Nestled deep in the rolling hills of Texas’s heartland lies and place steeped in American heritage.  A place like none other yet a place where anyone can feel at home, the Welfare Café and Goat barn offers the tranquility of a time long past with the ever surprising change of the modern age. Let our food and history tell you a story that you will never forget.

It was almost 150 years ago when a small town emerged from the humblest of beginnings but  like most towns of the post Civil War era the railroad brought new hope and larger prospects. Eventually, the San Antonio Arkansas Pass Railroad, that held connections to Kerrville and Fredericksburg, defined this town and the community flourished.  The town was like any you might expect, a schoolhouse, a saloon, hotel and a cotton gin. And of course, a general store and post office. Today, the walls of the stagecoach stop remain stoically erect and stand as a witness of a time long ago, their gun turrets intact, still defending its crumbling ruins from robbers and Indians.

Although the original structure of the post office burned down in 1916, it was rebuilt that same year and handed down from postmaster to postmaster. But In 1978 this sleepy little town closed its beloved post office doors. It wasn’t until 20 years later that two individuals, with a passion for this quaint American village, reopened the doors and created a new interest in American heritage.
Gaby and Dave saw not just an ancient, abandoned general store but an opportunity to bring appreciation to a small town and a modernism to beloved small town ideals. What better way to celebrate the inviting and serene display of Texas Hill Country than through culinary exploration. It was no easy task although a very rewarding one. Staying true to early American culture, this cuisine descends from many classic European dishes and invites it’s patrons on an international tour as well as a journey through time.

Welfare Postmasters
Gottfried Knoepfli was the first postmaster of Welfare from 1886-1887. He was followed by Charles Beseler, Willie Rust, Emil Sueltenfuss, Adolph Rheinhardt, Mrs. Otto Poehnert, Pul Hein and Perry Laas Jr.