Local Spotlight: The Fredonia Hotel
The Fredonia Hotel has been a jewel of East Texas since 1955. The hotel recently went through a 10 million dollar renovation transforming it into a unique historic destination. The owners have embraced its history and have retained the hotel’s original integrity as well as adding modern amenities, making the Fredonia Hotel truly remarkable. The Fredonia Hotel tells a story of perseverance. The Fredonia Hotel first opened its doors to the public on April 1, 1955 and since then has undergone several managements. The original “moving spirit” behind the first management was Jack McKinney. He saw that Nacogdoches was in need of a first-class hotel to accommodate travelers and business men alike. McKinney proposed to the chamber to construct a community owned hotel.
The name Fredonia was suggested by 4-year old Susan McKinney, “the name is distinctive, euphonious – easily remembered. It has universal appeal; yet indigenous and reflects the spirit of that will make the hotel possible.” Original rates for the Hotel Fredonia were $6.45 per room. Famous guests include Farrah Fawcett, Amy Schumer, Elvis Presley, and Colonel Sanders. Contact us if you would like to reserve a room as we have an exclusive rate available for our customers. 1st City Cafe Relocalizes The 1st City Cafe was given its name as a tribute to Nacogdoches — the oldest town in Texas! We wanted to pay homage to the legacy and history of our town, as we do in many areas of the Fredonia Hotel. The 1st City Cafe is family owned and operated restaurant designed by restaurateurs Richard and Barbara DeWitt. The Dewitts own several restaurants around Texas, including our hometown favorites – Clear Springs and Auntie Pastas. The 1st City Cafe was intended to have an open mid-century, modern design with white table tops, plush, white leather chairs and a window that runs all the way down the dining room. It’s a favorable place to have your morning coffee and breakfast reading a newspaper while the sunlight echoes and dances off the pool. They started with the concept of buying fresh local Texas’ ingredients and showcasing them on the menu based on the season. They purchase ingredients primarily on proximity and season.
Local products like their fresh shrimp that comes from the gulf is something to take pride in. 1st City Cafe also strives to offer the best of local cuisine in Texas, such as their 44 Farms Angus beef for their chicken fried steaks, burgers, steaks, and Duroc pork for our fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and bacon jam. Using local honey, fresh eggs, fresh herbs, lettuce and other items from right down the road from their very own Fredonia Farms. The coffee is roasted and blended especially for customers from Java Jacks — a local coffee shop right here in Nacogdoches. 1st City Cafe believes that good tastes better when you know where your ingredients come from. The Republic Steakhouse Is Open Mid-century modern decor paired with fine dining cuisine will take you above and beyond your expectations of experiences found here in Nacogdoches.
The Republic of Fredonia Steakhouse gives you the freedom to explore decadent dishes that cannot be found anywhere else in East Texas, offering a wide variety of high-end dishes, such as savory steaks to handcrafted smoked cocktails. “I’m very excited about the Republic Steakhouse opening,” says Bud Dewitt, Manger of the Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center. “Our team has put blood, sweat, and tears into getting it open and we want to make sure it was done right! We’re also excited we can bring a restaurant with this caliber of food and service to East Texas and talking with patrons that are excited too.” Republic’s menu features only the finest prime beef, fresh seafood, an extensive wine collection, as well as some of the best-aged spirits in town. Their beef is locally sourced Texas product from 44 Farms Texas Beef. Regarded as some of the best beef in America, this herd of cattle was once watched over by Texas Rangers.
The Akaushi beef with extraordinary taste and health benefits unique to the Wagyu breed. The Texas Akaushi cattle are full blood decedents originating from the Emperor’s herd of Kobe, Japan and now served at The Republic Steakhouse in Nacogdoches, Texas. The culinary director, Doug Atkinson, and owner, Richard DeWitt, have worked hard to create a classic and unique menu that guests will fall in love with and make returning trips to try items they didn’t get a chance to before. The Maine lobster tail, sea bass, tuna and fresh seafood are delivered hours before the doors open on Thursday evening. The steaks are aged a minimum of 45 days. They offer a great variety of wines from different regions and countries for a perfect pairing with your meal and will continue to develop and evolve their wine list as they move forward. Have your cocktail smoked in our personal smoking box with choice of cherry, hickory, alder, or mesquite wood flavoring for a special touch. The Republic Steakhouse is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5 pm to 9 pm by reservation only. Make reservations by calling the hotel at (936) 564-1234. ★