Cars line-up along Audelia, waiting to order at the Big Mama’s drive thru.
A traffic jam along Audelia Saturday was the first sign. Then there was the smell of deep-fried fare wafting through the neighborhood. No, the Texas State Fair did not relocate to Forest-Audelia — Big Mama’s Chicken and Waffles has reopened.
Two years ago this month, Big Mama’s closed following its second kitchen fire in as many years. They were small fires, but it’s a tiny place and the second fire was devastating, and it put the business out of commission longer than expected. The owners said last summer that they expected to open soon.
Big Mama’s opened over Labor Day weekend.
A year later, it seems fans had been waiting, watching — mouths watering — for this humble double drive-thru to resume service. All day Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day both drive-up windows had a line of at least five cars. Saturday night, there were two lines a half-mile long along both Forest Lane and Audelia. A walk-up window also remained at least 5-10 customers deep.
Look for our longer story about Big Mama’s in an upcoming Lake Highlands Advocate print issue. Meanwhile, if you want to find out what the fuss is all about, try an early lunch — they open at 10:30 and don’t get really busy until about noon, it appears. Also, bring cash. No plastic accepted.
