Barbershop Cafe and Motel

          The Barbershop Cafe opened in historic Hillsboro on May 5, 2000. The original location is three doors west in the old town barber shop & bath house. The 1880's barber shop mirror, wood stove & sign still decorate the old cafe.

          On June 23, 2003 the cafe' moved into its present location. This newest site also has some attractive history. Built in 1879 it was constructed out of adobe. The walls of this spectacular building are two feet thick. It housed one of the town merchantiles. Around the turn of the century it became a Victorian dance hall and remained so until the late 1950's. Families would gather here on Saturday evenings for fun & entertainment. There were narrow benches for seating along the walls on either side. It became a saloon in approximately 1969.

          The kitchen was a private poker room. Lore tells us that it wasn't unusual for a gambler to walk out the back door, shoot someone, walk back in and resume a poker game. During one of these poker games my grandfather had lost all of his money and was given the option to put up his wife in a hand of poker. He did and lost. To get her back he sold the turkeys which my grandmother raised to keep the family fed. Of course that caused a really big stir in the family. The rest is history. We think that it is pretty funny. 

          The "gift shop" housed the town newspaper. What is currently the vacant back building with the wood awning was home to one of the many town bars. My father was a premier occupant in the standing room bar. My "Padre" was always fashionably dressed and wore only the finest wing tipped shoes.

           We've attempted to capture some of the world charm. We hope your experience here will be a memorable one. Thank you, Steve & Angela.