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Presentation of the 2026 Witness to History Award to Pete’s Café.
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REQUESTOR:
City of Farmers Branch Historical Preservation and Restoration Board
INTRODUCTION BY THE MAYOR:
On behalf of the City of Farmers Branch City Council, I am honored to recognize and present Pete’s Café with the 2026 Witness to History Award.
Pete’s Café in Farmers Branch, a beloved local favorite, offers a warm, family-owned diner experience with an emphasis on southern hospitality. Known for its hot, fresh, home-style breakfast classics in a relaxed, welcoming setting, it’s a place where the coffee keeps flowing, and the service is always friendly. The bustling atmosphere and hearty food make it a staple for breakfast lovers, but it’s the cozy diner vibe and community feel that keep folks coming back.
Opened in 1975 by the Vergos family, Pete’s Café began when Beltline was still a two-lane road bordered by farms and pastureland. The Vergos family operated the café until the early 1990s, when the Reeves family purchased it and hired Jose Hernandez. Jose began his career at Pete’s serving coffee and steadily rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a co-owner of the restaurant alongside his siblings.
Over the decades, lasting friendships have formed and have been captured in a photo album of longtime customers displayed on the table just inside the door. Generations have grown up at Pete’s, sharing meals and memories that continue to define the café's heart.
Pete’s Café has worked tirelessly to give back to the community it serves by supporting Meals on Wheels, Metrocrest Services, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, local churches, and serving as a Toys for Tots donation site.
It is with great pride that the City Council and Historical Preservation and Restoration Board recognize Pete’s Café as the 2026 business recipient of the Witness to History Award.
BACKGROUND:
At the November 20, 2025, Historical Preservation and Restoration Board meeting, the Board voted unanimously to recognize Pete’s Cafe for the business “Witness to History” award. This award was created to recognize long-time Farmers Branch residents and/or organizations that have contributed to the City of Farmers Branch in an outstanding manner.
To qualify for the “Witness to History” award, an individual must reside in Farmers Branch for 50 years or more, and award winners are selected based on their significant contribution to the City.