A car crash disrupted the Grain Bin Cafe, but staff reassured customers with humor and a plan to reopen with live music on Friday in Geronimo.
GERONIMO, Texas — There’s still plenty of open country on State Highway 123 north of Seguin.
Acres of farm land stretch out for miles, but so too does the roar of traffic, which is pretty constant.
But at the Grain Bin Cafe and Store, there’s an oasis where people have been settling in for years to enjoy what they call “home cookin’ at its best!” With walls full of memorabilia testifying to the Harborth family’s deep roots and love of the area, it’s a place where guests can get lost looking at all the trinkets, lovingly collected over time.
But before customers arrived Thursday morning, there was an abrupt crash that created a big stir.
Announcing their new “drive through” with humor, they posted: “Today’s deal is good enough to bust down doors!”
Jessica Floyd said she posted news of the crash on Facebook early on because the commotion and damage were so obvious.
“I knew that nobody was hurt and I was like, I’m gonna make it funny and lighthearted, so even though something really bad happened, we can all sit and laugh because everything’s okay,” Floyd said.
Cindy Mitrowski, who has known the family for years, said she was driving by and saw the crash happen when traffic slowed but one driver didn’t, clipping the rear of a small sedan.
“That turned him sideways and he went across 123 into oncoming traffic and went through the fence and into the building,” Mitrowski said.
Mitrowski said she stopped and immediately checked on the driver, who seemed to be okay, but it was hard to tell.
“Apparently the guy was Russian and did not speak any English whatsoever, but he seemed to have been okay,” Mitrowski said, adding that several people jumped in right away to help.
“I called my ranch hand and told him to go get some plywood and then other people showed up after all the police and fire left,” Mitrowski said.
Cafe manager Susan Acker said she was standing just a few feet away at the time.
“I was just over there in that corner, probably 10 minutes before this happened,” Acker said. “All of a sudden I just hear this boom and there’s a vehicle halfway into the cafe and I’m like, oh my gosh! I was shaking so bad I, I couldn’t even talk on the phone and give the address.”
Owner Tammy Harborth was running an errand when she got the call from her manager.
“She goes ‘a car has come to the restaurant. There’s a car in the restaurant!’ I’m like, You’re blur blur blur, kidding me, cause I said some bad words. I said, you’re kidding me and I said, I’m on my way!”
What Harborth found at the place she’s seen grow for the last 16 years was a mess, but with goodwill, she said they’d continue to serve.
“When you do good to people, it comes back to you,” Harborth said.
“Maybe table number 3 is not gonna be here cause it’s squished, but we’re gonna be open for business because my number one priority are my employees. Not this place, it’s my employees and putting a roof over their heads,” Harborth said. “Everybody still has to eat and pay bills.”
Before the dust of the crash even settled, Harborth said helpers showed up to start the recovery process.
“I didn’t ask them to do anything. I didn’t sweep up anything,” Harborth said. “This is nothing compared to what’s going on in the world right now and I have such great family and friends.”
Saying she survived breast cancer, she knows being grounded in gratitude is important.
“This is nothing compared to that. And I’m grateful, grateful for all of my friends and family that came and swooped in, swooped out, cleaned this stuff up, and it doesn’t even look like nothing happened.”
Chelsea Ormond with the Navarro schools stopped by to lift spirits with team flags to replace those that were lost when the car crashed through the fence.
“The Harborths are probably the biggest hearts in Geronimo and huge Panther fans, and their pride is always on display, not just for our school but our entire community,” Ormond said. “And so we brought her some new Panther flags. She had some on her fence, and so we wanted to make sure that we had some brand new ones.”
Their fans replied in kind, posting: “Hope someone told them that they couldn’t park there,” and “You guys have the best humor and ability to turn lemons into lemonade.”
Most offered words of encouragement and many added prayers of thanksgiving that there were no serious injuries in what’s usually a crowd favorite.
Of the plan to be back in business Friday morning, Acker said playfully, “Come see us at 11 a.m. but park in the parking lot! And you can’t sit at table 3 because 3 is gone!”
They’re also planning on going forward with their plans for live music Friday night. Their Facebook post advises:
“Come hungry, come thirsty, and maybe leave the stunt-driving at home this time.”
The music starts at 7 p.m. at 121 Dennis Drive in Geronimo.
More information can be found on their Facebook page.