When Eastside Café opened in March 1988, our guests reveled in spring weather and idyllic outdoor dining. Our patio was a simple brick-floored, pecan tree shaded, open-air affair. But there were issues, like sudden rain showers, lightning, heat, cold, mosquitoes, wind, darkness, and traffic noise.

So . . . In 1991, we built a simple trellis cover to protect diners from direct sunlight and allow lighted ceiling fans and heaters to be suspended to illuminate, cool and/or warm diners. This took care of some issues but left still left us to deal with: sudden rain showers, lightning, mosquitoes, wind, traffic noise.

Then . . . In 1993, we constructed a highly engineered vaulted “cathedral” ceilinged covered patio on a concrete slab to replace the brick-covered trellised patio. Roll-down clear plastic sides were added for more climate control. Drawbacks to this new structure included but were not limited to: north wind blowing under roll-down plastic walls made ankles chilly; radiant heater “gaps” left some cold while others baked; and humidity scoffs at ceiling fans.

Finally . . . In 1996, the fully enclosed, climate controlled, indoor “Garden Room” was born. The only problem: people missed all of the joys of outdoor dining!