Culture / Travel / Home + Design / Round Top

Texas’ Most Charming Town Gets a Restoration Savior: Young Entrepreneur’s Bold Plans Include New Restaurants and Much More

BY // 03.21.16

In our September 2015 issue, we profiled 34-year-old Mark Massey, the man responsible for restoring two of Round Top’s town squares: Henkel Square, a project done in conjunction with his family, and the second, Rummel Square, undertaken solo. He is also the mastermind behind a new Round Top development called The Compound, which will showcase antiques vendors and host events. Anne Lee Phillips checks in with Massey on his latest and greatest additions to Round Top.

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The Compound

The Compound
Massey: “All vendors from the fall antiques show re-signed and will be back for the spring shows. Once the fall show wrapped up, I started designing a new structure to be completed by this spring called The Stables. It contains 9,000 square feet of space and is a large U-shaped structure designed around two mature oak trees with a grand interior courtyard and fountain.

The entire space leased out quickly pre-construction, thanks to Kathy Johnston, The Compound’s Antique Show producer. New dealers at The Stables during the spring antiques shows are Pascal Home, Plaid Veranda, French Laundry, ReWorks, Farm & Factory and Nomad’s Loom. Weddings, private parties and live music will also start happening at The Compound this summer.”

Rummel Square
“I’ve brought in another building to the square: a large two-story 1914 vintage farmhouse. It came over in two pieces and was originally located about five miles from town. This house will serve as a new farm-to-table restaurant The Garden Company Café, whose other location is in nearby Schulenburg, opening for fall.

Also in Rummel Square, I’m wrapping up restoration of the 1890 building I brought in from Fayetteville. It will house the new cigar-and-spirits shop, opening in time for the fall shows. Restoration work continues on the other vintage buildings in the square, and completion is set for late summer.”

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A 1914 farmhouse will soon be The Garden Company Café in Rummel Square.

Washington Square Park
“Also, in November, I purchased another block in town. It’s located directly across the street from Rummel Square, and cleanup has already begun. The new block will be named Washington Square Park, after the main street in Round Top that runs alongside it, Washington Street (aka Highway 237).

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A central design feature for Washington Square Park will be a large lawn/green space spanning the middle of the entire block, with a bandstand, fountain and gardens. It will be a great place in the heart of town to meet up with friends and family, relax under a huge pecan tree and listen to all kinds of music and entertainment taking place on the bandstand. In addition to the large lawn, Washington Square Park will have space for six future buildings, which will be located along the block’s perimeter in order to keep the middle open for public use. I plan to continue looking for old buildings to restore and bring to the new block.”

Henkel Square
“A new restaurant called Teague’s Tavern will be open by late summer. The tavern is located on the corner of Henkel Square directly across the street from the courthouse and will have a large ground-floor dining area and full bar, with additional seating on the second floor and on the wraparound balcony offering amazing views of town.”

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