Lomato's move has drivers remembering
Published on -10/27/2008, 7:05 AM
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By GAYLE WEBER
Lomato's owner Tom Haynes first heard talk of a developer wanting to buy his property in April, but only as an off-hand comment.
It wasn't until about a month ago he realized he would have to relocate the 15-year-old business in order for apartments similar to Stonepost Apartments at Fifth and Main streets to be built.
Haynes doesn't have a moving date yet.
"It's coming up pretty soon," Haynes said. "It depends on when they get things done in the new building."
Haynes purchased the former Greek's Pizzeria building at 130 W. Ninth and is working to remodel it.
He said he will provide basically the same service he has in the past, but the customer base could be different.
"The business demographics will change a little bit," Haynes said. "We hope we'll do more lunch-time business from downtown."
He said there will be only three booths and two tables, so dining in will be a limited option; however, he said most of Lomato's business during the years has been carry-out or delivery.
"I want to remain close to campus, close to the one-ways," Haynes said. "That's a great delivery location."
He said he might stay open later than he previously has on Fridays and Saturdays in order to catch the bar crowds letting out from across the railroad tracks. If he does so, there will be only carry-out orders taken.
"We're just looking forward to getting moved in," Haynes said.
The Lomato's location formerly was Varsity Bowl, a '50s-style diner that was the turn-around point for people dragging Main Street for many decades.
On Saturday, Hays City Auto Outlaws members and guests gathered one last time to say goodbye to the popular gathering place.
"It was built in 1947 and has a lot of history in Hays," said Greg Augustine, an Auto Outlaws member. "Everybody basically planned their weekend there."
Augustine said there were about 40 or 50 motorcycles and about that many more cars assembled at Lomato's on Saturday.
Many of them dragged Main Street one more time in honor of the longtime tradition of their youth.
"Even if you lived in Victoria or Ellis, the thing to do was to come over to Hays and cruise Main Street all night long," Augustine said.
"You really hate to see these old places go, I guess for the nostalgia."
