Hide Article Text (OCR)
Old customers welcome back a favorite dining spotBy DAVID DEKUNDERStaff Writerhanks to the efforts of a local family, a famed Marion eatery is back inbusiness.After being shutdown for three years, the old Overlander Restaurant is under the management of the Jesse and Dorothy Mills family and has been named the Overlander and Blue Moon Hall. The Overlander reopened its doors to over 100 patrons on Feb. 10. The eatery first opened its doors in1976.The Mills family, Marion residents for over 20 years, are definitely glad to be part of the Overlander’s revival.The Overlander is located on FM 78 in downtown Marion.“We intend for it to be a comfortable, relaxing, family atmosphere,” Dorothy said. “The food will always be homestyle and the steaks will only be the best quality. A tradition we will continue is the Overlander Special which is a great big one-third pound hamburger with onion rings and frenchfries.”The Mills are in a lease with Marion Dance Hall, Inc. of San Antonio to manage the restaurant. Mills said the company was formed after the Overlander shutdown three years ago in order to attract investors from San Antonio. Those efforts fell throuizh. sonamed after his daughter.“The room will be quiet and out of the way,” Dorothy said. “Small groups will be able to have meetings (in the room).Other anemities the Overlander has, Manon Dance Hall, Inc. decided to let Dorothy points out, is a juke box, anantique bar, a mirror behind the bar, beer still served on the draft and antiques mixed in with the decor.The present day Overlander property was first purchased by Rudolf Krause in 1890. On this site, Krause built a dance hall which became Krause Hall. A saloon and general merchandise store was built on the property and run by different owners. Through the upcoming years, the property changed hands two times before John Huebinger bought it in 1909.Huebinger died in 1921, leaving the dance hall and saloon to his daughter Barbara and son-in-law Hugo Schulz, Sr. Schulz then began to operate a cafe in the saloon, which was supposedly shut down during Prohibition in the1920’s. The Schulz Cafe became renowned for its chile and chile sandwiches.“Legend has it that when Mr. Schulz was operating the dance hall and saloon, so many people here were staying a long time that he decided to cook food,” Dorothy said.-The Schulz Hall, in 1931, wasremodeled and renamed the Bluethe Mills, a local family, go ahead and run the establishment.Definitely, to say running the business is a family affair would be an understatement. Karen and Ralph Martinez and Shari and Kirx Herbold play a big part waiting on tables and getting meals prepared for patrons. Karen and Shari are Mills’ daughters.Karen and Ralph have always wanted a restaurant of their own,” Dorothy said. “Ralph has 15 years experience in the restaurant business. He managed the Adobe Cafe in Seguin.”The Mills family plans to make some additions that will enhance the Overlander’s atmosphere. A board and conductors room, which will occupy a present room, will be used for organizational meetings. Dorothy said the room will contain Southern Pacific Railroad memorabilia, equipment and pictures of old Southern Pacific trains. The Southern Pacific track runs through Marion right across FM 78 from the Overlander. In fact, it was T.W. Peirce, one of the investors of the Galveston. Harrisburg San Antonio Railway, who founded the town of Marion in 1877. The town wasOriginally an 1800s dance hall, the Overlander keeps tradition alive in Marion.Herald-Zeitung photos by MICHAEL DARNALL1953 when he sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Schulz, Jr. Hugo Schulz, Jr. tore down the saloon and cafe and built athe property to Mrs. Elmer C. Looff, Jr. and her two sons, Jeff and Wayne. The Blue Moon Dance Hall is nowreunion parties can be held in the dance hall. To Mills, the Overlander and the Blue Moon Dance Hall will alwaysnew cafe on the side of the dance hall, rented for parties. The Blue Moon capture the essence of Marion.The names of the dance hall and cafe Dance Hall can hold parties between 50“To me this place continues the goodremained Schulz Dance Hall and to 250 people. Anything from organi- old days; the tradition of having goodMoon. Schulz ran the dance hall until Schulz Cafe. In 1973, the Schulzs sold zational, wedding receptions and food, fun and friends,” Dorothy said.
Newspaper Details
New Braunfels Herald Zeitung
New Braunfels, Texas, US
Thu, Mar 28, 1996
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
San A.
Texas, USA 29 Sep 2020
Other Publications Near New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels Sunday Herald Zeiyung
Herald Zeitung
New Braunfels Herald Zeitung
