Getting Down To Business

A photo from the late 1940s of the cafe owned by the Nelson family.

(Photo courtesy of Jane Willard/Celina Area Heritage Association)

As new businesses continue to set up shop in Celina, let’s take time to recall a few of those that opened their doors here decades ago and provided much-needed goods and services to the city’s early residents. According to information found in the book Reminiscences of Celina, which is available at the Celina Museum, the city’s first bank was established in 1902. First National Bank “was housed in a small wooden structure at the corner of Second and Main. The building had been moved to the new town from Old Celina” after the entire city relocated two miles north of its original site to be nearer to the railroad. The bank’s next home “was a brick structure on the corner of West Pecan and Second Street on the square.” In 1908, Farmers’ State Bank was formed by J.E. Lipscomb, an original officer of First National Bank. Following its first year of operation, it merged with First National Bank and became First State Bank. Celina State Bank, which reportedly opened around 1910, later became known as Farmers, Merchants and National Bank. It “operated in various locations,” the first of which was on Pecan Street. “The next location was in the building that later was occupied by Hester’s Garage on First and Walnut Streets” (Hester’s Garage is now known as Hester Rebuilders). The bank also once occupied the building at 302 W. Walnut St., which decades later served as Celina City Hall (it currently houses the Celina Economic Development Corporation and Main Street offices.)

In 1927, Farmers, Merchants and National Bank merged with First State Bank, which moved in February 1971 to a building at 405 Second St., on the northwest corner of the square. Its facility offered “modern banking with old fashioned friendliness with a community room for civic and social activities.” Choate Pharmacy was, according to the book, “one of the oldest firms of Celina … and it was also one of the most modern.”

Brothers Bill and T.S. Hunter ran their grocery store from the early1900s through the 1930s.

(Photo courtesy of Jane Willard/Celina Area Heritage Association)

Located in a storefront that is now Papa Gallo’s Mexican Grille, the pharmacy was established in 1922 by Mr. Choate, who “filled many prescriptions, sold lots of sodas and sold many other items. Mr. Choate said the prescriptions were the most important part of the business.” He also “installed a liquid carbonic freezer for making his own ice cream.” The pharmacy was sold in 1946 and became Arrington Drug store. C.S. Nelson and his family arrived sometime around 1910 from Plano. He had owned eateries there as well as in Gunter and “set out to establish a first class café in Celina.” The Nelsons “rented a building on the west side, but after a short time the moved to a new location east of where Lee Robinson’s garage was and purchased the building.” In 1927, the Nelsons bought a “two-story brick building on the southeast corner of the square and changed it into a rooming house, thus the business developed into a hotel and café business.” Located at 222 W. Walnut St., a historical marker at the site explains that the family resided on the first floor and rented second-floor rooms to railroad travelers. The hotel operated under the Nelson family’s ownership until the mid-1970s. The building is now home to the boutique Annie Jack featuring Toasted Walnut Café.

For 11 years, Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Allen had operated a dry goods business in Garland before arriving in Celina in 1928 and opening Allen’s Variety Store. “They established their business by giving their customers full value for every penny received.” The place offered “a complete line for a variety store and that included nearly any small item needed for self use and gifts.” The Variety Store had previously been owned and operated by several local merchants including W.S. Caraway, J.V. Greenup and W.N. Jackson. The Allens also purchased the former home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Boyer, which was located within blocks of the square, and were “very active in the affairs in and around Celina” before closing the store in November 1964. “Celina wouldn’t seem like Celina without Bill Hunter in business,” read a 1937 Celina Record newspaper article. The local “groceryman” and his brother, T.S. Hunter, were in business here from the early 1900s through the mid-1930s. “Mr. Hunter has dished out the prunes and beans to people about this neighborhood as long as anyone here. … When he was in the grocery business he hated to cut a man off and for that reason, we imagine there are several in and around Celina, perhaps, who ate his beans and still owe for some of them.” Hunter’s daughter, Mrs. Charles Wright, and son-in-law took over the store when Hunter left to become the assistant postmaster in January 1934. The Ritz Theatre, a “moving picture show business,” was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. J.T. McClure. According to a 1937 issue of the newspaper, “For years, the last building on the street running across the north side of the square was the picture show building. For year after year … Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and other celebrities of the silver screen thrilled the boys and girls of Celina, while appropriate tunes were rolled off by the player piano.” After Mr. McClure fell ill and lost his eyesight, Mrs. McClure took over management of the business. “She has the latest equipment and gives Celina patrons the latest in pictures as they appear. Celina people need not go elsewhere for amusement in the way of picture shows.”

Patrons and employees gathered during the l950s at the counter of theNelson Cafe.

(Photo courtesy of Jane Willard/Celina Area Heritage Association)