A BIT OF ANNA HISTORY

The Malt Shop

By Judy Harlow and Becky Greer From “The Spark that Ignited the Town of Anna”

The Malt Shop was built in 1958 at the north end of Anna on Highway 75 (later changed to Highway 5 and now is Powell Parkway). It was built and operated by Bob and Patsy Rollins Dunlap. Patsy the daughter of Eli and Lilath Rollins, was born and raised in Anna graduating from. AHS in 1946. The shop was built with a fat roof and wide windows typical of the drive-in eateries of the 1950s. The parking awning was added later. A small juke box hung on the center pole under the awning. For a nickel you could be entertained by your favorite Rock ’n Roll song.

The Malt Shop had a large sign in the shape of a giant ice cream cone with neon lights but after they were broken they were not replaced due to the cost. The highlights were dairy treats. Orhe favorites over the years past and today are burgers fries, milkshakes, malts, and fountain drinks.

The Dunlaps sold the business to M.T. Reaves, son of a life-long Anna famiy. He and his family operated the Malt Shop for 33 years. In February 1998, Joe and Beck Greer purchased the shop, added a barbecue pit and a screened dining area, opening it in August. Joe is also a descendent of an Anna pioneer family. Since the Malt Shop was built by the Dunlaps, it has been a favorite hang-out for kids and teenagers. They would walk or ride bicycles and sometimes even horses to get ice cream and drinks.

One Anna school student told his parents he had the best bus driver, Coach Harlow, because he drove the bus fast and too them by The Malt Shop every Friday for a treat on Thursday nights during the 60s and 70s, community pep rallies were held on the lot beside The Malt Shop. During the lunch break, high school students would pile into cars race to The Malt Shop and eat burgers and fries before returning back to school on time. Evenings would find teens sitting on cars, listening to the juke Vox and socializing with their friends. Many fun memories were made at The Malt Shop in Anna.

Over the years, improvements were made as required by changing city codes as well as other changes to provide a better working environment. Through it all, the focus was always on retaining the shop’s historical appeal.

Even today thee are special events held there such as the “old car rally.” Adults with antique cars, trucks, and bikes meet to show off their cars with the hoods open, visit and drink a coke. Many are the teens of days gone bye Some are new folks but ll have fun at The Malt Shop in Anna, Texas.

Joe and Becky Greer have now refurbished

the giant ice cream cone and replaced the neon lights. On Thursday night, April 17, 2014, the lights were again turned on returning our Malt Shop to the “glory days” of yesteryear.

This story is reprinted here with permission from the Anna Area Historical Preservation Society. “The Spark that Ignited the Town of Anna” is a wonderful effort on behalf of the historical society that includes the stories of Anna’s leading families through the years. Anyone who may have had a curiosity about how things have happened in Anna, will likely find answers in this book. Families and descendants have shared their stories and pictures of early Anna and the result is spellbinding. The book may be found online at www.amazon.com or by contacting the historical society whose website is http://aahps.org.