In 1891 Granbury businessman Ralph Bowden decided to open an eatery on the Granbury Square. His new restaurant would not be the first on the Granbury Square, but it would become one of the longest lasting in those early days. The Bon Ton Eatery opened on the west side of the square in the building that now houses another business that offers great food and drink in a unique atmosphere — The Silver Saddle Saloon! The new eating establishment joined a hodgepodge of eating choices available to the early citizens of our community.
Several small establishments known as lunch stands were operating in the spices around the downtown area. Also, several of the saloons had opened lunch counters as well. But The Bon Ton set out to be a real full-service restaurant. The Granbury citizens took note and a twenty- plus year love affair began. The Bon Ton offered a wide variety of cuisine, including the apparent culinary obsession of the time, fresh fish and oysters! This was apparently a big deal – as almost every eating place in town boasted about their fish and oysters in their weekly newspaper ads. The Bon Ton also mentions steak, ham and eggs, sandwiches, fresh fruit in season, canned goods, and fresh bread as part of their daily offerings.
Also, on the menu are listed a wide variety of desserts- including cakes, pies, cookies, and a whole confectionery shop full of candy! Apparently, the desserts were a hit. In one local paper there is an ad soliciting 500 eggs. The restaurant offered cash payment in the ad to any local persons with eggs for sale! It should be noted that one could make a good living in those days selling eggs, milk, and butter to local restaurants and grocery stores.
Coffee, tea, and cigars rounded out the menu but that wasn’t all one could get at this very special eatery. In the offering of customer service, the Bon Ton apparently was the forerunner of the modern-day Starbucks! In addition to all the food they also sold newspapers, magazines, and the latest novels!
Mr. Bowden owned the Bon Ton for almost fifteen years, all the while running several other businesses on the side. Around 1895 he announced that the restaurant would begin serving evening meals as well as lunch. Even today, that is a lot of hours for a restaurant to be open each day, and one has to wonder how Mr. Bowden did it all.
In 1903 he purchased the local phone company and decided to sell his restaurant business in order to devote all his time to expanding local phone service. The Bon Ton was sold to two young men, Rochelle Daniel and Henry Williams. They continued to operate the restaurant for several more years. Apparently, Mr. Bowden kept his interest in the confectionery end of the business, as he and his wife were still running a candy store on the Square as late as the 1940’s.
Today, the Silver Saddle Saloon occupies the Bon Ton’s old home on the west side of the Granbury Square! It is part of a thriving Culinary District that continues the tradition of good food and beverages along with good service that began over a century ago with those tiny lunch stands and The Bon Ton. Through the years we’ve seen long time favorites like the Nutt House Dining Room and the Merry Heart Tearoom and Rinky Tinks become part of the fabric of the community in their day. We’ve even had a famous chef or two among us, such as Grady Spears. Be sure to go downtown and check out the menus! — You’ll be sure to find some great folks continuing those traditions of down-home good times, great beverages and wonderful food, right here – on the Granbury Square!