Richardson: Como Motel

[itsjrd1964]

In recent weeks, talk has swirled about whether this decades-old roadside motel would close, get sold, or be torn down. A petition by a local group wants to save the property, due to it having a sort of midcentury-modern architecture. A for-sale sign has been displayed out front for weeks. The Como's pole sign panel alongside the 75-Central service road has been missing for a few months. The last few weeks I've passed by it on my commute from work, a barrier has been placed where the covered part of the driveway entry is. The last couple of times I've seen the motel, a pickup was parked in front of it, then this morning, a big dumpster had been placed in the driveway. The last couple of nights, all the lights were out, even those that light the signs out front. The small changeable message sign on the pole in front displays
THANK YOU
COMO MOTEL

Now, news has surfaced that Pappas Restaurants has acquired the property. There is already neighboring Pappas-branded restaurants (Papadeaux, Papasitos) by the motel. They aren't being specific about what might be done, but it was mentioned in the Ch.8 report that the motel has not been very neighborly.

It is doubtful that a restaurant could fit on the property, especially if there is a minimum parking space rule. It might fit a fast-food place, a convenience store, or a car lot. A few of the reports say the Como is "historic" (likely because it was one of Richardson's first roadside motels--an early picture of the sign out front shows that it was even a Best Western for a time), but I'm not sure the TX Historical Commission is going to run to the motel to put up a historical marker in front of it.

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local ... e4ff2e2afb
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... ant-chain/
https://candysdirt.com/2023/06/22/will- ... rking-lot/
https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/ric ... n-16802967
https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-enterta ... -landmark/
https://www.texasmonthly.com/style/como ... mark-sold/

[Hannibal Lecter]

https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime ... ys-affair/

[Tnexster]

Oh Candy.......

Sounds like Pappas wants to preserve it and renovate it. Could be a cute little roadside motel, but we'll never forget about Candy.

[itsjrd1964]

In the last several days, all the windows, including the ones at the front office, have been boarded up. The entrance to the parking lot has also been mostly boarded up. The for-sale sign out front has also been uprooted.

No real signs yet of what is to come.