Chip Gaines has always had two dreams in life, he admitted on last night's episode of Fixer Upper (the second-to-last one ever, sigh): to open a restaurant — a breakfast joint, specifically — and to own a Harley. Jo nixed the motorcycle idea, but, lucky for us, she indulged Chip's other wish.
Last night's hourlong show centered on a different kind of fixer upper: Instead of renovating someone's house, the Gaineses demoed Waco's century-old Elite Cafe, turning it into the Magnolia Table. The whole makeover unfolded on screen, but if you weren't able to tune in, here's everything you missed.
1. It sits on a historic site.
Chip and Jo bought the struggling Elite Cafe after it closed in 2016. But before the place shut down, it'd been a Waco go-to for nearly a decade, having opened in 1919. Everyone in town — including Chip and Jo — ate there at one point. Even Elvis stopped by when he was a soldier stationed in nearby Fort Hood. The pair paid homage to The Elite by hanging old menus and photos of the place all over the walls. There's even a big mural of the shuttered spot's logo painted above the juice bar.
2. You can't get their coffee anywhere else.
If you blinked, you would have missed the pan of Magonlia Table's coffee and juice bar, but eagle-eyed viewers could have spotted what was on the shelves: brown bags of ground coffee labeled Elite House Blend. It's for sale online, on the Magnolia Market site, and the product discription reveals the beans were roasted in Austin, TX. It comes in three varieties: house, decaf, and pecan.
BUY NOW Elite Coffee, $16; magnolia.com
3. There are two taglines.
In one room, a metal sign that looks like it could be Jimmy Don's handiwork reads, Where everyone has a seat at the table. Jo came up with that one and designed communal tables — with benches for people to sit close — to drive the point home. The other motto is painted above the host stand: The good ol' days are still to come.
4. Chip and Jo don't want cell phones used at the table.
'Gram your plate, then stash your iPhone. Above every booth there's a sleek leather pocket that's meant for holding devices. Chip said it's so people can "really talk to each other and just hang out."
5. There's shiplap — because, duh.
Really, what's a Gaines project without the iconic wood siding? Jo had Chip paint it white, and it lines the walls of the back seating area, which might be the coziest room in the entire joint. It's even got a fireplace.
6. Don't ask to be seated outside.
When designing Magnolia Table, Jo met with Becki Goss-Shepherd, who manages all things food at Magnolia. They talked about transforming the outdoor patio into extra dining space, but decided they didn't want hungry people hovering over diners. Now it's a play area for kids, and to-go customers can perch at the tables with their take-away grub.
7. The recipes went through multiple rounds of testing.
Jo worked on her biscuits for a year before the restaurant opened, and it even looks like the recipe changed throughout the filming of this episode. The first time she bakes them for Chip, they're a little flat, but when she debuts them later, they're insanely fluffy. The two joked about avocado toast during the episode, too. (Jo insisted; Chip didn't understand.) On Fixer Upper, the avocado was sliced onto pieces of bread, but on Instagram, it looks like it's being served mashed.
BUY NOW Magnolia Table Cookbook, $16; amazon.com
8. It's really close to the highway.
Many windows have a view of the busy road, but it doesn't seem to affect the vibe inside. And it's probably a good thing for business: Passersby won't be able to drive down the road without stopping.
9. There's no booze.
There's plenty of juice (it comes served in flights) and coffee (it's poured into mugs that sport the spot's mottos), but Chip and Jo never mentioned anything alcoholic. It could be because Magnolia Table opens at 6 a.m. and closes by 3 p.m. every day. Brunchers will have to stop for a mimosa somewhere else.
BUY NOW Magnolia Table Diner Mug, $18; magnolia.com
10. You can order more than just eggs and biscuits.
Chip's dream was to open a breakfast place, but he doesn't exclude lunch lovers. At the end of the episode, you see Magnolia Table waiters dishing out meals — including hearty ones like burgers and sandwiches.
11. Clint doesn't seem to be involved.
Some of the long wood tables bear the carpenter's signature turned legs and the smaller ones at the booths have intricate inlays, but Jo never mentions him during the episode. She might have designed the furniture with someone else, since it was such a big project.
12. Jo picked up some decor from the flea market.
Like she does for most homes she decorates, Jo relied on a mix of new and old touches at Magnolia Table. She picked up the letterboards detailing daily specials at the market, plus a vintage, turquoise cafe sign. It was pulled from a restaurant in Los Angeles and dates back to the 1940s. Now it hangs in the take-away section.
13. The to-go room is like a mini Magnolia Market.
Some of the restaurant's most popular menu items are prepackaged for people who just want to grab-and-go. But you won't be able to leave too quickly. The room's also stocked with merch: the signature coffee mugs, fresh flowers, pantry staples, and clothing.
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