Wednesday, October 18, 2000:

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From Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, March 20, 1997

City exhibits early interest in Depot site Sale of restaurant could lead to new home for cultural center

By ANGELA K. BROWN
Avalanche-Journal

The city is eyeing the Depot Restaurant and Bar as the new home for the Lubbock Fine Arts Center and the Buddy Holly collection, a City Council member said Wednesday.

Officials have searched for a downtown building suitable for a multifaceted cultural facility, and they recently added the Depot to the list of possible sites when they found out it was for sale, Councilman Randy Neugebauer said.

''Some exploration into the price of the building has been done,'' he added.

The building at 1801 Ave. G is appraised at $363,451, according to the Lubbock Central Appraisal District. The appraised value, however, does not always reflect the market value.

Neugebauer said he didn't know the building's cost or how much the city was willing to pay. Some grant money that may be available can't be used as reimbursement after a purchase, so Lubbock would have to take out an option and then buy the property after the grant was awarded, he said.

''It's a historic building and ... it's in the Depot District near the Cactus Theater,'' he said. ''You could tie those two together so if you had tourists in town, they could visit both.''

Restaurant co-owner Ronnie Thompson acknowledged Wednesday that the business was strapped for cash and that he has shown it to a number of prospective clients, including Dallas-based Brinker Restaurants. The city of Lubbock also has shown an interest, he said. The Depot Restaurant ceased most operations in January after 20 years. Four months earlier, the eatery announced it was shutting its doors for lunch and cutting back the number of nights it would serve dinner.

''Right now we plan to continue to keep the Baggage Room (the restaurant's bar) open, and we plan to open the (Depot Beer) garden on April 4,'' Thompson said. ''The restaurant is still open to private (catered) parties, but that's it.''

Neugebauer said he didn't know if the city has taken any action, but Councilman Alex ''Ty'' Cooke said nothing formal has been done.

City Manager Bob Cass said he can't comment on matters involving land acquisition. Councilman J. David Nelson, who was elected in January, said members haven't discussed the matter in an executive session since he's been on board.

Connie Gibbons, director of Lubbock Fine Arts Center, declined comment on whether her organization may move from its small, rundown building on Avenue P to the Depot structure.

The council has been looking for a place to showcase the Holly collection since 1994, when the city acquired the rock 'n' roll legend's memorabilia. The Lubbock native died at age 22 in a 1959 plane crash.

The city spent $175,000 of hotel/motel tax revenues for about 100 vintage pieces, including the singer's black and red cardigan sweater, a Fender Stratocaster guitar, a black book containing song lyrics in Holly's handwriting, photographs and fan letters mailed with 3-cent stamps.

The items first were taken to a local museum but now are stored in a vault at City Hall.

''The council made a commitment to house the Buddy Holly collection,'' Neugebauer said. ''We said if we're going to buy it, we can't put it just anywhere.''