Our Story

For over 30 years, the Icehouse has been a place where food, fire, and community come together.

It all began on September 15, 1993, when Sonona Teinert—known to friends and family as Nonie—alongside her brother, Bud Leech, and sister-in-law, Gayla Leech, took a run-down building and saw something more. With a lifelong passion for cooking and a vision for bringing people together, Nonie transformed that space into what would become a cornerstone of the community.

The building itself holds history far older than the restaurant. Built in 1926, it was once an operational icehouse and produced blocks of ice using ammonia and salt back when “iceboxes” were a way of life. Over time, its purpose changed—but it remained a place that served the community in its own way.

Not long after opening, Nonie’s daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Bobby Williams, joined the operation, expanding the Icehouse with the addition of a private club and bar. Around here, Melissa is better known as “Tissa”—and like most families, we’ve got a few nicknames that don’t always make sense to anyone else, but mean everything to us. In a dry Texas county, building something like this came with its own challenges—but like everything else, it was met with determination, grit, and a commitment to making the Icehouse a place people could gather and enjoy.

Over the past 32 years, the Icehouse has grown into more than just a restaurant. It’s been the backdrop for celebrations, reunions, weeknight dinners, and countless memories shared around the table.

While time has brought change, the heart of the Icehouse remains the same.
The fire still burns. The food is still made with care. And the doors are always open.

Whether you’ve been coming here for years or you’re visiting for the first time, you’re part of the story.

32 years strong—and still serving.