Phoenix Saloon
New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Built in 1871, the original Phoenix Saloon building was a two-story brick, rock, and stucco building built by John Sippel located on the corner of west San Antonio Street and Castell Avenue. A saloon operated on the first floor under various names before it finally became the Phoenix Saloon in 1895. The building not only housed a popular saloon but also a back room café where proprietor William Gebhardt served a stew spiced with tampico dust, his own special concoction of herbs and dried chili peppers. His tampico dust is often regarded as the first chili powder. In 1896 Gebhardt moved to San Antonio to manufacture his eagle brand chili powder. Another attraction of the saloon was the beer garden facing San Antonio Ctreet between the saloon and the old Comal County Courthouse. Unusual for the times, ladies were welcome here. John Sippel built a small pool with a fountain that contained fish and alligators. Some legends about the saloon claim it held badger fights and featured a parrot inside the front door that was taught to say, “Have you paid your bill?” in German. The lively nature of the phoenix saloon was temporarily closed down when prohibition was instituted in 1918, even though Comal County voted 100% against prohibition. In 1922 Albert Ludwig owned the building and expanded it by adding the third floor for the local masonic lodge. In 1927 Jacob Schmidt bought the building and changed the name displayed near the top of the front façade from Ludwig to Schmidt. The Schmidts operated a clothing store in the building from 1935-1995. In 2010 the first floor was once again operating as the phoenix saloon.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1871 and operating under various names before becoming the Phoenix Saloon in 1895, this New Braunfels landmark paired a lively barroom with a back-room café. There proprietor William Gebhardt served a stew seasoned with his own blend of herbs and dried chilies — 'tampico dust,' often credited as the first chili powder — before moving to San Antonio in 1896 to manufacture his Eagle Brand. The saloon, unusually welcoming to ladies, closed under Prohibition in 1918 and reopened as a saloon a century later.
Why it matters
It is the birthplace of commercial chili powder, a small Texas invention that reshaped American and Tex-Mex cooking.
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Related people
- · William Gebhardt
- · John Sippel
Themes & tags
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