UPDATED: Highland Park Cafeteria to open in Casa Linda Plaza in late May

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — The Film Guy was up grabbing a burger at Fat Daddy's this weekend when he noticed a banner over the old Casa Linda Cafeteria space: "Highland Park Cafeteria opening soon."

According to Ed Hefner, VP for AmREIT, which owns Casa Linda Plaza, where the site is located, the cafeteria will open at the end of May.

"We had several interested groups that wanted to revive the cafeteria in some way, shape, or form," he says. "The neighborhood really wanted to see the cafeteria open back up, and it's a plus to have it re-open under that name."

Casa Linda Cafeteria began as an outlet of Highland Park Cafeteria, which opened on Knox Street (in the space where Pottery Barn now is) in 1925. HP Cafeteria closed in 1995, so the Casa Linda branch became Casa Linda Cafeteria.

Many menu items remained the same, and many people still cherished the idea of the cafeteria. But some habituees complained about a decline in quality and service.

Now that it's been closed, maybe the folks who've boo-hoo-ed its passing will support it again.

UPDATE: Photo-documentation!

John P. Meyer contributed to this story.