This review is a tribute to 'One Fannin' (Col. James Fannin) and his 344 men whose deaths…read morestrengthened the resistance that led to Texas independence, and in a big way, led to the USA acquiring the western states from Mexico later on. The story ((in parenthesis like this, told in segments from Wikipedia)) has parallels to this café located on Old Spanish Trail at Fannin.
((Texans, trapped in the Alamo with limited supplies, were hoping for reinforcements from Col. Fannin, who participated in the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835, famous for the flag "Come and take it".))
--This café is a small, but not bad grill, serving breakfast and lunch (burgers, hot dogs, chili and other hot foods, as well as salads, and easy-prep foods, like common sandwiches), supplemented by shelf snacks, and coolers with other offerings, like drinks. -
(("Appeals from Travis [trapped] at the Alamo prompted Fannin to launch a relief march of over 300 men and 4 pieces of artillery on 25 February 1836. After some delay, Fannin and his men moved out on the 28th for the more than 90 miles to San Antonio. The relief mission was a failure. The troops barely had crossed the San Antonio River when wagons broke down, prompting the men to camp within sight of Goliad. They had little or no food, some men were barefooted, and the oxen teams wandered off during the night."))
--This is a building-oriented café for those trapped inside the compound of buildings (as opposed to depending on customers from outside). Other than paying for parking inside the compound, this café is a far away outpost from other parking places, and you would have to cross the hazardous river of car traffic. If you are carrying things, by the time you get to the cafe, you might be exhausted.-
((So, Col. Fannin and his men did not make it to the Alamo in time. "On March 6, 1836, the Battle of the Alamo was fought, with all of the Alamo's defenders (about 187 men) being killed by Mexican forces."))
--Don't delay, like Fannin. Deli closes at 5:00 pm, so if you are thinking of dinner, keep that in mind.-
(("General Houston ordered Fannin to retreat to Victoria. Fannin then sent word to the men at Refugio to rendezvous with his command at Victoria. Other dispatches were intercepted by the Centralista forces, thus informing them of Fannin's plans."))
--I ordered a Powerhouse breakfast ($5). No other customers, and yet the it took longer than it should to serve. But the meal was good quality for eggs & bacon & hash browns. The place has no wi-fi, just TV. Since most people order to go, it makes a good retreat to get away.-
(("On March 19, Fannin led the Texans on a retreat from Fort Defiance. Transporting 9 cannons and over 500 spare muskets, Fannin's forces were also heavily laden with supplies & baggage. The column traveled about 6 miles when Fannin ordered a halt to rest his animals. At about 3:00pm, Mexican cavalry appeared. After a fierce battle that day, and facing overwhelming odds, Fannin and his troops surrendered the next day, at the Battle of Coleto. ))
--Of course, there is no hint in the Café about Col. Fannin or Texas history. Most people never give the street named "Fannin" a second thought, or even know the name is linked to Texas history.
For me, though, in honor of the Colonel, I sat in the West Point corner of the café seating.-
(("The Mexicans took the Texans back to Goliad, where they were held as prisoners at Fort Defiance. The Texans thought they would likely be set free in a few weeks. On March 26, 1836, 19:00, Santa Anna ordered Portilla to execute the prisoners.
The next day, Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, Colonel Portilla had the 302 Texans marched out of Fort Defiance into three columns on the Bexar Road, San Patricio Road, and the Victoria Road, between two rows of Mexican soldiers; they were shot pointblank, and any survivors were clubbed and knifed to death.
Colonel Fannin was the last to be executed, after seeing his men executed. Age 32, he was taken by Mexican soldiers to the courtyard in front of the chapel, blindfolded, and seated in a chair (due to his leg wound from the battle). He made three requests: he asked for his personal possessions to be sent to his family, to be shot in his heart and not his face, and to be given a Christian burial. The soldiers took his belongings, shot him in the face, and burned Fannin's body along with the other Texans who died that day." [as told by lone survivor Joseph Spohn]
As word of the Alamo and Goliad massacre spread among Sam Houston's troops and even into the USA, the Texas rebels, who had little hope and supplies as they retreated from Santa Anna's troops, cries of "Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad." sustained their spirit to fight on and win against an oppressive regime. ))
--That's all behind us, as the Café serves Tacos, and Texans and Mexicans get along fine.
