A Texas-based restaurant chain has acquired a landmark motel off South Central Expressway in Richardson.
Pappas Restaurants, Inc., the owner of several nationwide restaurant brands, recently purchased the Como Motel, a historic 12,000-square-foot roadside inn and motor lodge known for its mid-century modern architecture, distinctive design, and iconic diamond-shaped sign over the front entrance.
Located at 721 S Central Expy in Richardson, the Como Motel sits adjacent to two of the restaurant group’s signature brands, a Pappasito’s Cantina and a Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.
Built in 1955, the 34-room motel is one of the only remaining standalone roadside properties to line U.S. 75 north of Dallas.
While Pappas Restaurants has yet to confirm what it will do with the historic building, it seems likely that the company will tear down the motel to add another restaurant.
However, upon realizing that the iconic roadside motel stood a chance of being torn down, preservationists and local residents decided to orchestrate a campaign to save the historic building.
North Texas resident Lindsey Sherritt is one of the locals fighting to save the motel from being demolished. In June, Sherritt set up an Instagram and Facebook page dedicated to saving the Como. Sherritt also started an online petition asking the new owners to save the property, which, as of September 12, has gained more than 4,800 signatures.
Other locals supporting the Como Motel are Julie Robinson and her husband, Reid, the owners of Beyond the Bar Bottle Shop, a non-alcoholic liquor store on the corner of Sherman and Main Streets in Richardson.
“We’ve been fans of the Como,” said Robinson, The Dallas Morning News reported. “We love mid-century modern and historical things. So, we’ve been fans for years and have always had a strong interest and hope that somebody would take over the Como and revamp it while honoring its mid-century beginnings.”
The Dallas Express reached out to the public relations team at Pappas Restaurants to learn more about future plans for the site and to find out when the purchase was completed but received no response by press time.
