Manufacturer: Syracuse China
User: Central Cafe – Juarez, Mexico
Pattern: Encanto
Date of platter: 1929

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Notes: The Central Cafe, located at Calle Comercio, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico was opened by S. G. Gonzales around 1909. Gonzales was American-born and maintained his residence on the American side of the border. Very involved in the sports world, he played semi-professional baseball in San Francisco in 1906 and decorated the restaurant with autographed photos of athletes. At one point he had promoted at least one boxing match with Jack Dempsey, for which he built an arena.

An article in the El Pasco Herald on August 27, 1921, states: "Residents of no other city in the United States enjoy the unique advantage of eating their meals in a foreign country, surrounded by the picturesque color of Old Mexico with food and service which cannot be obtained anywhere in the country. Wild game, including venison, wild turkey, duck and bear meat in season are served from the big refrigerators of the Central Cafe. Mexican dishes with their piquant seasoning and typical viands, American a la carte service equal to any restaurant in El Paso are also features of the Central Cafe."

In 1922, the restaurant was refurbished and updated with air conditioning. An article in the El Paso Times on June 19, 1922, began: "Decorated in purple and old gold will be rededicated as shrine of El Paso pleasure in Old Mexico," and: "Soft lights under satin shades, purple draperies and old gold hangings make famous Juarez cafe a fairyland."

In 1935, Gonzales opened a second Central Cafe across the border in El Paso; however, he sold it to W.A. Adams in 1936, and in 1942, Adams founded the Del Camino restaurant in the same building.

In 1959, Gonzales (then 87) sold the Central Cafe in Juarez for $20,000, according to an article in the El Paso Herald-Post dated September 11.

White body platter with Syracuse's Encanto rim treatment, which consists of stars, flowers and leaves with a floral spacer in rust and teal blue. At the top of the platter, the rim pattern is broken by the restaurant's logo of a drawing of woman in a rust-colored dress with black lace at the bottom holding a fan. This image is imposed in front of a light rust oval outlined in black. The word "Central" is on the left side and the word "Cafe" on the right side of the oval. Underneath are the words "Juarez Mexico."

Sources:
El Paso Herald – August 27, 1921
El Paso Times – June 19, 1922
El Paso Herald-Post – September 11, 1959
Cardcow.com

For additional info: Central Cafe 2 by Wallace China

Contributors:
Keith Morantz: platter photos
Ed Phillips: author