A Wonderful bit of History on Old Route 66

    The GoldenLight Cafe was established in 1946, in the very location it is in today, by Chester "Pop" Ray and his wife, Louise. Pop was born in 1889 and died in 1971. Actually, Pop got sick about a week before The GoldenLight was to open so his son Charles and wife, Edye, opened the doors for the first time. Charles got some plywood, built a few booths and with some hamburger meat and buns grossed $10.48 the first day. Pop was well in a few weeks and ran the cafe until 1957, when he got tired of cooking hamburgers and sold it to Dorothy Gaulden. Dorothy ran it until 1979. Then Bill and Pat Alexander bought it and continued to serve those same great burgers. Marc Reed took over in the 1990's and ran it until 2006, Marc expanded the Cafe to include the the Cantina located next door. Marc also introduced several items to the menu. About the Chili, Marc had this to say, "The chili recipe has changed with each owner, Pop's recipe was lost, Dorothy won't let me have hers, and I couldn't cook Bill and Pat's great taste consistently. As tradition would have it, I have my own recipe now ... don't even think about asking for it."

     Under Marc and Arcadio Rivera's guidance the cantina was on the "ground floor" of the Texas/Red Dirt Music Revolution. In the mid 1990's little unknown bands began to appear at the Cantina. Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Amarillo's own Cooder Graw. I can remember those bands first appearing in front no more than 25 to 30 people. Soon there was Jack Ingram, Randy Rogers, Stoney LaRue, Wade Bowen, Fred Eaglesmith, Susan Gibson, Mike McClure, Matt Martindale, Charlie Robinson, Keith Sykes, Roger Creager, the list goes on and on. Many of these bands draw too big a crowd now to play our venue, but it's not unusual at all to have them stop in and sit in with whoever's playing. Who's playing now are bands like Macon Greyson, Bo Sallings & The Brakes are All Gone Band, Lonesome Goat, Charlie Shafter Band, Skitz O'Fuel, and many others.

    The Goldenlight Cafe was sold to Angela Corpening in early 2007. Angela worked her made way through college, working at the Goldenlight and knows the history and heritage of the Goldenlight as well as anyone.  The Music may adapt and change, but the Chili will be as good as it always has been, the beer will be cold, and above all else, when you walk in the door, of either the Cafe or the Cantina, you'll be home. The GoldenLight Cafe is the oldest restaurant in Amarillo and perhaps the oldest restaurant continuously operating in the same location anywhere on Old Route 66.

     Today we have some of the same customers Pop had from the start in 1946. They were here when the doors opened and I can only hope they will never see them close.   So come on in, enjoy yourself and take the time remember a little of your past.