We asked, you answered. Here are the 10 most-missed restaurant chains in Corpus Christi.

John Oliva and Allison Ehrlich, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·7 min read

The Caller-Times asked readers via social media which restaurants that are no longer in the Coastal Bend they missed the most.

Readers made more than 50 submissions, including restaurant chains and non-chains residents wish they could eat at one more time.

One jokester even suggested Legs as a restaurant, but bar snacks at the most infamous topless bar in Corpus Christi don't count.

Tune in next week when we share the top 10 non-chain restaurants you miss, but for now, here's the top 10 restaurant chains you wish were still in the area.

#TBT: Drive-in restaurants left fond memories for many in Corpus Christi

Black-eyed Pea

Founded in 1975, Black-eyed Pea made its Corpus Christi debut in February 1991 in its new $1.6 million building on the corner of South Padre Island Drive and Everhart Road. Ahead of the grand opening, local manager Mike Dossat predicted the big seller would be the $5.75 chicken fried steak dinner.

The Black-eyed Pea restaurant in February 1991 shortly before it opened on the corner of South Padre Island Drive and Everhart Road in Corpus Christi.
The Black-eyed Pea restaurant in February 1991 shortly before it opened on the corner of South Padre Island Drive and Everhart Road in Corpus Christi.

The location closed its doors in January 2006, a cursed month for Corpus Christi restaurants which also saw the demise of Crystal's Confectionery, Harvey's Barn Door, Gaetano's Ristorante and Tony Roma's within a two-week span.

In November 2001, DenAmerica, now operating as Phoenix Restaurant Group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. To date, Black-eyed Pea has 10 remaining locations, including one in Texas and nine in Colorado. The only Texas location is in Arlington, while the remaining restaurants are in the Denver area.

The menu was full of home-style cuisine, including fried catfish, chicken fried steak (including a "Texas Sized" version that took up an entire plate), pot roast, mashed potatoes, fried okra, broccoli and rice casserole, corn bread and Black-eyed Pea's signature dish — black-eyed peas.

Casa Ole' was the newest restaurant inside Corpus Christi's Padre Staples Mall when this ad ran in the Caller-Times on Dec. 31, 1988.
Casa Ole' was the newest restaurant inside Corpus Christi's Padre Staples Mall when this ad ran in the Caller-Times on Dec. 31, 1988.

Casa Ole'

Established in Padre Staples mall in 1988, the 3,900-square-foot restaurant and cantina was a popular spot for shoppers, along with the Luby's Cafeteria inside the mall, and featured live mariachi music on weekends.

The mall location lasted for just more than 10 years, closing down in February 1999.

The Tex-Mex restaurant currently has 18 locations in Texas and one in Louisiana. The closest to Corpus Christi is in Victoria. The menu includes fajitas, stuffed avocados, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas and tamales.

Customers at County Line restaurant in Corpus Christi on Ocean Drive enjoy the view of the bay and Oso Pier on Dec. 3, 1997.
Customers at County Line restaurant in Corpus Christi on Ocean Drive enjoy the view of the bay and Oso Pier on Dec. 3, 1997.

County Line BBQ

Diners were pleased when The County Line barbecue chain opened its doors in July 1986 on Ocean Drive close to Oso Pier. The building had already been the home of another longtime favorite, Ship Ahoy on the Bay. Patrons enjoyed family-style barbecue portions, a change from many local barbecue joints that favored cafeteria-style lineups.

The Austin barbecue chain shut its doors in May 1999 after a 13-year run. The former general manager told the Caller-Times the business had tailed off and the 34-year old building was in need of repairs, so County Line BBQ decided it was time to pull out.

County Line has six locations currently running with five in Texas and one in New Mexico. The closest location is in San Antonio.

The menu has all things barbecue, including sausage, ribs, brisket, turkey, chicken and County Line BBQ's famous homemade bread.

An ad for Furr's cafeterias in Corpus Christi from the Jan. 7, 1990, Caller-Times.
An ad for Furr's cafeterias in Corpus Christi from the Jan. 7, 1990, Caller-Times.

Furr's Cafeteria

It was with great fanfare that the first local Furr's Cafeteria opened in the 4300 block of South Padre Island Drive in January 1981. The grand opening of the new $1.5 million building featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony where the ribbons were made of 100 $1 bills, which were then donated to the local United Way. A second location at 4121 S. Port Ave. opened in September 1982.

The location on SPID closed in 2003 and the South Port location followed around 2011.

With the first location open in 1946 in New Mexico, Furr's was known for cafeteria-style dining, but it eventually redeveloped into buffet-style dining. In January 2003, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and in April 2021 all remaining Furr's were closed permanently.

Aside from the fan-favorite gelatin, Furr's Cafeteria offered salads, pork loin, roast beef, enchilada soup and strawberry shortcake.

Savannah Burciaga was among hundreds who took part in GattiTown’s free pizza buffet giveaway July 7, 2010. Diners ate about $3,000 worth of free food per hour.
Savannah Burciaga was among hundreds who took part in GattiTown’s free pizza buffet giveaway July 7, 2010. Diners ate about $3,000 worth of free food per hour.

GattiTown

After serving Corpus Christi for 12 years, GattiTown closed its doors in April 2016.

According to a news release from the franchise back then, the franchise operator decided to close the restaurant due to "downward trending sales and (increased) costs of operations."

Also known as Mr. Gatti's and Gatti's Pizza, the restaurant has plenty of locations in Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Georgia. The closest location is in Universal City outside of San Antonio.

Different flavors of pizza include the Meat Market, the Veggie Sampler, the Gatti's Deluxe and the Bacon Dbl Cheeseburger.

An advertisement from the Aug. 26, 1983, Corpus Christi Times annoucing the grand opening of a second Grandy's location in Corpus Christi on South Padre Island Drive.
An advertisement from the Aug. 26, 1983, Corpus Christi Times annoucing the grand opening of a second Grandy's location in Corpus Christi on South Padre Island Drive.

Grandy's

Originally known as Grandy's Country Cupboard, the first Corpus Christi location opened at 4650 Corona Drive, near the Everhart Road intersection, in November 1978. That location often had the No. 1 sales by volume for the chain, which operated 67 restaurants in 13 states in the early 1980s.

A second location opened on South Padre Island Drive near Rodd Field Road in early 1983 and a third location at 4461 Ayers St. near Gollihar Road later that year. By the early 2000s, only the Corona location was left and it closed its doors around 2004.

The homestyle cooking and comfort food restaurant filed for bankruptcy in 2006 and was sold to seafood business Captain D's in 2011. Grandy's currently has 24 locations in Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The closest location is in Victoria.

The menu includes breakfast plates, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, chicken fried chicken, pot roast, catfish and hamburgers.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi closed its doors to the public in January 2011 after more than seven years of business.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi closed its doors to the public in January 2011 after more than seven years of business.

Krispy Kreme

The donut shop opened in July 2003, attracting more than 2,000 customers in its first 12 hours. In May 2004, Krispy Kreme announced the Corpus Christi location had sold 80,110 in one week, besting San Antonio's most popular location by 3,869.

Unfortunately, Glazing Saddles, the Austin-based company that owned the location, put Krispy Kreme's store up for sale and closed the business Christmas Eve in 2010.

There are more than 360 locations across the nation, with the closest being in Brownsville. Donuts on the menu include Reese's Classic, cake batter, cinnamon apple filled, maple iced glazed, New York cheesecake and Oreo's Cookies and Kreme.

People getting their food at Old Country Buffet, located in Staples Center in Corpus Christi, on Nov. 20, 2001. The restaurant closed the following week.
People getting their food at Old Country Buffet, located in Staples Center in Corpus Christi, on Nov. 20, 2001. The restaurant closed the following week.

Old Country Buffet

Old Country Buffet opened its doors in September 1993 in Staples Center — now known as the Shops at La Palmera — and closed them eight years later in November 2011. Specials during the restaurant's opening included buffets throughout the day: $4.99 for breakfast, $5.19 for lunch and $6.69 for dinner.

A regional manager told the Caller-Times in 2011 the company couldn't seem to drum up the business in Corpus Christi and was losing popularity from other buffets.

After the business filed for bankruptcy three times, the COVID-19 pandemic was the final nail in the coffin for all Old Country Buffet restaurants to be closed permanently.

Old Country Buffet's menu included rolls, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, grilled fish, fried shrimp, salads and ribs.

This advertisement from the Dec. 3, 1969, Corpus Christi Times announces the grand opening of Pancho's Mexican Buffet in the Portairs Shopping Center.
This advertisement from the Dec. 3, 1969, Corpus Christi Times announces the grand opening of Pancho's Mexican Buffet in the Portairs Shopping Center.

Pancho's Mexican Buffet

Pancho's Mexican Buffet held its grand opening in December 1969. Fans of the Mexican restaurant will remember "raising the flag" and the tasty sopapillas. The chain's catchy television commercials even featured Freddy Fender at one point.

The Corpus Christi location closed around 2005. In 2017, company owners started closing stores due to poor performance. There are currently two locations in the Houston area and two in the Dallas-Fort Wort area.

The menu includes tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, taco salads, nachos and tamales.

Sea Island Shrimp House in Moore Plaza on Sept. 16, 1999.
Sea Island Shrimp House in Moore Plaza on Sept. 16, 1999.

Sea Island Shrimp House

For seven years, Sea Island Shrimp House served Corpus Christi before closing its doors November 2006.

The business' president told the Caller-Times in 2006 that operating within Corpus Christi no longer made strategic sense for the company.

The Texas-based seafood restaurant currently has six locations, with the closest being in San Antonio.

The menu includes broiled flounder, shrimp tacos, teriyaki glazed salmon, fried oysters, shrimp gumbo and ceviche.

MORE COVERAGE

More: #TBT: Corpus Christi palates still miss these long-gone restaurants

More: Throwback Thursday: Do you still long for the salad dressing from Ship Ahoy?

More: #TBT: Bunk's Cafe on Leopard Street was popular with Corpus Christi residents and police

John Oliva covers education and community news in South Texas. Allison Ehrlich writes about things to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Thursday column on local history. Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: These are the top 10 restaurant chains Corpus Christi residents miss