when served with Rodeo Cafe’s house-made sweet butter. “We have wonderful hot sandwiches and high-quality food,” Holt says. “We buy higher-end meats and have great breads, like rye and sourdough. But probably our No. 1 seller is our hamburger. It’s a half-pound on sourdough bread and people rave about it. The Bodacious is the bacon cheeseburger, the Cripple Creek is the cheeseburger, and the Wagon Boss is the plain hamburger. We have fun with the Western names.” Even better, Rodeo Cafe maintains affordable prices so that families can fill up without breaking the bank. In fact, post-meal soft-serve ice cream is always on the house, which has been a hit with all ages. “Our price point is reasonable so that people can come out and eat a steak, and not just for a special occasion,” Holt says. “People love the atmosphere, too. We get a lot of five-star reviews. Plus, we train our folks to take care of the customers. They understand the importance of quality service.” Indeed, the fun, family-friendly concept has attracted visitors not only from neighboring towns, but from far beyond the region. Lately, for example, Holt has noted many out-oftowners passing through on their way to Florida. “They’re coming from Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa — you name it,” he says. “They all think it’s a great experience. And we know Holly Springs has a smaller population, so we were always hoping to pull people from Oxford, Memphis, and Tupelo. It’s a nice trip for motorcyclists to see the square, stop and eat with us.”
34 DeSoto
Next up, Holt and Thomas are looking to expand even further. By fall, the duo will install a small retail area and a mechanical bucking bull for kids and adults alike to try their luck at the rodeo life. Then, by mid-2022, the owners plan to have outfitted an entire upstairs area with more seating and room for live music. An old Western bar — the non-alcoholic kind — will serve up ice cream treats and sodas from the fountain. “Upstairs, we have a beautiful, old stamped-tin ceiling that runs across the length and width of the whole building, and there’s room for 300 to 350 more people up there,” Holt says. “With live entertainment and a bar serving up root beer floats and banana splits, plus our good food, we think people will enjoy coming out.” Aside from the visitors that flock in, Holly Springs locals have also come out to support the restaurant from day one. With second and third phases planned to improve his establishment even further, Holt believes it’ll only attract even more visitors in the future. “We have a unique feel and something very different, with the Western theme,” Holt says. “It’s just a fun place to take the whole family.” facebook.com/rodeocafeofficial Based in Oxford, Miss., Tracy Morin is an award-winning freelance writer and editor with a passion for covering food, beverage, beauty, and boxing.
