Owner Gabriel Garza standing in entrance of his stand on its final day on Dec. 30, 2023, at Chili Dog Stand.
On the nook of Invasion Street, an extended line of vehicles sat bumper-to-bumper on Friday, Dec. 30 at Chili Dog Stand. Generations of shoppers from regulars to first-timers lined up in disbelief patiently ready to savor their final bites. Since it introduced its everlasting closure Wednesday evening, Dec. 27, Chili Dog Stand has seen tons of of shoppers desperate to get a remaining style of its well-known chili dogs earlier than they’re gone for good.
Gabriel Garza, the present proprietor of Chili Dog Stand, has witnessed the stand go via a few generations of his household. After 71 years, Garza and his household determined it was time to completely shut the stand as all of them felt they’d reached a brand new chapter of their lives.
“It was just the right timing for us,” Garza stated. “We kind of wanted to just close it on our time [when] we thought it was good…it’s [been] a lot of hard work on my parents and on me for the past 11 years of running the business so we just got to a point where we’re all in different chapters of our lives.”
Chili Dog Stand posted its assertion of closure to the window of the stand on Wednesday evening. A photograph of the poster taken by a buyer shortly unfold all through social media sending a number of chili canine lovers to the storefront throughout its remaining days. Starting Thursday, Chili Dog Stand has had traces of individuals and vehicles surrounding the stand, inflicting site visitors to surrounding roads and the stand to expire of meals and provides throughout the first 4 hours of opening.
For Felix and Linda Perez, Chili Dog Stand regulars since 1956, the Chili Dog Stand is a landmark.
“I came to college here in 1966,” Linda stated. “I met friends that I had gone to school with here…it’s reminiscing and Chili Dog Stand became a social place. The memories that I made and the friendships is what I associate with a chili dog.”
Now dwelling in Austin, the Perez’ drove to San Marcos for Chili Dog Stand’s final day. They are each disenchanted concerning the closure due to all of the recollections they affiliate with the stand.
“In 1967, two days before I left for [the Vietnam War]we came to get the hotdogs before we left,” Felix stated. “You figure you’re going be so far away so you got to get your satisfaction with a hotdog. And when I came back in 1971 it’s the first place we came.”
Linda recollects coming to Chili Dog Stand together with her dad when she was younger and sharing eight chili dogs for $1. The custom unfold to her and Felix’s kids, who at all times make an effort to cease and get chili dogs every time they’re in San Marcos.
John Paul Sanchez was solely a young boy when he first began coming to Chili Dog Stand. He and his siblings would load into the again of his father’s truck and begin the drive from Austin to San Marcos. He thought Chili Dog Stand was a particular place and an enormous occasion due to the household pack which comes with six chili dogs.
“Riding in the back of the truck to get here and then a bag of chili dogs that [his dad] would tear open and [say] ‘everybody get one,’” Sanchez stated. “That was the memorable thing.”
After Sanchez and his siblings’ fingers and faces had been lined in chili they’d go all the way down to the river and swim.
Years later, Chili Dog Stand continues to be a particular place for Sanchez. The chili itself brings again recollections of the drive to San Marcos and the enjoyable he and his household would have on the river. After listening to concerning the closure, Sanchez got here again to relive his childhood one final time.
“After that, you like the flavor of the chili,” Sanchez stated. “So then it just sticks to you. So now I’m 54 and I still come back.”
On its final day, Garza thought the quantity of those that got here out was a wonderful factor, in addition to overwhelming. He discovered that the perfect a part of working at Chili Dog Stand was being part of San Marcos itself. Although he’s conserving the stand and the property, he has no future plans for both of them as of proper now. Garza plans to spend his newfound free time along with his daughter.
“I just want San Marcos to know that we are very thankful to [the community] for being a part of our lives,” Garza stated.
