Cele Store

Upon pulling up to this rickety building in Manor, TX, there was definitely a moment where I second-guessed the decision. Observing the Cele Store from the dusty parking lot, it was hard to pin down what the hell was going on there. Is it still open? Is it a bar? Is it a broken-down gas station? I waited and assessed the perimeter until a woman pulled up in her Chevy truck and marched inside with supreme confidence. I followed her in.

"Cele" is actually the name of this unincorporated community adjacent to Manor, and the Cele Store is its only business. It was first built in 1891 and opened as the Richland Saloon. Marvin and Marilyn Weiss purchased the establishment in 1951 and remain the owners. In 1964, the brick BBQ pit was built–the same one still used to this day. And it's a bit famous too, having appeared in several movies, including 'Secondhand Lions', 'A Perfect World' and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. (Their website says the original film and sequels, but screenshots on the web do confirm it was in the 2003 remake.)

The surprises is exactly why the Cele Store is such a gem. You'll have to fire up the car and navigate winding country roads to get here, but once you do, top-notch service and tasty BBQ await. Inside, you'll find mismatched furniture and various memorabilia and knickknacks adorning the walls. A couple of 'ol timers were arguing whether it was a raccoon or a cat that served as the disputed detail of the story in question. But they did pause to say hello and poke fun at me for ducking under the doorway as I walked in (I'm tall).

There's a BBQ side for dining but also a bar side with a few tables for enjoying a frosty Lone Star. Everyone on the bar side of the General Store secured a stool to pack in next to the bar and chat with their neighbors. Honestly, it felt like grabbing a beer in Clint Eastwood's basement spaghetti western museum. It's a helluva place.