‘Fixer Upper’ Stars Chip & Joanna Gaines Demolish Iconic Cafe To Open New Restaurant After Settling Lawsuit

Chip and Joanna Gaines are on a mission to expand their Fixer Upper empire. The HGTV hosts have just settled one of their three very public lawsuits and are now moving on to opening a new restaurant.

Chip and Joanna are turning Waco, Texas’ 98-year-old Elite Cafe into a new diner. According to KWTX News, the iconic “Elite” sign that sat above the building is now taken down. Built in 1919, Elite Cafe has been a significant landmark in the area and even served food for Elvis Presley. Chip and Joanna bought the property last year when it officially closed for business.

In December 2016, the Fixer Upper couple announced on their blog that they were planning to open a restaurant that will “serve breakfast, brunch, and lunch.”

“Chip has wanted a breakfast joint for years and he finally found the perfect spot for it, and I’m not going to lie, he is also super excited about serving ham sandwiches and bacon. The Elite Cafe was one of the oldest restaurants in Waco, but it closed down last year and we are excited about bringing it back to life.”

Although Chip and Joanna have not given any update as to when their new restaurant will officially open, demolition has now begun, and reports say that it will probably be operational by the end of the year. There is even a sign outside bearing Chip’s message, “We’ll let you know when breakfast is ready!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUfN824leX9/

The Elite Cafe is just one of Chip and Joanna’s slew of businesses under their growing Magnolia Market empire. Aside from their hit HGTV show, the couple also has Silos, touted as a must-see attraction in Waco, Texas. Inside the Silos compound are food trucks, Joanna’s bakery, and a garden shop. Near the compound is a bed-and-breakfast boutique, which Chip and Joanna transformed from an old 19th-century house.

Their original business, Magnolia Real Estate, is still operational. In fact, some of the properties featured in Fixer Upper are either being managed or sold under the Texas-based real estate business.

Additionally, Fixer Upper’s fame has paved the way for other merchandise, such as a furniture and home accessories line. Chip and Joanna also have a book and magazines under their name. According to Realitystarsnetworth.com, the Chip and Joanna have a combined net worth of $5 million.

“Y’all know best that Chip and I have a love for entrepreneurship,” Joanna wrote on her blog in April.

“You guys know us for our construction company, Chip’s love for real estate and also my love for retail—which includes the Silos in Waco, Texas. And some of you have even seen our national projects like the magazine, our book, furniture, rugs, wallpaper, and paint. We love Magnolia, and we’re passionate about all things home.”

If you’re coming to Waco this weekend, be sure to check out the #SiloDistrict Trolley. More info here: https://t.co/MV0a1Znk5Q #ExploreWaco pic.twitter.com/TP5jewnhGS

— magnolia (@magnolia) April 8, 2017

Clearly, the business-minded couple is unstoppable despite several lawsuits they are facing. Chip’s former business partners are presently suing him for allegedly buying out their shares four years ago. They claim that their decision to sell would have been different if they had known that Chip had struck a deal to air Fixer Upper on HGTV.

Chip and Joanna are also facing a legal complaint from a fan who was allegedly injured while eating at their Magnolia Market. The fan is asking for $100,000 to $200,000 in damages.

Meanwhile, the Inquisitr previously reported that the Gaines had settled another lawsuit by Daron Farmer, their neighbor at Silos. Mr. Farmer was complaining about the fence Chip and Joanna installed between their properties, which he claimed was not agreed upon.

Apparently, the fence was blocking a piece of land which Farmer owned and was planning to use as a commercial parking lot. He sued Chip and Joanna for $200,000 up to $1 million for the alleged misunderstanding, but the couple decided to settle the matter out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Chip and Joanna are currently busy filming Fixer Upper Season 5.

[Featured Image by HGTV/ Twitter]