The Curse is Strong With this Amarillo Building

Amarillo is full of buildings.  Some are quite old and historic,  others brand new.  Then you have the buildings that aren't old or new but can't seem to keep a business in them.

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Here is another edition of Amarillo's Cursed Buildings.  Let me reiterate, that this doesn't mean that this building is haunted or full of ghosts, or even evil for that matter.  It just means that it seems that no matter what business settles in the building it doesn't last long.

This time we are looking at 5807 SW 45th Ave, where Harbor Freight is now.  This building has held many places, it once was home to a pizza place called The Big Cheese, and then Mazzios.   Then in 1987, it became the second location of La Fiesta Grande.  La Fiesta called this building home until 2000 when it moved to its new location on 45th near Coulter.

The building went into an identity crisis.  My memory may be fuzzy on some of the details and in my research, I couldn't find exact dates.  After La Fiesta moved from the building, I believe a build-your-own-burrito place moved into the building.  Suffice it to say, it was not a success and it did not last.  Then the building was transformed from a Mexican food setting to an Italian food setting.  I believed that the Italian restaurant was Soprano's Ristorante Italiano.  I think I personally ate there once and it was good or bad, it just was ok.  Obviously, I wasn't the only one who felt that way, because it didn't last long either.

Once again the decor was changed from Italian back to Mexican when Jorge's Mexican restaurant moved into the location.

Jorge's Mexican Restaurant

It wasn't long before the popularity of Jorge's grew and it moved to its new location off Hillside and Bell Street.

El Patron

El Patron called this place home for quite a few years while serving up their delicious Mexican food.   Then they were able to acquire the old Bennigan's building on I-40 and moved to that location.

After El Patron, another Mexican restaurant moved in, and forgive me I cannot for the life of me remember what it was called.

Fast forward to an empty building in 2019 for lease.

The building stayed empty for quite a while when it was finally bulldozed. Fortunately, I think the bulldozer probably broke the curse and the new building will stand for decades.

Harbor Freight

Harbor Freight opened its second Amarillo location in November of 2020 and has been a welcome business in southwest Amarillo.

Feel free to give us a shout if you remember any of the other businesses that used to call this building home.