Hungry customers packed the Ol' South Pancake House for its 55th anniversary celebration June 27. (Photo by Brett Hoffman)
As Michael Callihan watched the local CBS newscast at 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning, he learned he could feed his family at Ol’ South Pancake House for a bargain price.
Ol’ South celebrated its 55th anniversary by charging customers the same prices as the establishment did in 1962, the year it opened. The restaurant’s famous German Pancakes were $1.60 (2017 price: $8.29). An order of Strawberry pancakes was $1.50.
Callihan, who lives in Arlington, had never dined at Ol’ South. But he decided to give it a try when he heard the news.
“I waited until my family woke up and I told them that’s where we were going,” he said.
“Everything is excellent,” Callihan said while enjoying a sausage omelet with pancakes for $1.75. “I’ve found a new breakfast place. Good atmosphere. Good food.”
Ol’ South was established by David and Minion Benson and David’s sister, Bette. David and Minion’s son, Rex Benson, currently runs the 24-hour restaurant.
From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Ol’ South held a charity anniversary party. The money that was collected was donated to Fort Worth’s Cook Children’s Medical Center.
“It’s our way to say thank you to Fort Worth for 55 years of what we’ve been blessed with,” Rex Benson said. “It’s an opportunity to partner with one of the pillars of the community, Cook Children’s, and make it a charitable event.”
The lines of customers filled the restaurant’s waiting area and spilled onto the parking lot.
“It’s been crazy,” said Amber Flores, an Ol’ South waitress for eight years. “It started at 6 a.m. and it just keeps going.”
Nancy Chavez, who usually manages a night shift, said she enjoyed coming in for the morning and early afternoon shift.
“We got to talk to our customers who have helped us for 55 years,” Chavez said. “I got to personally thank people.”
Over the years, Ol’ South, at 1509 S. University Drive, has become an iconic Fort Worth institution.
”We offer a family environment, one where you feel safe and comfortable and where you get a good meal at a fair price,” Rex Benson said. “We take care of everybody like they’re our family.”