Smith brings Austin to Commerce

Many people that enter the College Corner Cafe immediately notice the many photographs, autographs and music memorabilia adorning the walls. These are all the product of owner Larry "Smitty" Smith's life journey, putting him face-to-face with some of the music industry's biggest names.

Smith's story begins as a soda jerk for Six Flags Over Texas. After attending high school in the Dallas area, Six Flags is where he made contact with a Sanford and Son cast member who offered some valuable advice.

"They wanted me to cut my hair, and he said I should become a cowboy for the show so that I wouldn't have to," Smith said. "So, I was that guy that got shot every two hours and fell."

This would not be Smith's last encounter with the rich and famous. Originally from Boulder, Colo., Smith returned to the area to attend school, majoring in commercial art and graphic design.

"After I graduated, I was offered a job with an agency in San Francisco to work regular hours in an office from nine to five," Smith said. "They only had one stipulation: that I cut my hair. I didn't want to cut my hair so I decided to try something else and became a bar manager across the bay."

Smith's decision to eventually leave his locks led him to meeting the Doobie Brothers and beginning a career of bartending and restaurant management.

"A girl I was dating at the time invited me to a party, and it turned out to be at the Doobie Brothers' house," Smith said. "I started bartending for parties and got the chance to meet some great people like Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter."

After a phone call from a friend, Smith opened the San Francisco Rose located in Dallas in 1977.

"We did simple and different things with the San Francisco Rose, like using California wines and purse hooks," Smith said.

Smith continued his restaurant career being a part of the McArthur Park in San Francisco and Huts in Austin, home of the best burger in Austin for 26 years. It was in Austin that Smith met Clifford Antone.

"Through Clifford Antone I met a lot of different people like Stevie Ray Vaughan who played at our club and hung out," Smith said.

Smith also founded Smitty's, a restaurant in Austin where the five best artists in Texas frequented.

"People like Jim Franklin and Michael Priest would show up there and just hang out," Smith said.

Smith soon found himself meeting the likes of people like Etta James, Dolly Parton, and Burt Reynolds through his restaurants. Even though he isn't partial "to the whole celebrity and glorifying thing," Smith is "thankful for the great friends he has met in life."

While in Austin, Smith began to design theatre sets. After an accident with moving set pieces, he was given a recommendation for a foot doctor in Greenville.

"I moved to a ranch in Greenville and my friends encouraged me to open a place around here," Smith said.

It was through Commerce's own Oglesby family that Smith found a connection to Commerce and opened the College Corner Cafe.

"We wanted a place for everyone to go and have fun," Smith said.

Smith soon found music connections with local Grammy award winner Brad Davis and Stearin Distributors Rick Parent. The three plan to work closely with the College Corner Cafe and are currently putting together a songwriters festival to be held in April in downtown Commerce.