If you’ve been to the Texas Roadhouse, you’ve probably seen Willy’s Corner. This is a special section of the restaurant, completely dedicated to legendary country musician Willie Nelson. There is one in every roadhouse in the US, but it cannot be found in the international location of the restaurant. The trademark corner is decorated with photographs and other memorabilia dedicated to the singer, celebrating his life and career. However, these “shrines” are not random. They honor Nelson not only as a musician and Texan, but also as a friend. After all, Kent Taylor, the late founder of Texas Roadhouse, had decades of friendship with Willie Nelson, who caused this whole thing.
The pair actually met for the first time at an annual charity concert called Farm Aid, co-founded by Nelson. The story is that they did not link not only their shared love for charity and Texas, but their mutual affinity for poker. According to the Texas Roadhouse website, “A friendship was formed between the two in countless poker games.” Over the years, Willie Nelson has been celebrating the Roadhouse as much as the restaurant celebrated him. I did. He took part in the meetup, interacted with guests and staff in Willie’s corner, attended events with themes like Willie Oak, and appeared more at openings in new locations. The noisy and cheerful atmosphere of the Texas Roadhouse is clearly in his alleyways, and in 2004 he officially became the owner of the first Texas Roadhouse location in Austin, Texas.
Willy’s Corner and Other Texas Roadhouse Decorations
Despite the size of most Texas Roadhouse restaurants, you can’t miss Willie’s corner. The designated area is set as a corner booth, with some locations hanging guitar-shaped neon signs on top to show their presence. The selected decorations for Willie’s corners are unique to all locations. The red bandana, framed photos of Nelson from various eras in his career, and some of the posters from past events he was in attendance are now even more simplified. But elsewhere, they celebrate the artist with murals and platinum records on the wall. It’s a truly immersive experience for country music fans, and it goes far beyond the corner booth alone. The server itself often wears those iconic “willy blades.” A good day. ”
One thing you need to know about the Texas Roadhouse is that the restaurant isn’t just paying tribute to Nelson. Other dedications can also be found as part of its decoration. Every roadhouse has a unique mural that shows the beauty of the restaurant’s particular location and its community. In some locations, in addition to popular murals of Native American men on display in honor of Indigenous culture, there may be an entire wall dedicated to celebrating local heroes.
