7 replies to this topic

[Saginaw]

For those here who live or lived in Southside or Near Southside, you more than likely will be familiar with Fina's Tamales & Tortilla Factory, which was located in a low, flat little building with it's unique natural stone exterior, on the northwest corner of Hemphill and Biddison Streets. It's come to my unfortunate attention that the building has been demolished, including it's slab foundation.

What I was not aware of is that the business, which was named for the original owner's youngest daughter, operated for more than sixty years, and that it closed just this past summer. There was a brief article in the Star-Telegram marking the event, and Google Maps has a street view of the building. What I do remember about it are the times when my now-sainted Mom and I would go there back in the '70s to pick up some masa (ground corn dough) for my family to make tamales around Christmastime. I can vividly remember the unmistakable earthy aroma of ground corn and lime that permeated the premises. It was a time in my life that, at that time, I didn't fully appreciate, until now, and I'm grateful that I can still recall those cherished childhood memories.

Pertaining to the article, the surviving daughters closed the business due to their age and health concerns, but I wish Vaya Con Dios to them, and thank them and their family for what should be considered a notable Fort Worth institution.


--Saginaw

[John T Roberts]

I don't live very far away, and I did not know they demolished it. I had heard that was the plan, but I didn't know that it actually came down. I do not go down Hemphill Street that much. I remember as a kid, my family would get their tamales for Christmas.

[Cowtown Mike]

We also purchased Tamales there for our annual Christmas Eve meal.

[McHand]

I guess I should have walked down the street today to check this out. I will miss their tamales, and said aromas that one could smell from the street.
At an October Shaw-Clarke neighborhood meeting, someone mentioned that a community center is going to be built on or near the property, but I don't remember the details.

[Doohickie]

I guess I should have walked down the street today to check this out. I will miss their tamales, and said aromas that one could smell from the street.

That's one of the things I like about that area. When I ride my bicycle through there just before dinner time, it smells wonderful.

At an October Shaw-Clarke neighborhood meeting, someone mentioned that a community center is going to be built on or near the property, but I don't remember the details.

Sounds like a good use. Too bad they couldn't save at least the facade of the old building though.

[Doohickie]

I drove by there yesterday and yes, there is no tamale factory.

[McHand]

@Doohickie, I agree, I thought the facade really added some personality to the neighborhood. From what I remember of the interior though, there might not have been much to salvage, even as a shell. It was in pretty bad shape.

[Doohickie]

When I was in college in upstate New York, our fraternity house burned down. It was completely rebuilt, except we kept the front porch and the front and side exterior walls adjacent to it (to preserve the zoning I think). I guess my point is that if the wall was sound, it might have been possible to wreck the rest of the building and build a new one behind it. Of course, maybe the front wall of the tortilla factory was not structurally sound.