Tiffin the gambler entered the world of legitimate business in 1936 when his Mexican Inn Cafe opened its doors at 5th and Commerce streets in a downtown Fort Worth building already 50 years old. From the beginning, he insisted upon courteous service and fresh home-cooked food. On a good day in the 1930’s, restaurant receipts might total only $25.00, but much greater amounts were accumulated each night when gamblers gathered in the second floor rooms above the restaurant.

Wary of traditional advertising, Tiffin commissioned a family pet burro to generate interest in the new cafe. Star would be dressed in a banner reading, “MEXICAN INN CAFE... MEXICAN FOOD EXCLUSIVELY... FOLLOW ME TO MEXICAN INN” and turned loose somewhere downtown. He would find his way back to the side door of the restaurant and beg for tortillas. The police would be compelled to “arrest” Star for being on the street without a permit. Tiffin laughed that he and Star were on the same side of the law.

By the 1940’s both of Tiffin’s empires were flourishing. While restaurant employees recall his kindness toward them, headlines depicted him as Fort Worth’s Kingpin of Gambling.” Yet, lady luck continued to smile on Tiffin, and the law remained at bay.

Tiffin’s good fortune lasted until 1966, when a stroke left him permanently disabled. In 1973, on the day of his funeral, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote a fitting epitaph to Tiffin’s life:

In 1980, local businessman Chris Carroll purchased the restaurants from Tiffin Hall’s estate. The Mexican Inn Cafes have become a very special part of his company, Spring Creek Restaurants... so special, in fact, that in recent years, a number of new Mexican Inns have opened their doors to guests...We welcome you!

Our thanks to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, to employees past and present, and to the friends of the Mexican Inn Cafe who contributed to this history.