LOCAL AMARILLO LANDMARK CLOSES THEN REOPENS...

The Murphy's often made a quick jog across the railroad tracks to grab some burgers, fries and a cold drink.

News that the longtime Amarillo drive-up eatery will close Feb. 3 took Murphy and other loyal customers by surprise.

"The back door of our duplex, you could look out the back door and see the Burger Barrel. We'd get paid on Fridays, and it was our treat. We'd troop across the tracks and get a burger and fries or a malt," Murphy said. "I don't know if you would call it an icon or not, but it's just a fixture to that neighborhood. I really hate to see it go. I still, even today, stop in there once in a while to get a burger and fries."

Stanton Bray has managed the Barrel for 27 years. He's saddened to see the drive-up institution close. A sign on the Barrel's window said higher energy costs, rising grocery prices and growing fast-food competition prompted the closure.

Bray said much of the barrel-shaped restaurant's equipment is old and needs to be replaced. The original owner, F.E. Waller, died about a year ago. His daughter owns another restaurant, Bill's Go Burger, at 4500 S. Washington St., he said.

"Our gas bill is very, very high and the electric bill has also gone up considerably. It makes it difficult for us to operate," he said. "Rising food prices. Already we've seen rising costs for our produce like our lettuce."

Bray has worked two stints at the restaurant, once in 1974, and another after he returned from Europe to manage it. In those days, the Barrel ran a special after 6 p.m.: five burgers with lettuce, pickles and onions for a buck and a quarter.

Burgers are the Barrel's mainstay, but plenty of customers opt for its chicken-fried steak sandwich or the chicken strips. Burger meat is ground especially to Barrel specifications: No water, no soy.

"I've worked for the (Waller) family for 27 years," Bray said, noting that at least five fast-food competitors are positioned nearby. "It's personally going to be a little unsettling, I think. Of course, it will be the first time in my life that I've ever been without a job."

Bray said many of his customers are longtime friends. A couple of little old ladies dropped by Wednesday and told Bray their great-grandchildren are now Barrel customers.

"They are very upset. We have third- and fourth generation customers here," he said. "There have been several people that have shown an interest in buying it because they think that it's really too bad that one of Amarillo's oldest businesses is going out of business."

The original restaurant was on Amarillo Boulevard and Hayes Street when F.E. Waller bought it in 1947, Bray said. The Barrel opened up at its present location in October 1952.

Bill Fischer, Waller's son-in-law, said the Barrel is owned by the Waller estate and that he is exploring ways to keep it open. But recent heavy snows and spiraling costs have forced his hand for now.

"I'm still trying to raise additional funding to keep it open. Right now, I'm in limbo, but I'm being forced by economic conditions with this weather the last two months being so inclement. It's just killed me cash-flow wise," he said.

The burger joint's iconic, white barrel-shaped building and trademark cow sign have their own place in the annals of Amarillo history. In 1937, it operated as an A&W Root Beer outlet at 10th and Polk. The barrel itself bounced around for a few years until it was moved to Plains Boulevard. It even captured international attention in 1998 when Kikkoman Teriyaki launched a national advertising campaign featuring the Amarillo landmark. The ad ran in magazines ranging from Better Homes & Gardens to People.

Architectural historians have given the Barrel the nod.

"An excellent example of an early type of roadside architecture, which relied on humorous or fantastic shapes and images to attract attention," the Amarillo Historic Building Survey said.

     Some things are worth fighting for.

Truth.

Freedom.

Beef Burger Barrel.

Our community simply cannot let this establishment close its doors, which are scheduled to close forever Feb. 3, 2007. The iconic restaurant, a shrine to roadside kitsch, an Amarillo landmark – and home to the sort of grub people write songs about – must remain open. The burgers must be cooked.

The fries must be fried.

And the limeades? For heaven sake’s, go get one right now.

The restaurant’s owner says he wants to keep it open, though he’s been hit by higher energy and grocery costs and recent cold weather has dramatically reduced business.

If Bill Fischer, the son in law of founder F.E. Waller, is willing to try, then I think Amarillo residents ought to try to come up with a plan to save the historic establishment.

If everyone who has ever indulged in a cheeseburger or a chicken-fried steak sandwich heads over and orders another one, the cash-flow problem ought to take care of itself. And if you’ve never eaten there, give it a try.

Here are three alternative suggestions to save the Beef Burger Barrel:

Move it downtown. Beth Duke, the executive director of Center City, said she would love to see the restaurant return to downtown – it used to be located at 10th and Polk – as she and other Center City advocates continue in their efforts to revitalize the area.

Putting it near the Polk Street nightclub circuit ought to drive the restaurant’s sales up. (Nothing better than a chili dog after last call. Except maybe a large order of tater tots.)

The Paramount sign restoration and other downtown projects like the Barfield have given a nod to preserving what was once called the best-lit Main Street in America. Historical photos of the Barrel show a classic retro sign that could be restored. The burger painted on the barrel could also use a little touching up.

Move it to Route 66. History buffs and architectural historians recognize the Barrel as an outstanding example of roadside architecture from an era the Interstate Age unfortunately left in the rearview mirror. Check out the setting in the movie “Cars” – how can we let something as nifty as the Barrel be sent to the junk yard?

Move it to the Cadillac Ranch. Hundreds of cars stop there every day, and there’s no refreshment available. Moving the barrel to Stanley Marsh’s landmark would create a photographic utopia for tourists and one not too far away for locals.

The Beef Burger Barrel is unique. The food’s good. It’s a landmark in the happy memories of tens of thousands of satisfied burger aficionados. We make our own luck here in West Texas. Let’s make some good luck and keep the Barrel rolling.

     The Beef Burger Barrel served its last hamburger Saturday, February 4, 2007 and the occasion brought in a family all the way from Dallas.

Customers were there from all walks of life for a last taste of the restaurant. Longtime customers as well as new customers were there for the final day.

Doris Jenkins of Amarillo said her son flew in from Dallas on Saturday specifically to eat one last burger. It's tough for her to imagine getting a burger anyplace else. And, after 35 years of patronizing the Barrel, she had to be there one last time.

"This place has so many memories," Jenkins said. "This is killing me. My kids came in from Dallas today. My son, he said, 'I think I'll fly in just to eat supper.' "

Whether it was lunch or dinner, Jenkins said this was her favorite place for a hamburger.

"To me, there's not any hamburger in Amarillo that tastes better," she said. "You could get it and leave or just sit here and eat it."

Jenkins said she did not want to see the end of an era.

James and Cynthia Hunt of Amarillo were there for the first time.

"We simply didn't want to miss out on history," James Hunt said. "I'm hoping that someone will reopen it."

It makes an impression to see longtime customers here and getting gratitude from the owners, he said.

"It's that kind of spirit you see here that makes us want to live in Amarillo," James Hunt said.

The place is a part of people's lives, Cynthia Hunt said.

Joshua Morris of Amarillo said he can remember being brought by his grandparents to the eatery.

What made an impression on him most was seeing the barrel.

"It wasn't something you saw everywhere," Morris said. "It was good food, too. It was a treat to come up here.

"It wasn't fancy, but it was good."

Owner Bill Fischer said he has seen a lot more business this past week since the announced closing. He also said there may still be a future for the restaurant.

"In six days, we've done four months' of business," Fischer said. "At this point, I'm going to be looking for a way to make the necessary repairs."

His reasons for closing are posted on the window where customers order. They are higher energy costs, higher grocery costs, an increase in competition and inclement weather.

The original restaurant was at Amarillo Boulevard and Hayes Street when F.E. Waller bought it in 1947. The Barrel opened at its present location at 3102 Plains Blvd. in October 1952.

"No. 7.''

I broke away from a conversation and stepped up to the sliding window.

"No. 7?''

That would be me. At about that time, David White came bouncing out from the back of the Barrel to inquire how that sounded through the microphone.

Sounded pretty good to me, I told him, but then I was only 4 feet away when my order was announced. And how is everything, he asked?

"Good, but I didn't get my cherry lime.''

Pffooooom. White scurried back into barrel. Pffooooom. Fifteen seconds later, he came back out with a small cherry lime.

"Thank you for your business,'' he tells a hungry group already assembling around the Amarillo landmark. "And thank you for your patience today.''

Patience is something the steady stream of hamburger customers have had ever since the Beef Burger Barrel closed on Feb. 3 after 52 years of flipping burgers, frying potatoes and okra, cooking up hot dogs and serving cold drinks.

The distinctive little barrel-shaped tribute to cholesterol at 3102 Plains Blvd. sat empty, but there were many who hoped it wouldn't be that long.

As it turned out, it was 128 days. Right under the familiar Hereford cow was a yellow banner with red letters - Grand Opening - announcing Monday the burgers were back. So too did seven balloons and the plastic flags. But patience can only last so long. Some reasoned there was no sense waiting to the noon hour to get started.

The Barrel was officially reopening at 10:30 a.m. Charlotte Brown, with her niece Taelor Hodge, 10, and nephew Drew Hodge, 7, got there at 10:20 a.m.

For posterity, order No. 1 was some chili dogs, fries and okra.

Let the frying begin.

"I've been coming here for 15 years,'' said Brown, who lives off Amarillo Blvd. "The burgers were good. The people were friendly. I hated to see them close down.''

And so what does it feel like to be a footnote in Amarillo's hallowed halls of hamburger history, the answer to a trivia question whenever fans of fries and champions of the chili burger meet? Brown paused, looking for the right words to put the moment into perspective.

"I feel privileged,'' she said. "I really do. I feel privileged.''

Meranda Cagle, 23, and Cory Jackson, 28, were driving past the Barrel at a little past 10 when they saw the grand opening sign. It wasn't open yet, so they went to a dollar store. When they were finished, they were hungry and headed back.

"It's like home,'' said Jackson, who was waiting on his burrito deluxe.

"I ate here a lot when I was pregnant. My baby's 8 months old, and I probably ate here every other day,'' said Cagle, who ordered a cheeseburger, fries and fried okra and a Coke with extra ice. "The food's good. The drinks are good. But I like the ice. That's why I come here. Here, look.''

She pried open the plastic lid. Yep, that's ice all right.

A few minutes before 11 a.m., nine cars had pulled into the Barrel. Oops, make it 10. No, now it's 11. As anyone with any working knowledge of the place knows, there's no seating. Customers eat in their vehicle, or take the food home or to work.

I brought my cheeseburger, fries and cherry lime back to the desk. One indication of good Mexican food is a runny nose.

An indication of a good burger is just a slight amount of grease on the paper around it. This one had it, but not for long. Onion, tomato, pickle, mustard, lettuce, cheese, bun and meat were soon gone. The fries followed. The cherry lime died a slower death, lasting until mid-afternoon.

By mid-afternoon, co-owner Cherry White could catch her breath. She knew the first day back would be busy, and she wasn't disappointed. The rush hour began at 10:30 a.m. and lasted until 3 p.m.

There were six in the Barrel working, counting her and husband, David. Typically, there will be three or four.

"It's very hectic and extremely exciting,'' she said. "For three weeks, people have seen us working and have stopped to ask when we were opening. Everyone in Amarillo knows what you're talking about when you say the Barrel on Plains. There's been a lot of pressure to get it up and going.''

In a fast-food world of corporate quickies and chain sameness, when a burger in Amarillo can be the same as one in Decatur, Ill., and Hattiesburg, Miss., it's refreshing to have home-grown hamburger havens like Buns over Texas, Arnold's, Dale's, Jeff's, D.J.'s and Hud's.

In its own little way, it only adds to a city's character.

And now there's the return of the Beef Burger Barrel. Welcome (burp) back.