Midpoint Cafe’s likely future owner is revealed

Midpoint Cafe co-owner Dennis Purschwitz said he wouldn’t reveal its new owner or owners until spring, but the restaurant’s previous owner — and other folks — apparently are letting the cat out of the bag.

Fran Houser, who owned the Route 66 restaurant and gift shop in Adrian, Texas, for about 20 years when it rose to international prominence as an inspiration for the Flo character in the 2006 “Cars” movie, wrote this Friday on Facebook:

It is my pleasure to announce that the new owner of the MidPoint cafe and gift shop is Brenda Hammit of Adrian ! Thrilled to have her as the new owner. She’s worked at Stuckey’s in Adrian for several years, joined the Cafe family about five years ago and has a love of Route 66. Ramona the owner of the Fabulous 40 Motel welcomes her as our new neighbor! Route 66 at the Midpoint is on a roll again! Call the cafe to book your reservations for the 2018 season and let’s all give a big welcome to Brenda Hammit!!

In a follow-up text message Saturday, Houser wrote:

She’s my neighbor, and came to my house the other evening very excited about owning the cafe. She assumed I had heard about it, but I had not heard. Naturally I was thrilled for her! […] She’s a really neat gal and loves working at the cafe.

Ramona Kiewert, co-owner of the Fabulous 40 Motel in Adrian that sits yards away from the Midpoint, also confirmed in a phone interview Saturday that Hammit is the restaurant’s new owner.

“Everybody in town … it spread around pretty quick,” Kiewert said.

Purschwitz, using the Midpoint Cafe’s Facebook page, insisted the deal is not yet done:

It simply amazes me how other folks must try and provide “breaking news” when it does not apply to them. Apparently, gossip and rumors are being posted on other Facebook pages about who the new owners of the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop may or may not be. At this time, there are NO new owners. Donna and I are still the owners and will be for at least the next several months. Yes we have accepted an offer in principal, but that offer is still pending on securing financing, down payment, and several other factors. Everything is still “pending”.

Purschwitz did not confirm or deny in the post Hammit would be the new owner.

Purschwitz announced earlier this month he’d accepted an offer for the restaurant that likely would close in the spring but added he would decline to name the buyer or buyers until that time.

Purschwitz put the restaurant — famed for its spot on the center of Route 66 and its pies — up for sale after five years following a series of health issues.

A phone number listed for Hammit went unanswered Saturday morning.

It goes to show it’s hard to keep a secret in a small town — especially on Route 66.

UPDATE: Purschwitz shared a follow-up post on Facebook on Saturday afternoon;

Ok everyone. The only reasons I even brought up the potentail sale of the cafe a few weeks ago in a post on our Facebook page was to: (1) help address rumors I was hearing that the Midpoint Cafe was not going to reopen next year, and (2) was that since I had several inquiries since closing for the season from folks possibly interested in purchasing the business or leasing the business (which was not an option), I wanted to let folks know we had accepted an offer and most importantly, the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop would be re-open next season. Nothing more, not posted for attention getting. Those who truly know me understand why I posted. Until the closing of the sale occurs next spring (which I am praying that it does), I will not be saying anything more on the subject. Unless it comes from me, everything you hear / read is speculation. End of conversation.

(Image of the Midpoint Cafe sign in Adrian, Texas, by Peer Lawther via Flickr)

4 thoughts on “Midpoint Cafe’s likely future owner is revealed

  1. This was posted on the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop’s FB page yesterday, 15 December 2018. It’s disheartening that Route 66 News publishes rumors, rather than getting information from the source.

    It simply amazes me how other folks must try and provide “breaking news” when it does not apply to them. Apparently, gossip and rumors are being posted on other Facebook pages about who the new owners of the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop may or may not be. At this time, there are NO new owners. Donna and I are still the owners and will be for at least the next several months. Yes we have accepted an offer in principal, but that offer is still pending on securing financing, down payment, and several other factors. Everything is still “pending”.
    So please do not believe and help spread information that may, or may not be correct; unless you read it here on the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop Facebook page. We said in our original post concerning potential sale, that when the time was appropriate we would announce who the new owners will be and we will assist them in re-opening the business. But until the sale is completed, we are and will be the Owners of the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop. If you have any questions concerning this, please do not hesitate to message me here on Facebook
    In the mean time, to all our friends and Route 66 family, please have a safe and enjoyable Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
    God Bless,
    Dennis and Donna
    Owners of the World Famous Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop

  2. This seems indiscreet and unprofessional. Leaked information about a deal that hasn’t yet been finalized can hurt the seller, the buyer, or even the business during its transition period. I hope this works out well for everyone involved, of course, and I plan to stop at the Mid-Point during my next Route 66 adventure next June. I just wish that greater Prudence had prevailed in this episode. Like the old World War Two propaganda poster said — “Loose Lips Sink Ships!”

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