10/05/2026
Since the Triangle Cafe is getting ready to re-open, I did some research on the history of the Triangle. I used the Douglass Tribune and found articles and ads to identify the owners through the years. The Tribune archives are available by going into the Douglass Public Library website. On the right side, you can search by names and years. I haven't been able to find a good photo of the old building yet. The one below is from the south end of town looking north. You can see an ice cream cone in the distance. Top photo is from 1962, bottom photo from 1975. If anyone has photos they would like to share, we would appreciate it.
Douglass Triangle Restaurant History
Aug 28, 1952 – Julietta Bratcher announces that her café, in the old filling station building north of the Community building is open. She serves plate lunch, sandwiches, short orders, ice cream, cold drinks, invites you to visit her.
Jan. 29, 1953 – Open Sundays - Until further notice, the Bratcher Café will be open every Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
April 9, 1953 – Bannon, Duncan buy Café Here - Jack Bannon and the Duncan Dairy of Winfield have purchased Bratcher’s Lunch in Douglass from Mrs. Juletta Bratcher and plan to run a dairy and lunch place there. Mrs. Bannon said the last of the week that they expect to be open for business within a week or two.
They will do some remodeling, and plan to sell ice cream of all kinds, as well as hamburgers, etc.
April 9, 1953 – THANK YOU – I want to thank the people of this community for the patronage they have given me in my café here. I have sold out and I closed the café Tuesday. I will continue to reside in Douglass. Juletta Bracher
May 21, 1953 – Duncan and Bannon announce the opening of their Dairy Bar in Douglass at the old Bratcher Lunch location, on Thursday afternoon, May 21st.
Free 5 cent cones on Thursday from 2 to 6. Nothing sold. They will be open for business on Friday and will handle root b**r, coca cola, orange drinks, coffee, jumbo hamburgers and hot dogs, malts, sundaes, shakes, bulk dairy milk, cottage cheese, etc.
The building has been completely remodeled and made into a carry-out dairy bar. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bannon and the Duncan Dairy of Winfield are the owners.
May 2, 1957 – Jack Bannon to Build Motel Here – Douglass is to have a motel here.
Work started last week on the preliminary construction of an 8 unit motel on the lots just east of the Triangle Café.
Jack tells us the motel will be a thoroughly modern air conditioned one, with the latest improvements.
In addition to the motel, there will be two office rooms in the building. Jack will occupy one office for his real estate and auction office.
The Bannon’s do not plan to run the motel themselves.
September 17, 1957 - Grand Opening for Uptown Motel
The Grand Opening for the Uptown Motel just east of the Dairy Bar in Douglass will be from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17th.
The new motel is newly furnished and modern throughout. There are two units for offices, one of which will be Mr. Bannon’s real estate office.
Mr. and Mrs. Bannon have managed the Dairy Bar for several years, about a couple of years ago they added the Triangle Café to the Dairy Bar.
The Bannon’s have four daughters, and own the Sales Barn 1 ½ miles east of Douglass. They are living at the motel at the present time.
August 10, 1961 - Triangle Café Douglass, Opal Ford – Owner
Meals – Short Orders, Tacos every Wednesday. Open Sunday
Jan 10, 1963 – We are having our Grand Opening at the Triangle Café just purchased from Opal and James Ford from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday January 12. Free coffee and donuts. Come and visit us!
Pat and Elton Carr
Feb 7, 1963 – Mexican Food at Triangle Café Soon
Pat and Elton Carr, owners of the Triangle Café, announce that Mexican Food – tacos, enchiladas, hot tamales and Mexican Plate will be served at the Triangle starting Friday, February 16th.
Mrs. Angela Garcia, who has built a reputation hereabouts for Mexican food, will be their cook.
The Mexican food will be served each Wednesday and Saturday afternoon and evening starting about 2 p.m. after February 16th.
April 6, 1964 – Gloria and Lonnie Bowers are the new owners of the Triangle Café in Douglass. They bought it last week from Pat and Elton Carr and took over on the weekend.
Mr. & Mrs. Carr have owned the café for a year or more. They have not announced future plans.
They thank their many customers and urge that they continue their patronage under the new management. Mrs. Bowers will be in active charge of the café and promises good food and service.
April 30, 1964 - Triangle Café, Phone PI6-2145, Open 6 a.m., six days a week. Breakfast, Dinner, and Short Orders any time. Steaks cooked to order. Tacos Wednesdays and Saturdays after 6 p.m.
Gloria and Lonnie Bowers, owners
January 26, 1967 - Triangle Café, Finest Food in Town
Yosko Dunlap, new owner. Mary Darter, cook.
Mexican Food each Tuesday and Thursday evening by Angela Garcia
Cantonese Food each Wednesday evening
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Open Sundays
July 13, 1972 - THANKS – To our friends in Douglass and the surrounding area for your patronage at the Triangle Café the past five and one half years. We have appreciated serving you in the restaurant business.
Yosko and Joe Dunlap
July 13, 1972 - NOTICE - We have purchased the Triangle Café and ask for continued patronage and opportunity to serve you. Our new hours are: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Saturday. We serve breakfasts, dinners, steaks, short orders, carry out service. Mexican Food Wed & Sat nights.
Mrs. Maxine Beeson and Mrs. Polly Davison
Sept 12, 1974 - New Triangle M Nears Opening
The new Triangle M Restaurant will open for the first time Saturday evening, for the Mexican food party, according to Manager, Maxine Beeson. The new restaurant has been under construction for several weeks, and will be one of the most attractive and well-planned small eateries in the area.
The new building is the first new business building to be erected in Douglass for many years, and is the first building put up strictly for a café in the memory of anyone around.
The modern kitchen is built to meet all state health standards, and is complete with a walk-in cooler.
The patron areas of the restaurant will include the “coffee shop” area and a dining room that can be opened or closed for private meetings or dinners.
The dining room will seat up to 75 for a dinner and the entire café could handle well over 100 customers at a time.
Although the establishment will open at 4:00 for the Saturday evening special food serving, exact date of permanent opening, and hours still have not been set, Mrs. Beeson reports since she is still lining up cooks and other employees to staff the new café. However, she expects to get into operation next week.
Compiled by Janice Duryea
