Two of Kenedy's best

Down through the years, two business firms probably claimed more recognition for the City of Kenedy from outsiders than any of the rest. One was - and still is - Barth’s Restaurant; and the other was Barker’s Service Station and Tea Room. These two establishments were known far and wide by most of the people who were regular travelers between San Antonio and Corpus Christi and what made this so? It was two things: the personality and business acumen of each of the two people who owned and operated each of these firms, and the quality of the product and the service that they provided to the public.

It was a lovely lady by the name of Hattie Barth who opened Barth’s Restaurant for business in the initial stages of the Great Depression around 1930. It’s original location was on Main Street in Kenedy, and she used to laugh in later years when she would tell acquaintances that when she opened the doors on that first day, all she had to offer her customers was one pie and a pot of coffee. But if that were so, you can be certain that they were most delicious and the service was top notch.

Those of you who knew Mrs. Barth will readily agree with us that she was a business person who "walked the floor". She knew what was going on in the kitchen, behind the counter, and out on the dining floor. She spoke to the customers, she insisted they had to be seated and their orders taken promptly, napkins and silverware had to be in place, water glasses had to be kept filled, etc. Under this style of management, Barth’s flourished and expanded, moving to its present location on Sunset Strip. It became one of the favorite stop off points for both local people and people traveling between "the Alamo City" and "The Sparkling City by the Sea"

Mrs. Barth is gone now, and she probably is in heaven running the Lord’s dining hall. But Barth’s Restaurant, started during the Great Depression, still is in operation because of the blueprints provided by the original owner, and the skill now exhibited by the present owners, the Paul May Family.

The Barker Service Station and Tea Room is a firm that very few of you present day residents remember. It was located where First Street intersects with Second St., where the bridge crosses Nichols Creek. It was a full-service station for travelers and local people, and stayed open 24 hours a day. In addition to caring for all the needs of an automobile (gasoline, check oil, air tires, clean windshield, etc.) it also provided human needs such as restrooms, nourishing food in the tearoom and road maps.

Having the foresight to put all this together was a man by the name of Cleve Barker, and he choose the right time, when America was taking to the road. He was a man who never pumped gasoline or served the food, but rather, he hired attendants to do this. He was always dressed in a suit, wore a tie, and a white hat. He was nearly always walking on the driveway or moving around the tearoom, greeting the customers, and seeing that their needs were attended to.

Mrs. Barth and Mr. Barker were way ahead of their business associates in the matter of public relations. They knew how to attract customers into their places of business and then they kept them coming back.