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This part of Coleman was the J. Newton Needham farm, but was developed into city lots following World War II. 2000 South Commercial Avenue was the location of the J. Newton and Lillie Needham home. In the image below, the Needham home is located at center left. Needham Street is to the north of the house, between the house and the angled service station on the corner. South Commercial Avenue runs north to south in the center of the image.  "In 1929, J. Newton Needham, and his wife Lillie M., were residing at 2000 South Commercial Avenue. He had a shop dealing in auto tires and tubes at 1914 South Concho Street. Also living at this address was J. Newton Needham, Jr., who owned an auto filling station at 200 West Needham Street. His telephone number was 797. Also living at this address was Miss Stella Needham." (Coleman City Directory, 1929 - Hudspeth.) ..............................................................
By October 1948, T. O.
Kelley had given up the tire business and
had become a used car dealer. Kelley Tire
Store had become the Kelley Motor Company
and had moved to 606 South Commercial
Avenue. By 1954, Kelley Motor Company
had moved to 2003 South Commercial Avenue
and across the street to 2002 South
Commercial Avenue by 1958.
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The Dairy Dip The Dairy Dip, an early
drive-in restaurant was located at 2000
South Commercial Avenue as early as
1954. The earlier image above left was
taken about 1952, with the image to the
right being taken in 1954. At that
time, you could get a hot dog at the Dairy
Dip for 15 cents and a chili dog for 20
cents at the Dairy Dip! That was a
neon light on top. About
1961, the Dairy Dip building was moved to
601 South Commercial Avenue, where the
business remained only a few years.
Soon after the Dairy Dip Drive-in was moved near the downtown area at 601 South Commercial Avenue, the Kelley Motor Company, owned by Thomas O. Kelley, opened at 2000 South Commercial Avenue, as they had been next door at 2002 South Commercial Avenue. By January 1970, T. O. Kelley was holding farm and ranch consignment auctions once a month at this location. Henry R. Storey of Brownwood was the auctioneer. Kelley Motor Company remained at this location until October 1970. In 1971 Dairy Queen opened a fast food restaurant in Coleman at this location. Kelley Motor Company moved to 2001 South Concho Street, closing in 1973. ..............................................................
Construction began in January
1971 on a Dairy Queen facility, which featured
a drive-up window, a walk-up window and a
dining room which accommodated 52
people. The location was 2000 South
Commercial Avenue, south of D-G Food
Market. Dan McNeal and Bill Wittman of
Waco were the owners. Bill and Betty
Wittman moved to Coleman to manage the
business. The Coleman Dairy Queen was
located on a lot 150 by 160 feet, with parking
spaces for 45 automobiles. The new
structure was 40 x 50 feet, plus the parking
canopy. The business operated from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m., but remained open later on
Friday and Saturday nights. It employed
10 to 12 people. In later years, it was
remodeled for a south entrance with an added
playground for kids.
Dairy
Queen under construction in 1971.
Completed Dairy Queen in late
1971.
 Dairy Queen in Coleman, Texas - 2005 (taken by Ralph Terry)  .............................................................. "Dairy
Queen Building to Become a Don Luis
Restaurant" "The
old Dairy Queen
building is now under
construction. Harris Acoustics
was on site last week and
has begun the process of demolition. Here
are images from the Coleman Today
website, showing the work they
had already completed
in a day and half. Don
Luis Cafe is scheduled to open in this
building in September 2018." (Coleman
Today, June 25, 2018.)
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