.m.

40

8 p.m. Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle, 355.9991

Cold As Ice 5K & 10K 8:30 a.m. Proceeds

cocktails and gallery viewing; 7:30 p.m. dinner. Honoring the contemporary

collection of Pam and William Campbell.

Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St., 371.5050

SPECIAL EVENTS Jan. 24

MUSIC

AGN Media’s Man and Woman of the Year Luncheon 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Amarillo

Jan. 3

Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

A Vulture Wake 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.0097

Jan. 4

Jan. 26 Academic Advantage Program 9 a.m.-

2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

3 p.m. Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 5

Jan. 31

Fish Out of Water 8 p.m. Leftwoods,

Eskimosh Tour with Relent 6 p.m.

I Don’t Know Sports Bar and Grill, 1301 SW Sixth Ave., 331.7985

No Class Collective 9 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

State of the Economy 7:30-9 a.m.

Hosted by Amarillo Economic Development Corporation. Embassy Suites Amarillo, 550 S. Buchanan St., 379.6411

GOOD VISION IN 2019!

SPORTS & RECREATION

Raymond Lee Everett 9 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163

Jan. 4-5

Jan. 10

Amarillo Bulls vs. Corpus Christi IceRays 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center

Wolf & Bear with Edit Canvas and Theleo 9 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.0097

Jan. 11 Unplug the Reality Tour 7 p.m. Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305

The March Divide with Don Todd Sound Machine 10 p.m. The Golden Light Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave., 374.0097

Jan. 12 Read Southall Band 9 p.m. Hoots Pub,

Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 6 Amarillo Bulls vs. Corpus Christi IceRays 4 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 11-12 Amarillo Bulls vs. Odessa Jackalopes 7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

2424 Hobbs Road, 356.7548

Jan. 11-13

Jan. 16

McCracken Team Roping 8 a.m. Tri-State

Jake “The Snake” Roberts Dirty Details Tour 7 p.m. Whiskey River, 4001 SW 51st Ave., 367.6163

Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 17

Amarillo Bulls vs. Shreveport Mudbugs

Dave Stone 8 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

7 p.m. Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096

Jan. 19

Jan. 19

Kyndra Lee 8 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

Jan. 25 Polk Street Jazz 9 p.m. Esquire Jazz Club, 626 S. Polk St., 350.4299

Jan. 30 Franks & Deans 8 p.m. Leftwoods, 2511 SW Sixth Ave., 367.9840

NATURE Jan. 1

Jan. 18-19

Original Team Roping 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 19-20 Panhandle Cutting Horse Association 8 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Bill Cody Arena, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

Jan. 25-26 Potter County Junior Livestock Show 7 a.m. Tri-State Fairgrounds Gary McMennamy Livestock Building, 3301 SE 10th Ave., 376.7767

First Day Sunset Hike 5 p.m. Dress for the TRADE SHOWS weather; bring water and a flashlight. Hike will be about 2 miles on easy-to-moderate terrain. Meet at the scenic overlook parking lot, three-fourths of a mile inside the park entrance. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5, 488.2777

Jan. 13 The Bridal Show of Amarillo 12-4 p.m.

Amarillo Civic Center Complex Heritage Room, 401 S. Buchanan St., 378.3096 JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

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[ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]

TOP R E A LT O R S 2019

TOP REALTORS

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TOP REALTORS

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

JT AND JAMIE HAYNES TRIANGLE REALTY

How long have you worked in real estate? I obtained my license in 1996, putting it to work throughout a 12-year livestock pharmaceutical sales career. As my land business grew, I earned my broker’s license in 2009 and decided to focus full time on real estate, opening Triangle Realty. Jamie was running a successful photography studio in Amarillo, but we quickly learned two small businesses was one too many. So, Jamie sold her studio, got her license and joined Triangle.

What is your background? Both Jamie and I come from multi-generational Texas ranching families –mine based in the eastern Panhandle and Jamie’s near Brady. I have a master’s in Agricultural Science from Texas Tech University, which led me to an animal health sales career, calling on the region’s ranchers and feed yard operators, getting to know the people and the land. Jamie has a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems and a master’s in General Studies. She worked in pharmaceutical, merchandising and operating systems. She is our in-house expert in the latest and greatest technology, design and marketing ideas.

Which character traits most influence your success? All we do is rooted in hard work, integrity and exceeding expectations. For us it’s the little things we do that we don’t have to do that make all the difference. This client-first approach has allowed us to see growth in our business each year.

What are the pillars of your business? We believe if you help other people get what they want, ultimately you’ll get what you want and more, and we pledge to do all we can to do the best possible job for every client, every time.

How do you use technology to grow your business? Whether we’re marketing grassland in a remote rural community or a high-value house in the center of town, we put cutting-edge technology, including interactive mapping, high-def drone videos, professional photography, and outstanding web-based marketing to work. We also deploy a dynamic system that enables our team to capture every potential buyer lead and communicate with them regularly – getting our sellers results more quickly.

SPECIALIZATION

While the heart of our business started with farm and ranch sales, we have a full-service team from the northern Panhandle to the South Plains specializing in ranches, farmland, feed yards and homes, as well as one of the region’s leading land auction companies.

DESIGNATIONS, AFFILIATIONS & AWARDS

We have both received the National Association of REALTORS Real Estate Negotiations Expert Certification (RENE). I serve on the MLS Committee at the Amarillo Association of REALTORS. Jamie received the highly-coveted Graduate REALTORS Institute (GRI) designation. More than our individual achievements, we’re overwhelmed by the success of our team. In 2017, Triangle was recognized as the top non-franchise brokerage in Amarillo for annual sales.

TRIANGLE REALTY

7669 Canyon Drive 367.8334 • JT: 681.3421 • Jamie: 681.3647 trianglerealtyllc.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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TOP REA LTORS 45

TOP REALTORS

CAROLINE HARRIS TRIANGLE REALTY

How long have you worked in real estate? 3 ½ years What is your background? I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was raised in the real estate industry. My mom and sister have both been top producers in Oklahoma with more than 50 years of combined experience. I received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma and was a collegiate cheerleader. I then moved to Amarillo and started/owned a successful competitive cheerleading and tumbling business for more than 13 years. In 2015, I took a leap of faith and earned my real estate license. With my love for people and drive and passion for the business, I have become one of Amarillo’s top producers.

Which two character traits most influence your success?

Integrity and loyalty How does your past work experience impact your career as a realtor? Owning my own business for 13 years allowed me to gain experience in people skills, management, organization and responsibility. This successful business, along with my volunteer work with the March of Dimes and the Junior League of Amarillo, gave me the opportunity to connect with a large number of people in and around Amarillo. I believe this helped me jump start my career as a REALTOR because of gaining trust and respect from past clients.

What are the pillars of your business? Communication, persistence, drive, integrity and honesty How do you use technology to grow your business? Technology is a huge part of my business. I use it to schedule appointments and showings, send clients contracts and documents, text, call and email my clients, access properties, and advertise my listings on social media and the internet. Technology has streamlined the real estate industry so deals can be made quickly and efficiently.

SPECIALIZATION Residential sales

TRIANGLE REALTY

7669 Canyon Drive 367.8334 • 584.2978 • trianglerealtyllc.com 46

TOP REALTORS

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP REALTORS

ELLEN DUNN TRIANGLE REALTY

How long have you worked in real estate? I have four years of experience working in real estate. I spent three years as a mortgage loan officer, and in 2017 I acquired my Texas real estate license.

What is your background? I grew up in Dallas and graduated from the University of North Texas with an undergraduate degree in business and an MBA in finance. My work experience includes originating and underwriting mortgage loans and several years as a commercial loan officer with Amarillo National Bank.

Which character traits most influence your success? Being genuine, not superficial, and showing empathy and kindness. I am very down-to-earth and I have learned to be myself with people.

My goal is to build a relationship based on trust and honesty. I strive to provide the best customer service so my clients have a great experience and will tell their friends about me.

How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? My background allows me to see the business side of real estate from a variety of angles. I am familiar with the mortgage loan process and I understand how banks underwrite commercial loans. I have learned that, although I am comfortable with the transactional side of real estate, engaging with my clients is what I enjoy most.

What are the pillars of your business? Communicating, and being patient and honest. I truly care about my clients and take what I do seriously. I feel the responsibility of keeping my clients grounded in reality. I try to make sure that their excitement doesn’t push them to make a rash decision and assure them that they will walk into a home that just feels right.

How do you use technology to grow your business? These days, home buyers begin their search online. I try to position my client’s properties to get the most exposure possible by using a combination of online, mobile and social media marketing as well as print and videos. I don’t wait for a buyer to stumble across my listings; I assertively search for the buyer.

TRIANGLE REALITY

7669 Canyon Drive 367.8334 • 681.1781 • trianglerealtyllc.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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TOP REA LTORS 47

TOP REALTORS

RICK THOMASON THOMASONSCOTT, LLC PROPERTY SPECIALIST

How long have you worked in real estate? Forty years.

Currently acting as broker and owner of ThomasonScott, LLC. What is your background? In the past, I have served as the president and director of the Association of REALTORS Board. I currently serve on the Board of the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Which two character traits most influence your success?

Experience and good, caring service How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? My past work experiences that impact my career are knowing how to close a deal every step of the way, and getting my clients the best deal for their real estate or investment needs.

What are the pillars of your business? Past clients and reputation How do you use technology to grow your business? Knowing that technology is an ongoing learning experience and is a huge part of our business – I am continually training and taking classes. I also hire professionals to do my advertising to make sure my clients are getting the very best.

SPECIALIZATION

Residential, multi-family, investment properties, commercial, and property management

DESIGNATIONS, AFFILIATIONS & AWARDS Salesman of the Year; REALTOR of the Year; 2017 RPAC Hall of Fame; consistently in the Top 10 of Amarillo Association of REALTORS. The ThomasonScott office received Top Emerging Business in 2016.

In 2019, Tish Thomason is joining me to offer a combined 50 years of experience and more than 3,500 sides.

THOMASONSCOTT, LLC

3335 Bell St. 340.7330 • 584.6367 • thomasonscott.com 48

TOP REALTORS

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP REALTORS

VAL PATTON KELLER WILLIAMS

How long have you worked in real estate? I have been in the real estate business for more than 30 years with experience in listing and selling in residential, investment properties and farm and ranch. I also have a property management company that leases and manages rental properties.

What is your background? I was born and raised in Amarillo. I attended Texas Tech University with an emphasis in business, graduated with a real estate degree, and became a broker in 1983. I have brokered and managed offices in Amarillo and other cities and have learned and grown over the years. I continue to learn up-to-date information on real estate and technology, so I can stay on top of the real estate market and its changes.

Which character traits most influence your success? Honesty, integrity, and commitment How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor?

My local expertise and extensive real estate experience benefits my clients when buying or selling a home or needing property management for rentals.

What are the pillars of your business? I pride myself on providing unparalleled service and look forward to developing long-term relationships with each client.

How do you use technology to grow your business? With more than 170,000 agents as technology partners, Keller Williams is redefining the real estate experience and embarking on a data-sharing journey that keeps the agent at the center of the real estate transaction.

When my data is added to a collective of the largest real estate company in the world, it creates powerful insights that cannot be matched.

SPECIALIZATION

Residential homes, investment properties, and rental properties in Amarillo, Bushland, Canyon and the surrounding areas

DESIGNATIONS, AFFILIATIONS & AWARDS

I am a member of Keller Williams Amarillo, KW Amarillo Luxury Division, NAR, TAR, AAOR, Realtor.com and others. I have been on committees at the AAOR, KW’s ALC, Culture Committee, and been involved with church in volunteering in community outreach and other community programs. I have been a top producer at KW with awards for Top Sales, Top Closings, and awards with Culture Committee.

KELLER WILLIAMS

3955 S. Soncy Road 670.7770 • iamarillohomes.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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TOP REA LTORS 49

TOP REALTORS

CINDY HABEL

COLDWELL BANKER, FIRST EQUITY REALTORS

How long have you worked in real estate? 15 years What is your background? I was born in Pampa, Texas. We lived in White Deer for many years before moving to Oklahoma City, and eventually, I became a member of the Air National Guard in Wichita, Kansas. We came back to Texas and I worked in retail, sales and management for many years in Amarillo. I am married and I have four children, two of which work in real estate with me. We have eight grandchildren. I am blessed to have a wonderful family that supports me.

Which two character traits most influence your success?

Honesty and integrity How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? Being in the Air National Guard gave me leadership skills and knowledge that helped me grow as an individual, along with life experience that can not be matched. My experience as a manager in retail and sales has given me an opportunity to work with customers and employees to enhance my communication skills.

What are the pillars of your business? Honesty, integrity, attitude, dedication and responsibility How do you use technology to grow your business? In real estate, technology is key for maintaining communication to help keep clients informed of showings, feedback, and opportunities to sign paperwork in the comfort of their home or office. Online advertising and social media play a big part in marketing our client’s home to enable a faster sale, along with helping buyers know what is available in our fast-moving market.

SPECIALIZATION

Residential new construction and existing homes in Amarillo and Canyon, along with country property

DESIGNATIONS, AFFILIATIONS & AWARDS

GRI, Broker Associate; Top Residential Team at Coldwell Banker; Board of Directors of the Amarillo Association of REALTORS; The Greenways HOA

COLDWELL BANKER, FIRST EQUITY REALTORS 5701 Times Square Blvd., Suite 190 354.3500 • 433.5526 • coldwellbanker.com 50

TOP REALTORS

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TOP REALTORS

MICHELE SPEED COLDWELL BANKER FIRST EQUITY, REALTORS

How long have you worked in real estate? Two years What is your background? I was born and raised in Amarillo, and I have been married for 26 years to Kevin Speed. We have two children, Michael and Megan, who are both in college. I worked in the medical field and nursing for a few years, and then I was blessed with the honor of being able to be a stayat-home mom for 16 years.

Which two character traits most influence your success?

Honesty and integrity How do your past work experiences impact your career as a realtor? Having worked in the medical field, I learned empathy, compassion and good communication skills. I take to heart a client’s wants, needs and concerns. After being a lifelong resident and raising two children in Amarillo, I have a vast knowledge of the school system, districts and neighborhoods.

What are the pillars of your business? Knowledge, communication, honesty, diligence and thoroughness How do you use technology to grow your business?

Communication through social media expands my reach to more people.

SPECIALIZATION

Residential and new construction

DESIGNATIONS, AFFILIATIONS & AWARDS GRI and Residential Team of the Year Coldwell Banker First Equity, REALTORS 2017

COLDWELL BANKER FIRST EQUITY, REALTORS 5701 Time Square Blvd., Suite 190 354.3500 • 681.3860 • coldwellbanker.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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TOP REA LTORS 51

D LE EP TA’RST EMAETN! T

Restaurants • Food • Spirits

Off the Hook Fine Seafood & Steaks

L

and-locked Amarilloans have yearned for a fresh seafood restaurant for years. And at long last, Off the Hook satisfies that void in the local restaurant scene. Located in the Woolworth Building above Esquire Jazz Club, Off the Hook brings its southern coast-style seafood to downtown Amarillo.

Chef James Allen ships fresh seafood in two times a week, primarily from the Georgia coast.

Off the Hook features nightly specials, with a new, seasonal menu launching in early 2019.

Enjoy Happy Hour specials from 4-6 p.m., live music on Fridays and Saturdays, late-night menu offerings from 11 p.m.-2 a.m., and brunch on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

626 S. Polk St., Suite 200, 350.5445 Open Wednesday through Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-11 p.m.

PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees less than $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees more than $21

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

RESTAURANT KEY y Outdoor Dining ☎ Reservations Recommended T Live Music c Full Bar C Beer and/or Wine only ^ Best of Amarillo Winner NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE

Updated entry

THE LET’S EAT! GUIDE IS A READER SERVICE COMPILED BY THE AMARILLO MAGAZINE EDITORIAL STAFF. THE MAGAZINE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING OR OTHER COMPENSATION IN EXCHANGE FOR A LISTING. THE GUIDE IS UPDATED REGULARLY. TO CORRECT A LISTING OR RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT FOR CONSIDERATION, CONTACT MICHELE MCAFFREY AT MMCAFFREY@AMARILLO.COM.

JANUARY 2019 • amarillomagonline.com • Amarillo Magazine

53

AMARILLO 1887 Social House Located inside Embassy Suites Downtown, 1887 is open for lunch and dinner. Start your meal with something from the small bites menu, and move on to a hearty steak. Relax in the spacious lobby with an after-dinner drink.

550 S. Buchanan St., 803.5500 $$ c y

With the New Year comes new opportunities for a healthier you.

LOCAL EXPERIENCED TEAM • Technologists: 224 years of combined patient care experience • Radiologists: 500 years combined board certified experience EACH LOCATION • Results to your physician in a timely manner • Radiology consulting

IN ALL MAJOR FIELDS OF RADIOLOGY • Neurology • Pediatric • Musculoskeletal • Vascular • Ultrasound • Body Imaging

Abuelo’s The authentic atmosphere and generous portions make for an enjoyable lunch or fun evening out. If you’re stumped by all the choices, try the Enchiladas de Cozumel, three crepes filled with guacamole and topped with bountiful seafood, fresh spinach and roasted peppers. As a rule, always get the queso. 3501 W. 45th Ave., 354.8294, abuelos.com $$ c ^ ☎ The Açaí Bar For those pursuing the clean-eating trend, The Açaí Bar can keep you on track.

Choose from filling bowls or smoothies as an alternative to a fast food breakfast or lunch. Each menu item is made fresh with mostly organic ingredients. The customer favorite Monkey Bowl – an açaí blend topped with granola, pineapple, bananas, strawberries, mini chocolate chips, coconut shreds and honey – will keep you satisfied past the daily 3 p.m. slump.

7306 SW 34th Ave., Suite 9, 367.9724, theacaibaramarillo.com $

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Aldaco’s Tacos Located on historic Sixth Street you’ll find this small, authentic Mexican restaurant.

The wait staff is friendly so it’s easy to have fun at Aldaco’s, especially on live music nights. Try not to fill up on the homemade chips and salsa so you can enjoy the rest of the delicious food.

3623 SW Sixth Ave., 374.4945 $ y T C

7400 WALLACE BLVD. 806.353.8333

Bagel Place Whether for breakfast or lunch, the Bagel Place offers a wide variety of cream cheese and bagel flavors. Zip through the convenient drive-thru for a great, lazy morning take-home breakfast. For lunch, try the bagel sandwiches made with Boars Head cheese and meat, a generous salad, or a tasty bowl of soup.

3301 Bell St., 353.5985, bagelplace.net $y^

7010 W. NINTH AVE. 806.351.8480

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1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza This fast-casual restaurant keeps the budget-minded diner in mind. Much like a Subway chain, 1000 Degrees offers build-your-own pizzas with your choice of six sauces, seven cheeses, 20 vegetable options, and nine meats, as well as classic fired-fresh Neapolitan-style pizzas and salads. 2207 S. Western St., 803.9436, 1000degreespizza.com $

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

Bangkok Restaurant When you’re looking for authentic Thai, Bangkok delivers. Start with the sticky rice, move on to the cucumber salad, and finish with the chicken larb. Your kids will love watching the big fish tanks while you wait for your table. Warning: Spicy means spicy. Bangkok means business.

5901 Amarillo Blvd. East, 381.1590 $ Bar 3 Located at Preston West Golf Course, this hidden gem serves a limited bar menu for lunch and dinner. Savor comfort food like smoked pulled pork sandwiches, pork shank, and hearty hamburgers, made fresh to order. Wash it down with an ice-cold beer or let the staff help you choose something from the drink menu.

9101 S. Coulter St., 353.7003 $ c Benjamin’s Donuts & Bakery Family-owned and -operated, Benjamin’s serves doughnuts, pastries, kolaches, breakfast sandwiches and burritos. Go early for the best assortment of filled, cake and glazed doughnuts – we love the green tea glazed and red velvet cake flavors. 7003 Bell St., 353.1100/ 1800 Western St., 803.1133 $ The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery Everyone knows about the 72-ouncer, but did you know the breakfast buffet is only $14? Every morning from 7-11 a.m. you can pile your plate high with pancakes, sausage and skillet potatoes. Top it off with a trip to the Omelet Bar before leaving completely satisfied. 7701 I-40 East, 372.6000, bigtexan.com $$ c T ^ y Blue Front Cafe and Oyster Bar This Amarillo icon is under new management, and with a remodeled interior and menu – and a non-smoking environment – we think there’s a new favorite breakfast contender downtown.

Try the tasty hot cakes or Texas Omelet for breakfast (served all day), classic pulled-pork sandwich for lunch, and fill up on fresh Blue Point oysters and seafood in the evening. Hang around for daily Happy Hour specials at the new bar.

801 SW Sixth Ave., 372.0659 $ c Bubba’s 33 The newest sports restaurant on the scene in Amarillo, Bubba’s boasts made-fromscratch food and three restaurants in one: family dining, the garage bar, and a dining area with a bar. Feast on handtossed pizza, fresh-ground burgers, and tender rib-eyes. 2813 I-40 West, 353.0033, bubbas33.com $$ c y ^ Bunny Flakes & Crepes With an interesting name and a curious take on pizza, Bunny Flakes & Crepes is worth a visit. Choose from the menu, or create your own savory crepe with a smattering of meat and veggie toppings, or fruit, Nutella, chocolate and caramel for a sweet dessert. “Bunny flakes” is shaved,

flavored ice cream topped with your choice of cookies, cereal or candy. Sip on smoothies, frappes, Vietnamese coffee and Thai tea while you wait for your order.

6010 SW 34th Ave., Unit A $ C Burrito Stop Tacos Garcia restaurateurs’ downtown grab-and-go eatery doesn’t just offer from-scratch burritos on homemade tortillas for breakfast or lunch. In addition to its hearty fare and vegan options such as soy chorizo and spinach tortillas, Burrito Stop boasts trained baristas that serve Roasters Coffee & Tea Co. beverages. 114 SE Ninth Ave., 418.2705, burritostop.com $ y NEW Cafe Blvd. & Bar Serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine, Cafe Blvd. also offers a lounge area and full bar for a relaxing evening out. The limited menu features classics like chicken wings, pho, bun bowls, and banh xeo. You’ll enjoy fresh food, generous portions and affordable prices. 5316 Amarillo Blvd., 367.9780 $ c Calico County Restaurant An Amarillo favorite for decades, the home-cooked taste keeps people going back for more. You can’t beat the petite cinnamon rolls dripping in butter, the squash casserole and the chicken-fried chicken. Be sure to try the excellent waffles, too. 2410 Paramount Blvd., 358.7664, calicocountyamarillo.com $ ^ Carniceria y Taqueria la Popular Part supermarket, part restaurant, Carniceria y Taqueria la Popular is a tasty little gem a few blocks east of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex. Head to the small, sitdown dining area at the back of the store for lunch and dine on a variety of simple, authentic Mexican dishes such as chile rellenos, tacos and fresh-made tamales. Finish with a sweet treat from the bakery.

1505 SE Third Ave., 374.6451 $ Chill Natural Bar Fill up on Ezekiel Bread toast topped with spreads, fruit or vegetables, protein-dense Greek yogurt topped with fruit, açaí bowls, hearty salads, fresh-pressed juice, and smoothies at this small dine-in or take-out storefront.

Chill’s location on busy Hillside Road makes it the perfect place to grab a healthy treat. 6200 Hillside Road, Suite 100, 355.7100 $ ^ Chiyo’s Oriental Restaurant This small, cash-only dive offers authentic Thai food at affordable prices. The generous portions make it easy to share, or take the extra to go for a tasty late-night treat.

4313 Teckla Blvd., 468.9385/1300 Ross St., 374.6146 $ Copper Fire Grill Experience fine dining at Copper Fire Grill. Innovative cuisine with a focus on prime cuts of beef, lamb, quail and fresh fish, complemented by locally sourced produce, gives discriminating diners plenty of options. Begin your evening in Copper Fire’s cozy bar area before experiencing a memorable evening in the dining room.

2800 Civic Circle, Suite 500, 803.9432, copperfiregrill806.com $$-$$$ c y Crush Wine Bar & Grill Crush’s excellent tapas, sandwiches, entrees and desserts are a big enough draw. Add an extensive and impressive wine list, a rooftop and street-side patio, and excellent service, and you’ve got one of the city’s premier hangout spots. The Saturday brunch is hard to beat, too.

627 S. Polk St., 418.2011, crushamarillo.com $$ C y ^ T ☎

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Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Dickey’s serves its original slow-smoked meats alongside home-style sides like macaroni-and-cheese and jalapeño beans, fresh rolls, and plenty of ice tea.

Founded in Dallas in 1941, the national franchise also gives back – its foundation, Barbecue, Boots & Badges, benefits law enforcement and firefighters in the local community. 6015 Hillside Road, Suite 100, 322.0127, dickeys.com $$ The Drunken Oyster Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.2 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., The Drunken Oyster features Louisiana-style cuisine in a unique and sophisticated setting. Fill up on fresh oysters, crawfish etouffee, gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, and plenty of shrimp entrees. Craft cocktails and an excellent wine list ensure you’ll stay awhile. 7606 SW 45th Ave., Suite 100, 418.6668 $$-$$$ c ☎ y T ^ Dyer’s Bar-B-Que If you’re a meat lover, Dyer’s is the place for you. The family-style, all-you-can-eat lunch special is hard to beat. On Fridays and Saturdays, eat your fill of premium smoked prime rib. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite E526, 358.7104, dyersbbq.com $$ c Eat-Rite The food at Eat-Rite isn’t just good for you; it’s delicious as well. Pile your plate high from the organic salad bar or choose from a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups and entrees. The marinated carrots are pure, tasty goodness. 2425 I-40 West, 353.7476, eat-rite.com $$ El Burrito Rico Feast on affordable Mexican-style food at this locally owned walk-up shop.

Begin your adventure with fresh-made guacamole and chips, and fill up on plentiful options like burritos tacos, taquitos, and chile rellenos.

4404 River Road, 383.4545 $ y El Giro The traditional Mexican food taste will keep you going back for more at El Giro.

A taqueria-style eatery, El Giro offers authentic dishes like tacos, flautas and chile rellenos. Order a party taco box, filled with more than a dozen tacos, to feed a crowd. 1800 Bell St., 318.3859 $ Elmo’s Drive-In This classic drive-in offers old-fashioned burgers and fountain drinks to-go from its original location in the San Jacinto neighborhood. Fill up on fresh grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, fries, and soda fountain-style sundaes.

2618 SW Third Ave., 374.3566 $

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Evocation Coffee You’ll find a thoughtful, simple menu at Evocation Coffee. Pour-over coffees and espresso dominate, but you’ll also find tea, cold press juices, fresh in-house waffles with a variety of spreads, and thick-sliced toast drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Visit Evocation for expertly roasted and brewed coffee and a snack. Hang out because of the peaceful, modern vibe. 3300 S. Coulter St., Suite 5, 418.8968, evocationcoffee.com $ Fast Eddie’s Sports Tavern & Social Club Fast Eddie’s racks up points with its tempting bar menu. Order enough to share from options like cheese sticks, mac & cheese bites, hot wings, and New York-style pizza while you try your hand at billiards and arcade games, or just sit and enjoy the game on the big screen TVs. 1619 S. Kentucky St., 590.7235, fasteddiesbilliards.com $ c Frank’s Bakery Transport yourself to Europe at the only boulangerie in Amarillo. No matter what you choose, you can’t miss with French specialties like fresh baguette sandwiches, quiche, feuillete (a puff pastry filled with chicken, bechamel, and mushrooms), crepes, and croissants – if you can break away from the divine pastry case to order an entree. We’re big fans.

1923 S. Western St., 352.8089 $ y Fuddruckers This fast-casual chain bills itself as making the “world’s greatest hamburger.”

Fuddruckers lets diners choose the size of their burger, how they’d like it cooked, and which toppings they’d prefer. The Amarillo location also has a full bar and an in-house bakery with fresh cookies and pastries. 8158 I-40 West, 358.3450, fuddruckers.com $ c Georgia Street Taphouse Whether in the dining room or inside the spacious bar area, there are plenty of big screens to keep you entertained at Taphouse. Sample typical pub fare and enjoy daily drink specials inside or on the covered patio. 2001 S. Georgia St., 803.7000 $$ c T y

cooks up pretty much every Asian dish you can think of – egg rolls, lettuce wraps, the always-reliable Charlie’s Special, chow mein, curry wings, even hot-off-the-grill rib-eyes and steak kabobs.

705 S. Polk St., 367.9585 $ y c Grandma’s Burritos At Grandma’s Burritos, you’ll feel welcome. The staff is conscientious and the burrito options are endless. The chicken fajita burrito with a side of chips and salsa is generous – enough for two people. 7012 S. Western St., 881.7767 $ Grills Gon’ Wild At Grills Gon’ Wild, you can expect a good time. You’ll find fresh food, made to order, with aged hand-cut steaks and daily specials like chicken alfredo, baby back ribs, or fish tacos. Open early for breakfast, as well as lunch and dinner, there’s plenty of options to keep you going back for more. 5120 Canyon Drive, 418.6001, grillsgonwild.com $ The Handle Bar & Grill Open at 7 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the breakfast crowd, The Handle Bar serves Texas-style comfort food – the handmade burgers are a customer favorite. Dine outside on historic Route 66 or cool off inside while savoring an ice-cold beer. 3514 SW Sixth Ave., 803.9538, thehandlebarandgrill.com $

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Henry D’s Restaurant This popular breakfast spot does more than satisfy your A.M. cravings – choose from American stand-bys like pot roast, fried chicken, hamburgers, and fajitas for lunch or dinner. 5807 SW 45th Ave., 353.9700 $ Hoagies Deli Hoagies made a name for itself with its delicious Philly steak sandwich. Fill up at lunch or dinner with a warm panini or a generously portioned Colossal Spud.

2207 S. Western St., 353.5952, hoagiesdeli.com $

Gloria’s Restaurant Gloria’s menu consists of seafood, Mexican, Tex-Mex dishes and Salvadoran food. The lightly spiced tamales are handmade, steamed in banana leaves and filled with chicken, potatoes, sweet peppers and tomatoes. The sopa siete mares, a broth-based soup made with shrimp, scallops, halibut, perch and vegetables, is full of flavor.

1300 S. Grand St., 373.2722 $

House Divided Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday, House Divided splits its interior into a dedicated bar area and separate dining room (hence the name).

But you’ll see a “divided” theme in its menu as well, with popular Texas college rivalries set on opposing pages. The diverse menu is full of plenty of pub grub, steaks, Texas-style entrees, pizza, Italian and Mexican food, salads, sandwiches and burgers to make a return trip a necessity. 7609 Hillside Road, 350.4377 $$ c

Gooney’s You won’t get bored with Gooney’s menu. This downtown eatery and lounge

Hummer’s Sports Cafe Hang out with friends and eat your fill of Hummer’s great appetizers. Start

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

off with a platter of raw oysters and a bucket of beer. We highly recommend the steak. 2600 Paramount Blvd., Suite B2, 353.0723, hummerssportscafe.com $$ c y Indian Oven The moment you enter Indian Oven, you’ll be enveloped by the fragrances of cardamom, ginger, anise, garlic and chili wafting from the kitchen. Start your meal with a generous portion of naan as you work your way through the extensive menu. Select a chef special such as chicken tandoori or chicken tikka masala or try a little of everything on the lunch buffet. Finish up with the to-die-for rice pudding. Don’t leave without sipping the mango lassi. 2406 Paramount Blvd., 335.3600, indianovenamarillo.com $$ ^ It’s a Punjabi Affair If you were among the many Indian food fans that despaired when Amarillo Hut closed its doors, brood no more.

Punjabi Affair serves Indian-style street food, available for dining in or to take out. Savor classics like flat bread, butter chicken and samosa, and a few you might not be accustomed to like lamb curry, or marinated and fried tilapia. You’ll also find options for vegans and vegetarians. The menu will change with the seasons in order to offer fresh local ingredients.

4201 Bushland Blvd., 414.2114 $ y Jackson Square Grill This Southern, soulful diner is a hot spot for downtown lunchers. On the campus of Park Central Retirement Community, The Grill’s specials change daily and are always popular. The homemade hamburgers and hand-breaded chicken strips are a tasty bet.

1400 S. Van Buren St., 337.4156 $ Jerry’s Cafe Craving breakfast food? Jerry’s Cafe has the solution. You can’t miss with anything off Jerry’s lengthy breakfast menu, served all day every day. Tex-Mex options fill up the rest of the menu with favorites like chile relleno, fajitas and barbacoa.

1601 S. Grand St., 374.4335 $ Jersey Mike’s Subs Jersey Mike’s brings a taste of the Jersey Shore to the Panhandle. The franchise stands behind its high-quality, premium meats, cheeses and fresh-baked bread.

Try a cold sub like the Famous Roast Beef and Provolone, a hot sandwich like Jersey Mike’s Famous Philly, or make any sub into a wrap or salad for a low-carb option.

Order in-store or online and pick it up for a quick and tasty meal. 2311 Georgia St., 731.0731, jerseymikes.com $ Joe Taco Great atmosphere and a variety of Southwest favorites make Joe Taco a

great place to sit and relax, especially while enjoying a signature margarita. Soak in the sun on the patio when the weather is nice. 7312 Wallace Blvd., 331.8226, joetaco. net $$ c T y ^ K-N Root Beer Drive-In If you’ve tried K-N’s yummy burgers and floats, then you know why it’s been a success for more than 40 years.

The K-N Special, a double-meat, double-cheese burger, melts in your mouth. You can’t beat the old-fashioned, icy mug of homemade root beer. 3900 Olsen Blvd., 355.4391 $ y La Bella Pizza With an expanded dining area and bar, the Olsen Boulevard location of La Bella Pizza gives diners more options than takeout. Fill up on Sicilian-style pizza, subs, burgers, calzones, pasta, gyros – the list goes on and on – the hefty menu even includes seafood.

3801 Olsen Blvd., Suite 9, 352.5050, ilovelabellapizza.com $ C ^

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La Fuente Torteria Served on fresh bolillo bread, La Fuente’s hearty tortas are filled with everything you might expect to find in a burrito. Choose from ham and cheese, pork shoulder, sausage and asada beef. You’ll also find traditional tacos, burritos, tamales, and menudo (only on weekends).

511 S. Grand St., 444.6761 $ Leal’s Mexican Restaurant Leal’s serves dishes that blend the traditional flavors of Mexico with a few twists that will delight you. Try excellent, non-traditional items such as salmon or roasted tomatillo enchiladas along with delicious desserts. Let’s not forget about the fresh-squeezed lime margaritas, some of the best around. 1619 S. Kentucky St., 359.5959, myleals.com $$ c T

7120 I-40 FRONTAGE RD. SUITE 105 | AMARILLO, TEXAS 79106

Lil Abner’s Pub & Grub This small cocktail lounge and pizza restaurant offers Happy Hour daily from 4 to 7 p.m., with lunch and dinner service. Customize your pie and pair it with delicious avocado fries or fried raviolis. 2813 SW Sixth Ave., 418.2570 $ c y T Lone Star Bar & Grill Visit Lone Star Bar & Grill for classic, American grillstyle food including savory steaks, burgers, chicken sandwiches and more, all at an affordable price. You’ll also enjoy down-home, friendly service. Lone Star’s guarantee: no hot beer and no small steaks.

935 E. FM 1151, 622.9827 $$ C The Lost Cajun You’ll find southern-style comfort food at The Lost Cajun.

Enjoy the open kitchen as you dine on New Orleans favorites like fried catfish, oysters, gumbo, po-boys and beignets. 2401 I-40 West, 576.0019, thelostcajun.com $$ c Lucido’s Italian Express Serving pizza, subs, salads, pasta, and even breakfast, Lucido’s boasts family recipes passed down for generations. You can’t miss with a meatball sub or Carlo’s Bocce Ball. 2468 SW 34th Ave., 356.0041, lucidositalianexpress.com $ Ly’s Cafe If you’ve never tried Laotian food, head over Ly’s Cafe and fill up on authentic, fresh and delicious food.

Handmade sausage, beef jerky, duck – add the essential

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sticky rice and a hot tea for a classic meal.

The friendly staff will help you choose from the ample menu if you’re stumped.

5615 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.1569 $ Malcolm’s Ice Cream & Food Temptations Malcolm’s offers the ultimate in classic soda-fountain food: burgers, sandwiches and salads – everything’s good. Be sure you save room for dessert. Better yet, start with a treat. After all, it’s the most important part of the meal at Malcolm’s.

2100 Paramount Blvd., 355.3892 $ Maria’s Cocina Mexicana Find all your favorite Mexican dishes at Maria’s. We’re taken with the fresh tamales, but there’s plenty to choose from. In-the-know diners eat at Maria’s for the menudo, chile verde, and traditional enchiladas. 1316 SE 10th Ave., 373.8841 $ Mexico Lindo Restaurant Mexico Lindo has a friendly staff that delivers excellent service with a smile.

The appetizing food comes at reasonable prices and the restaurant offers several popular items such as the gordita plate, crispy rellenos and enchiladas.

4515 S. Georgia St., 355.1851 $ C Momma J’s Head over to Momma J’s and fill up on more-than-generous portions of comfort food, such as extra-large breakfast burritos, chicken-fried steak smothered in gravy, fried okra, and all-you-caneat biscuits and gravy. There’s even a convenient drive-thru when you’re eating on the run. 2700 S. Grand St., 372.8911 $ Mr. Fish Another quirky dive has popped up on Sixth Street. The former owner of nowclosed Pattaya Restaurant takes another approach with a small fish-and-chips joint.

A rotating menu of Asian specialties, including sushi, will supplement the affordable fish and fries offerings.

2806 SW Sixth Ave., 803.9434 $ y North Heights Discount & Cafe Part convenience store and part neighborhood eatery, North Heights Discount & Cafe serves made-to-order soul food every day but Sunday. Portions are huge at Discount, but can you ever have too much smoky ribs, fried catfish, french fries, or mac-and-cheese? We don’t think so. 1621 NW 18th Ave., 418.6751 $ NEW Off the Hook Seafood Located in the Woolworth Building above Esquire Jazz Club, Off the Hook brings southern coast-style fresh seafood to downtown Amarillo. Enjoy Happy Hour specials from 4-6 p.m., relax in the lounge, or savor an excellent meal in the well-appointed dining room.

626 S. Polk St., Suite 200, 350.5445 $$

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OHMS Cafe & Bar Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves a buffet-style lunch then switches to wait service in the evenings. The chef features specials each week that range from seafood and smoked duck to beef tenderloin. Start with daily Happy Hour and give the Bar Burger a try. (It’s not on the menu, but it might be the best burger in town.) Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger.

619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$$ ☎ c y T

ahead and take your order to-go.

900 S. Tyler St., 803.9235, poblanosamarillo.com $-$$ T c y

Outback Steakhouse Let’s just start with the Bloomin’ Onion.

We could actually end there and be completely satisfied, but what’s a trip to Outback without a Victoria’s Filet Mignon and Bacon Bourbon Salmon? Speaking of completely satisfied, leave room for the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.

7101 I-40 West, 352.4032, outback.com $$ c

Prime Chophouse & Lounge Prime Chophouse is situated in Town Square Village, and features a gorgeously appointed dining room and bar. Choose from prime cuts of steak and pork and plenty of seafood options. Sides are served a la carte in family-style or individual-sized portions. Tranquil decor and topnotch dining ensure an enchanting evening. 9181 Time Square Blvd., Suite 1311, 433.8933 $$ y ☎ c

Pacific Rim Pacific Rim offers a variety of AsianFusion cuisine in a unique setting. One of the best things about this place is the greeting you’ll get from Andy, the owner. But let’s talk food. The lettuce wraps are outstanding. In fact, everything is good. Pacific Rim even offers speedy delivery. 2061 Paramount Blvd., 353.9179, pacificrimam.com $ C Pancho Villa Restaurant This unassuming little eatery might not capture one’s attention, but it’s worth a visit to Pancho’s. The casual restaurant caters to Mexican and Tex-Mex enthusiasts with authentic offerings like caldo de res (beef soup). 4601 River Road, 381.0105 $ Pei Wei Pei Wei is always busy, but it’s certainly worth the wait. Your visit isn’t complete without the lettuce wraps. From there, delight your taste buds with beef ginger broccoli. 3350 S. Soncy Road, Suite 194, 352.5632, peiwei.com $$ C Pizza Planet For dine-in or takeout, Pizza Planet offers some of the best pizza in town. If you like a good chef salad, this is your place. Be prepared to share – it’s huge.

2400 Paramount Blvd., 353.6666/ 6801 Bell St., Suite 100, 352.6666, pizzaplanet.com/335 E. Hastings Ave., 381.2333, amarillopizzaplanet.com $-$$

C^ Poblano’s Grill Poblano’s Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a focus on Tex-Mex fare.

Try the sizzling fajitas, smothered chile relleno, stuffed avocado – breaded, fried and topped with your choice of meat – or opt for American favorites like a made-to-order rib-eye and chicken-fried steak. You’ll enjoy a bustling, friendly atmosphere when you dine in, or call

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

The Potato Factory Come hungry to The Potato Factory, where you can fill up fast on huge baked potatoes loaded with a variety of toppings, from veggies to chili. The restaurant also has some of the best chili dogs and Frito pie in town.

2808 SW 34th Ave., 463.7783, thepotatofactory.net $ y

Rain Premier Sushi Bar & Lounge Rain lights up Polk Street with its sleek, energetic ambience and exceptional menu of contemporary Asian cuisine. Grab the gang for an evening of flavor and fun.

817 S. Polk St., 331.1155, rainamarillo.com $$ c y T Rancho Viejo Restaurant Breakfast is served all day at Rancho Viejo, and with free coffee. Choose from plenty of Tex-Mex entrees priced under $10.

1915 I-40 East, 517.2170, ranchoviejoamarillo.com $ Red River Steakhouse Experience the flavor of Texas at Red River Steakhouse. With plenty of beef on the menu – customer favorites are the prime rib, barbecue ribs, and hand-cut steaks – and rustic windmill-themed decor, the well-known steakhouse promises quality and quantity in every meal. 4332 SW 45th Ave., 367.9732, redriversteakhouse.com $$ c RibCrib BBQ & Grill RibCrib has your hankering for smoky barbecue covered. Choose from chicken, pork and beef on the Crib’s extensive menu, with a variety of sauces as well.

Visit early for Happy Hour and stay to enjoy the Pigman, a half-pound sandwich heaped with slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork and sausage, then covered in sauce, pickles and onions. Quench your thirst with a glass of refreshing lemonade.

5050 S. Coulter St., 803.9360, ribcrib.com $$ c y Rosa’s Café & Tortilla Factory Perfect for take-out or a quick, satisfying meal, Rosa’s offers Tex-Mex favorites and a fun, upbeat atmosphere. You can’t beat the homemade tortillas, made fresh every day. 4312 SW 45th Ave., 351.1194/ 3820 I-40 West, 352.8227/

6007 Soncy Road, 803.9145, rosascafe.com $ ^ Rudy’s Texas Bar-B-Q Rudy’s serves up the same original recipes they’ve used since 1989: brisket, ribs, turkey, pork loin and sausage slow-smoked over an oak fire, seasoned with a secret dry-spice blend and topped with “Sause.” Plenty of sides and delicious desserts ensure you’ll need lots of napkins. 3751 I-40 West, 677.7452, rudysbbq.com $$ y Sakura Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar Choose from an extensive sushi menu that includes nigiri style, cut rolls, special rolls, spicy rolls, sushi salads, and for the beef lover, Texas sushi. At Sakura, get ready to be entertained by chefs who prepare your meal at the table.

We wholeheartedly recommend the swordfish. 4000 S. Soncy Road, 358.8148, amarillosushi.com $$-$$$ c Sharky’s Burrito Company Think of Sharky’s as a burrito assembly line, a place where you call the shots and load a tortilla (flavored or not) with all your favorite toppings. Start with the meat and work your way through a plethora of options including beans, rice, veggies and cheese. The endless combinations will keep you going back for more. 1612 S. Georgia St., 359.7330 $y^ Shi Lee’s Barbecue & Soul Food Cafe You’ll find classic barbecue along with fried chicken wings, catfish, pork chops and a featured soul food meal of the day at Shi Lee’s. Meat lovers can feast on platters piled high with ribs, sausage and brisket, with plenty of sides to fill up even the hungriest diner. 1213 SW Third Ave., 220.0032 $ Sinaloa Hot Dogs and Mexican Food The hot dogs Mexicanos are the star of the menu at Sinaloa (although the roasted chicken is pretty tantalizing, as well). The extra messy hot dog, topped with bacon, avocado, onions, mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup comes on a toasted bun.

We recommend extra napkins.

2618 Amarillo Blvd. East, 367.8935 $ Spicy Mike’s Bar-B-Q Haven Diners won’t leave Mike’s hungry; they’ll leave licking their fingers. With chopped brisket sandwiches, tender pork ribs and more, Mike’s is a meat lover’s paradise.

6723 S. Western St., 358.8550, spicymikes.mymobisite.us $ T C Sun Donuts In the mood for a doughnut? Then you’d better go early to Sun Donuts, before all the delectable creations sell out. It seems impossible to narrow down the options, but customer favorites include bacontopped doughnuts, cream-filled with added strawberries, and spicy breakfast

kolaches. We also have our eye on the croissants made to order with eggs, meat and cheese. 1615 N. Grand St., 367.9217 $ Tacos Garcia At Tacos Garcia, serving authentic Mexican food is a family affair. In the same location since 1999, the Veloz family serves up traditional favorites that keep loyal customers going back time after time. Try the Swiss enchiladas or the chile relleno lampriados. You won’t be disappointed. 1100 Ross St., 371.0411, tacosgarcia.com $$

cy☎

Taqueria El Comal This little shop’s homemade gorditas are always a delight.

The building is easy to pass by, so slow down and keep your eyes peeled; you don’t want to miss out on this treasure. 1210 Amarillo Blvd. East, 373.7090 $ Taqueria Y Restaurant El Sol de Mexico With about 80 menu offerings, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed on your first visit to El Sol de Mexico. But press on. Photos accompany each entree – which helps in the decision-making process – as does easy ordering with numbers for each item. Choose from traditional Mexican plates and sides or something from the grill (quail is a tasty option.) 3501 NE 24th Ave., 383.2038 $ C Taste of Thai Taste of Thai serves traditional Thai cuisine and a variety of chef specials for lunch and dinner. Enjoy fresh-cooked taste and friendly service. 1900 SE 34th Ave., Suite 1100, 373.9995 $ Texas Chicken Bowl A fixture on Amarillo Boulevard for decades, Texas Chicken Bowl serves Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, with daily lunch specials. Customers rave about the seafood soup, pad thai, and Gary Special. Friendly service and low prices guarantee an enjoyable experience. 3011 Amarillo Blvd. East, 383.9038 $ Texas Roadhouse This is one place you don’t have to worry about your kids leaving a mess. Everyone does – it’s OK to throw your peanut shells on the floor at the Roadhouse. Bread lovers will rejoice over the rolls and steak lovers will drool over the meat on display as soon as they walk through the door. Be ready for a wait, but the food’s worth it.

2805 I-40 West, 352.7427, texasroadhouse.com c $ ^

PURPOSE + PASSION BOUTIQUEPURPOSE was merely+aPASSION vision I had several years BOUTIQUE was ago. merely a vision I had several years ago.

My dream has now become a reality and a place that become blends my for aallplace that blends my PASSION for all My dream has now a PASSION reality and things I love: fashion, home décor,things accessories gift items. the items in and gift items. I wanted the items in I love:and fashion, homeI wanted décor, accessories the store to have a PURPOSE whether it be a reason the customer needs the item the store to have a PURPOSE whether it be a reason the customer needs the item or even better a PURPOSE behind the item. Many products in the store not only or even better a PURPOSE behind the item. Many products in the store not only look great and make wonderful gifts, they also give back. From feeding children, to look and make wonderful also give back. From feeding children, helping people out of homelessness, togreat empowering women in third gifts, worldthey countries, helping –people out ofinhomelessness, tohave empowering women in third world countrie to supporting locals in my hometown the products this store truly a to supporting locals in my hometown – the products in this store truly have a PURPOSE. I have also created an online shop at www. purposeandpassionboutique.

PURPOSE. I have also created an online shop at www.purposeandpassionboutiqu com where I can bring awareness of these products to the world through #shopforapurpose and #lovinthelocals. certain you will find things you comI am where I can bring awareness of are these products to the world through sure to love for any occasion. Stop by the boutique and let #lovinthelocals. me help you findI your #shopforapurpose and am certain you will find things you are PURPOSE + PASSION! sure to love for any occasion. Stop by the boutique and let me help you find you

PURPOSE + PASSION!

2612 Wolflin Village, 806.418.8920 www.purposeandpassionboutique.com 2612 Wolflin Village, 806.418.8920 email: shop@purposeandpassionboutique.com

www.purposeandpassionboutique.com email: shop@purposeandpassionboutique.com Tag us in your photos @purposeandpassionboutique

Tag 10 us a.m.–6 in your p.m.; photos Store Hours: Mon.–Fri. Sat.@purposeandpassionboutique 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Thai Arawan You’ll get your fill of fresh, authentic Thai cuisine at Thai Arawan. We recommend the angel noodle and the chicken fried rice. Consistently good flavor and friendly service make this one of our favorites. 2834 Wolflin Ave., 463.7167, thaiarawan.com $$ Thai Koon Loaded with flavor and made fresh to order, the Thai cuisine at Thai Koon is sure to satisfy that nagging craving for Asian fare. We recommend the light and tasty summer rolls, pad kee mao, bursting with basil and broccoli, or savory beef salad. Ask the friendly staff about their favorites, too. 7030 S. Western St., 353.4444 $ Torchy’s Tacos Feast on Torchy’s breakfast and savory tacos, many with the eatery’s signature use of pickled ingredients, making for a spicy, zesty twang of flavor in every bite. Start with the queso and a Happy Hour special and linger in Torchy’s hip atmosphere as the perfect end to a workday or for day-time weekend relaxation with friends.

It’s our f irst ann Sto

iversary!

p in all m onth f or ann iversar y

specials.

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3562 Soncy Road, Suite 101, 398.1111, torchystacos.com $ c y Trail Boss Ranch Cooking With a menu aimed to please anyone from diehard barbecue enthusiasts to those with lighter appetites, this small dine-in or takeout restaurant promises you won’t leave hungry or “it’s your own dang fault.” Offerings include certified Angus beef burgers, brisket and steaks, calf fries, daily specials and homemade cobbler. There’s even allyou-can-eat ribs and live music on the weekends. 4925 S. Western St., 352.2500, trailbossranchcooking.com $$ T C NEW Tropical Cafe More than just a smoothie bar, national chain Tropical Cafe serves pressed sandwiches, grilled-to-order quesadillas, bowls, salads, and wraps. Smoothie offerings change with the seasons, and are bursting with flavor. 4820 S. Soncy Road, Suite 100, 353.1010 $ Uptown Sweet Shoppe Pick up kolaches, quiche or cinnamon rolls for breakfast or lunch, or stop in for a sweet treat all day. Cupcake flavors change daily but include birthday cake, triple chocolate, and devilishness. Plenty of other options fill the case at Uptown, and make return visits a certainty.

7406 SW 34th Ave., Suite 2A, 418.6109 $ NEW Vaquero Tacos and Tequila From-scratch tacos and authentic cuisine await you at Vaquero. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, choose from mesquite-grilled whole chickens (enough for the entire family), posole, tamales, and a number of family-style dinners. Pair your meal with a handcrafted margarita or one of the daily drink specials.

2300 Bell St., 418.6880 $$ c Wesley’s Bean Pot & BBQ Loyal customers return again and again to Wesley’s. The atmosphere is friendly and the barbecue is genuine Texas style. The baby back ribs and brisket The baby back ribs and brisket are customer favorites.

6406 River Road, 381.2893 $ Ye Olde Pancake Station With breakfast this good, you’ll be glad to know the Pancake Station serves it all day long. The restaurant also offers great diner-style entrees for lunch. We recommend the over-sized omelets, fresh pancakes, and southern fried chicken. 2800 Virginia Circle, 355.0211, pancakestation.com $ ^ Young Sushi “Rocks!”

The friendly greeting you receive when you walk into Young’s is your first clue your experience will be a good one. The helpful staff is always willing to offer suggestions regarding the sushi. If sushi’s not your thing, try the authentic Thai cuisine. 202 SW 10th Ave., 371.7200 $$ C ^

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Zombiez Bar & Grill Locals rave about the homestyle offerings at Zombiez Bar & Grill. Fill up on daily specials, burgers, chickenfried steak or chicken-fried chicken.

Dine-in, takeout and delivery are available.

711 SW 10th Ave., 331.7305 $ c T y

CANYON Aloha Kitchen Aloha Kitchen’s slogan is certainly compelling: “So good it’ll make you forget your name.” And so are the daily specials. Choose from Kalua Pork (slowcooked with Hawaiian spices), Flying Hawaiian (wok chicken), or Loco Moco (a burger patty served over rice with a fried egg), or from daily offerings like burgers, burritos or smoothies. A variety of Hawaiian canned and iced beverages will help you cool off on a hot day.

700 23rd St., 290.1129, alohakitchentx.com $ y Barrel & Pie The cuisine is seasonally driven at Barrel & Pie; the menu will change to accommodate demand and to keep items fresh and interesting. With a focus on small plates, artisan pizza, and whiskey and craft cocktails, you’re in for a treat. Make time to linger at Barrel & Pie. 1512 Fifth Ave., Suite 101, 591.1144, barrelandpie.com $$ c Bear’s Burgers & Dawgs Choosing from the simple offerings is an easy task at Bear’s. Other than handmade burgers, hot dogs and fries, a few comfort food items like Frito pie and loaded baked potatoes round out the menu. Ice cold beer will help you wash it all down.

2001-A N. Second Ave., 452.8033 $ C NEW Buff’s Buff’s specializes in home-style comfort food and more-than-generous portions. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, you’ll find plenty of craveappeasing items all day long.

2201 Fourth Ave., 655.2833 $ y Fat-Boys BBQ Fat Boys has been dishing up delicious Texas-style barbeque since 1988, so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing.

The meat has the perfect amount of smoky flavor. Top it with sweet barbecue sauce and add a few homemade sides.

Your taste buds will thank you.

104 N. 23rd St., 655.7363 $ y Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner Feldman’s fun, casual atmosphere and model trains that run a course along the ceiling make it a great place for the whole family. Try the made-fresh burgers or the Tortugas chicken, satisfaction guaranteed.

2100 N. Second Ave., 655.2711, feldmansdiner.com $ c y

Hil’s Burgers This burger joint’s menu is pretty snazzy. The Philly cheese steak sandwich pairs perfectly with a side of sizzling, thinly sliced onion rings, but you can’t go wrong with the chicken-fried steak sandwich topped with chili, either. 1302 23rd St., 656.0810 $ y Imperial Taproom Imperial Taproom has quickly made fans in Canyon.

Featuring fresh, in-season ingredients and an extensive craft beer and wine list, Imperial provides a hip, industrialchic vibe to linger and enjoy your meal. Feast on entrees with an upscale presentation that are pleasantly easy on your pocketbook. 410 15th St., Suite 100, 452.8004, imperialtaproom.com C $$ ☎ Joe Taco One of Amarillo’s most beloved Tex-Mex restaurants has made its way to Canyon. Located on the bustling square, the new location offers the same Tex-Mex favorites and energetic vibe as its Medical Center location. Enjoy lunch and dinner seven days a week. 502 15th St., 452.8226, joetaco.net $$ c y T The King and I of Canyon Craving fresh sushi? The King and I will surely satisfy. Try the customer favorite, the Canyon Roll, and savor every scrumptious slice of crab, tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese topped with red tuna, white tuna, shrimp and eel. If you still have an appetite, order the fried bananas covered with powdered sugar and strawberries. 104 15th St., 655.2491 $$ C Recreation Food and fun is in store at Recreation. Burgers, street tacos, and nachos fill the menu, with unique flavor profiles and top-notch ingredients. Eat in the casual dining area, and then beat your top score in the video game gallery – no tokens necessary. 1512 Fifth Ave., Suite 103, 656.0665, recreationcanyon.com $ c

THE POSSIBILITIES with a low interest rate

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Amarillo Globe-News

Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe Located on the square, the Rockin’ Zebra Soda Shoppe offers classic soda shop fare like French dips, pulled pork sandwiches, or a grilled cheese sandwich. Cool off with a specialty drink or ice cream sundae. 404 15th St., 655.3381 $ y Sayakomarn’s Restaurant Sayakomarn’s offers a variety of traditional Thai dishes with daily lunch specials that won’t empty your wallet.

Be sure to try their boba tea made with tapioca balls and shaken into fruit-flavored or milk tea. It’s yummy.

421 16th St., 655.2698, sayakomarns.com $ c Stix Food on a Stick Serving lunch and dinner, Stix serves steak, chicken, pork, sausage, and ground beef kabobs – even roasted corn on a stick. Fast, affordable food and great service make this a Canyon favorite. 204 23rd St., 676.3336 $ Taqueria El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant El Tapatio’s second location in Canyon serves up the same authentic Mexican food at affordable prices. The carne el pastor is a customer favorite. 2301 12th Ave., 510.7703 $ C Thai Kitchen The generous menu will keep you coming back for more at Thai Kitchen. Choose from affordable Thai classics – soup, salads, noodles, pork, seafood and more. The small eatery is open for lunch and dinner six days a week.

713 23rd St., 655.4741 $

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RETRO REWIND

P

rior to Amarillo’s founding in 1887, the town of Tascosa had become one of the most important settlements in the Texas Panhandle. It was established northwest of presentday Amarillo at a prominent crossing-point of the Canadian River, soon after Charles Goodnight brought the first cattle to the region in 1876. Before long, Tascosa became the unofficial capital of the Panhandle and the stomping ground for ranch hands, gamblers and gunfighters – including the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid. A cemetery called “Boot Hill,” named for a similar cemetery in Dodge City, Kansas, was established to accommodate men 62

Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

who “died with their boots on” during gunfights.

As barbed wire was introduced on nearby ranches, the vast acreage surrounding the settlement limited access to Tascosa. Then in 1887, the railroad bypassed the town and created a population center in Amarillo. By 1915, only 15 residents remained. Today, only the Boot Hill cemetery, the old stone courthouse and the 1889 schoolhouse remain. All are located on the property of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. This photo shows the Tascosa Exchange Hotel, already abandoned and in disrepair in the early days of the 1900s.

IMAGE FROM AMARILLO PUBLIC LIBRARY ARCHIVES

Tascosa Exchange Hotel

20 QUESTIONS

AARON EMERSON BROKER/CO-OWNER, GAUT WHITTENBURG EMERSON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

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Amarillo Magazine • amarillomagonline.com • JANUARY 2019

PHOTO BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

What is the best advice you received when you were beginning your career?

Work harder than everyone around you. How do you use social media to grow your network? As it relates to my business network, I am more likely to pick up the phone to call someone than I am to depend on social media to bring them to me. We do use social media to advertise properties and promote our agents. How do you maintain balance? I work out a few days a week early in the morning. I try to get home no later than 5:30 p.m. to spend time with my family. Focusing on family helps me more than anything. What has been your wisest investment? Buying my first investment property. You never learn as much as you do when it’s your own hard-earned money at risk. Buying and selling properties for myself over the years has helped me understand how to better help my clients. How has your past work experience shaped you into a leader? Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with some very wise and successful clients. The common denominator among the most successful is they treat the people around them with kindness and respect. What is the best part about your job? I constantly meet new people and have made numerous friends through the years. How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and private life? For me, mentorship has been the most important piece of the puzzle. My first mentor would teach me something, then have me teach the rest of the agents. His philosophy was once you know something well enough to teach it, it will be ingrained. There are others who I run big decisions by on a regular basis, both business and personal. Which living person do you most admire and why? My wife. She is the most genuine person I know. Which overused word or phrase makes you cringe? When people use crutch phrases like “and, uh” to drag out a conversation. There is a time to stop talking and listen to what the other person has to say. What is your business philosophy? There are no shortcuts. Which quality do you most value in an employee? Integrity. Not just in an employee, but in everyone. What personality trait has most helped you succeed? Patience. Who is your favorite author? Larry McMurtry. What did you learn from your best boss? After you close a big deal, don’t take a break.

Instead, spend some time working on raising the bar for yourself by going after bigger deals. Your worst? You must be generous with those who work for you.

Let them take the credit for their accomplishments, and make sure they know they are valued. How can Amarillo improve its business environment? I think we all need to be careful about buying things online that we could have bought from a small, local business. Also, Amarillo’s business environment improves greatly with the continuation of projects that advance our quality of life. These projects (Civic Center, ballpark, streetscapes, park improvements, etc.) help recruit new businesses to town, and help keep our kids in Amarillo after they graduate high school and college. Most important tech tool: iPhone. The ability to carry a calendar, email, financial calculator, notebook, camera, and phone on one little device that fits in my back pocket is essential. Best time management tool: iPhone calendar. I can’t live without my: family. My favorite thing about Amarillo is: the people. I moved here 15 years ago from Dallas, and I am still impressed with how friendly the people are in Amarillo. Most unusual job or task: I pick up a lot of trash while walking through buildings. If I walk into a client’s building and see a dirty tissue on the floor, I pick it up. Whoever keeps dropping their Amarillo Club mint wrapper in the FirstBank Southwest Tower’s elevator … when I find you, it’s on.

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