Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part II (Austin: rooftop, design)

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

It looks like the DeWinne's were brothers from Belgium, Earnest and George, who by 1951 had been in the restaurant business for 15 years. I also found a few articles on two other brothers named Camille and Rudolph DeWinne. Not sure they were cousins or what the relationship really was. Camille and Rudolph came here either before or at the start of WW2.

I found an add from 1952 claiming they were newly remolded. They specialized in Pit Barbecue, steaks, fried chicken and sea food. Not sure which band of brothers started the DeWinne Belgium Inn 1951, but by the 1952 remolding, Earnest and George were running the restaurant. A 1948 article about Camille and Rudolph's sister surviving the German army invasion of Belgium does not mention the restaurant.

It must have been a real inn. A 1967 classified add was looking for hotel managers and asking them to appear the DeWinne's Courts which was the same address as the 3119 W. Commerce Street restaurant. Weren't the motor courts that used to be on the corner of San Pedro and Jackson-Keller also called DeWine's courts? I know someone posted on it earlier on this thread, but can't find it. (it was probably me, I am getting senile!)

The 1958 phone book has DeWinne's Belgium Inn at 3119 W. Commerce, and also at 6858 San Pedro. The W. Commerce address also has a listing for DeWinne's Tourist Courts, with a different phone number.

[RGJ]

Wasn't DeWinne's Cap'n Jims on Military Drive and Pleasanton or Roosevelt?

[wCat]

Originally Posted by Sweetie Pie

found the best dump at Medina Lake, circa 1979 - 1989!!! Found the best bottles, ever!!!

Bottles from 79-89? lol! or is that when you found them? Find anything extra interesting????

[SATX56]

Originally Posted by RGJ

Wasn't DeWinne's Cap'n Jims on Military Drive and Pleasanton or Roosevelt?

S.E. Military & Roosevelt. Right where Bill Miller's sits now. I remember the Belgium Inn downtown there was also a Capt's Jim's or Ernie DeWinnes cafe just 2 or 3 blks north of Alamo St.on Flores St.

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by satx56

S.E. Military & Roosevelt. Right where Bill Miller's sits now. I remember the Belgium Inn downtown there was also a Capt's Jim's or Ernie DeWinnes cafe just 2 or 3 blks north of Alamo St.on Flores St.

I wonder if the DeWinne's sold out directly to the Miller's? Be interesting if Cap'n Jim's was the precursor of Barnacle Bill's.

[GWhopper]

Please disregard my comment about the DeWinne motor courts on San Pedro. It appears they were actually the Town and Country Lodge. It was posted earlier on GBNFSA. My memory is getting faulty.

[SATX56]

My understanding was that Ernie DeWinne had rented that property all those years. The location at Military & Roosevelt was rented I think from a woman .... Bud B or someone on GBNF knew what it had been before. I've forgotten. They said they used to have dancing on the roof. I can't imagine any connection between Cap't Jim's and Bayliss Miller's family owned Barnacle Bill's.

[Sweetie Pie]

Originally Posted by wCat

Bottles from 79-89? lol! or is that when you found them? Find anything extra interesting????

Ooooops caught me there, Cat!!!! Meant that's when we found them. There's an old car, 40/50's stoves. refrigerators, stoves, got tons of enamel ware, buckets, pans, glass bottles, dishes, silverware, small kitchen appliances, coffee/teapots, toasters, tools etc!!!!

[Primo]

Originally Posted by GWhopper

Wow!. DeWinne's Belgium Inn. This has to be the same DeWinne that owns the Tip Top Cafe. I wonder how many other restaurants DeWinne owned?

There is a nursery on Bandera near 1604 that has a DeWinne's very similar to the one on top of Tip Top. I think the nursery is the DeWinne's Nursery. I wonder if its the same family?

Tip Top is owned by the DeWese family. Close but no cigar.

[GWhopper]

Originally Posted by Primo

Tip Top is owned by the DeWese family. Close but no cigar.

My bad!

But it looks like the San Pedro address for DeWinne's is very close to town and country lodge, so maybe they were one in the same.