WATCH: Popular Santa Rita Restaurant Mr. T’s Opens Under New Ownership

I have a long history with the Mr. T's location since I grew up in the Santa Rita area. I remember the building's first being a local grocery store operated by Mac McGowen and, after his passing, by his son Greg. Greg later started operating a catering business out of the place and did quite well. He moved on to another location and continued to succeed since he did good stuff.

I lost track of the evolution of the place while living away, and came back to find Bob Chandler had done the Mr. T's thing. I loved it. Every time I would visit San Angelo I would pop in there for a breakfast burrito (with nuclear jalapeños, the kind that make you sweat profusely) or possibly a sandwich for lunch. I loved watching the locals, many of whom I had known in the old days, as I ate my food.

Then Bob's kids got the place. They also did a great job.

Mr. T's site, and what it has become, is special to me. It's the kind of place one does not find everywhere (and I have lived in a bunch of places from one coast to the other), and to me it is very typical of the good things one can find in a place like San Angelo. I wish these new people well, and the next time I am in town I will definitely pop in and ask for a breakfast burrito with nuclear jalapeños. And I will watch the locals... while I sweat profusely.

I am happy to see Mr T's open, again! The previous comment left out a very important part of Mr. T's history. I can't speak to whether the McGowan's had the store or not. I only know this, THE Mr. T's were my grandfather and uncle, Earl and Wayne Thomas. I know that the store has a lot of memories for my family and a plethora of friends and neighbors. Best wishes for many more memories and full bellies, Gary,

Laurie, I assure you that the McGowen family operated the location back in the day. I grew up a block from the place, and it was a central part of the Santa Rita community.

I have lived in and out of San Angelo over the years, and I confess there have been periods when I lost track of what was happening in the town... including the part of it in which I grew up. I did not mean to exclude the role your family played in the evolution of Mr. T's. If I offended you, I apologize.

At any rate, that site means a great deal to me. I am glad that people have over the years continued to use the place as a contributing presence in a place that I will always remember very fondly.

I'm still looking forward to the first time I stroll in there and order one of those sweat-generating breakfast burritos. I wish the current folks well.

Nice post.
You must know Paz at the Gulf Station down the road on the corner of Austin.
I lived north on Austin two or three doors from the grocery store.
I cannot remember the name of it. Great steaks and veggies.
Also their was a store right behind the Gulf station later on.
Do you remember San Angelo 's first underground house on Austin?

As I recall, that house was not completely underground. Part of it, I think about four feet or so, was above ground. As a kid tooling around the neighborhood on my Schwinn I always thought that house was cool.

Who here might remember Taylor's grocery store on Austin down around Avenue H? It was somewhat like McGowen's...mom and pop kind of place like you just don't see any more.

I miss those days. Of course, back then I was innocent... uncorrupted by adulthood.