5 Amarillo Businesses Most People Have No Idea Ever Existed

Amarillo has a rich and amazing history. Long before the big box stores and restaurant chains moved in, Amarillo had its own businesses that kept the city fed and dressed. These are the businesses that helped build the Yellow City, and most people know nothing about them.

Amarillo's Manufacturing Roots Run Deeper Than You Think

Levi Strauss & Co. Factory

In the mid 1960s, Levi opened up factories in and near Amarillo to keep up with the demand for this popular jean. Unfortunately, in 1998, the factory was shut down, and over 1,000 people lost their jobs. Back in the early days of Tex Randall, the local Amarillo plant made a giant pair of jeans for the 47-foot cowboy.

Local Snack Brands That Started Right in Amarillo Kitchens

Blakley's Potato Chips

Amarillo once had its own potato chip business. According to historical groups like I Grew Up in Texas, it started in the kitchen of Thelma Blakley, along with her husband Cecil. They produced and sold chips in and around Amarillo from 1948 to 1964. The chips came in a tin. According to comments made on Amarillo history pages, the business was located at SE 15th and Johnson Street.

Read More: Why Locals Love the Fillmore Underpass in Amarillo

The Businesses That Fed and Fueled Amarillo for Decades

Golden Light Coffee Company

The Golden Light Coffee Company was opened in 1929 by Hugh Donnell and is located at 1010 W. 6th Street. They were the only coffee roaster in the Texas Panhandle. By the mid 1950s, the coffee company started selling equipment, and the coffee part of the business was phased out in the 1960s.

Read More: Amarillo Equipment Company Has Roots in the Coffee Business

Sweet Treats and Staple Foods Made Right Here in the Panhandle

Nolan's Fried Pies

For many who enjoyed a sweet treat in the 70s, 80s, and even 90s, Nolan's Fried Pies were a staple snack food. Their business was located on SW 3rd near McMaster's. They were made right here in Amarillo. An old newspaper ad from 1992 had them on sale two for 99 cents.

I remember my grandmother would always buy the apricot pies from Nolan because they were the best.

Cookbook Bread Company

Amarillo had a bread factory located on Fillmore right before it turns into the Dumas Highway. Talking with a co-worker, she described the smell of the bread baking when driving past as amazing. She also shared that when they went on school tours to the bakery, they gave everyone a mini loaf of bread.

What Do You Remember? Amarillo's Business Legacy Lives On

What Amarillo businesses do you remember that once existed, but are no longer in business?

11 Haunted Urban Legends and Ghost Stories of Amarillo

Explore Amarillo’s most chilling ghost stories and eerie urban legends. From haunted schools to abandoned hospitals, uncover the spooky side of the Yellow City and experience firsthand accounts that keep locals whispering.

Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford

Historical Photos of the Amarillo Fire Department

Here's a historical look at the Amarillo Fire Department.

Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford

Amarillo History Buried in a Junk Drawer

Things from Amairllo's past you may find in your junk drawer.

Gallery Credit: Melissa Bartlett/TSM