Roberts Building
Also known as: City Cafe; Site No. 221
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Why it's listed
Built around 1904 at 216 E. Pilar Street in Nacogdoches, this one-story brick commercial building occupies a corner lot in the central business district, just south of the old Principal Square. It is classed as a one-part commercial block, with a rectangular plan and a partial basement at the rear where the lot slopes. Its most distinctive features are segmental-arched openings on the front and side walls, and the three-bay front has double doors, two-light transoms and a parapet with inset panels. The Roberts family built it on the old homestead site of John S. Roberts, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, but apparently leased it to others. Tenants included a grocery, a warehouse, a plumbing shop, a barber shop and an automotive repair shop. It is best known as the City Cafe, where Bonnie Parker reportedly worked as a waitress. It was listed for its architecture because few comparable downtown buildings retain so much of their original character.
Significance in brief: The building is one of the least-altered historic buildings facing the old Principal Square and a noteworthy early 20th century commercial example. Many similar downtown buildings have lost their integrity to false facades or removed fabric. It also reflects local commercial expansion during Nacogdoches' community development from 1830 to 1940.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000016, listed February 14, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 216 E. Pilar St., Nacogdoches |
|---|---|
| County | Nacogdoches County |
| Listed | February 14, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000016 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER: One-Part Commercial Block |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, with the only insensitive alteration being a frame shed addition at the rear; historic and current use is commerce/trade. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Nacogdoches Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.60215, -94.65491 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000016.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321693
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.