- Photos, Ephemera & Historical Trivia for Oak Cliff, Texas.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Charco Broiler

Way before Chick-fil-A’s fiberglass cows there was the giant brown cow atop Charco Broil (or Broiler). In the late 1950s the address at 413 W. Jefferson was home to R L Watson Co., “Dallas’ Home of Fabulous Bargains”, an appliance store where you could buy an automatic portable(!) dishwasher or a TV set. Advertisements in the spring of 1962 announced the closing of the Jefferson store (there was a 2nd store on Lovers Lane). Sometime between 1962 and 1968 the site became Charco Broil, the home of Famous Sizzling Steaks. In 1975 one advertised bargain was a Rib Eye Steak Special for $15.99, which included Texas Toast, Salad, and a Baked Potato. Take that, fiberglass cows!

I seem to remember that cow used to be on another taller building, and that it was moved to the present location in the 1980s, but my memory’s not so good. Can anyone confirm or dispute it?

At one time there were two additional locations:
6417 Hillcrest  across from SMU
1612 S. Buckner Blvd.  in Pleasant Grove

2 comments:

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  2. "Sonny" the steer has been on top of the Charco-Broiler Restaurant for as long as I can remember. My grandmother lived close to Sunset High School and shopped on Jefferson. It was my "second" stomping grounds!

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