What the Mona Plaza Hotel in Waco, Texas was.

This news article explain what the Mona Plaza Hotel in Waco, Texas was. Mona Plaza Hotel was known as Mona Plaza Motel and Mona Plaza Liquor Store.

Mona Plaza Hotel was a hotel that had a liquor store inside. Which is why Mona Plaza Hotel operated under the name Mona Plaza Hotel and Liquor Store. Preston L. Murphy was the liquor store owner and operator. Preston L. Murphy was the owner and operator of Mona Plaza Hotel as well. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/waco-citizen-mar-02-1984-p-1/)

Mona Plaza Hotel was known for their special rates due being located in a convenient location on Elm Street as that is where all the major thoroughfare and traffic in Waco was. Mona Plaza Hotel was located in a beautiful brick building. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/waco-news-tribune-jan-23-1957-p-21/)

Efforts were made in the summer of 1984 to relocate the Mona Plaza Hotel and Liquor Store but they did not materialize. Councilwoman Marilyn Jones and East Waco businessman Preston Murphy were pushing for a revitalization of the East Waco area and want(ed) prostitution in the area cleaned up. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/waco-citizen-mar-02-1984-p-1/)

Efforts were made last summer by Paul Quinn College and East Branch Library to relocate the Mona Plaza Hotel and Liquor store but they did not materialize. Murphy said he had his property appraised and was willing to sell it. He owned the property from 915 Elm Street to 917 Elm Street.

Waco City Councilwoman Marilyn Jones and Mona Plaza Hotel and liquor store owner and operator Preston L. Murphy held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to vocalize their disappointment with a newspaper article about prostitution on Elm St. “We have been addressing the issue of prostitution on Elm St. for sometime,” Ms. Jones said, “and this article was slanted toward Elm St. when the problem is all over Waco.

Calling the article printed last Sunday, ‘negative but factual’, Ms. Jones said, “this problem has been discussed by the council and the police department is helping, and the city will be spending money to make Elm St. more attractive.” Efforts were made last summer by Paul Quinn College and East Branch Library to relocate the Mona Plaza Hotel and Liquor Store but they did not materialize, she said. Murphy said he had his property appraised and was willing to seU it. He owns the property from 915 to 917 Elm.

“I have been trying to do something about it (the Prostitution problem) and ave talked to the Sheriff Jack Harwell recently and he has promised help,” Murphy said. “The white men are supporting the prostitution, not the black man because he has no money,” Murphy said. Ms. Jones said one of the problems with the city or Paul Quinn purchasing die property was the relocation of the tenants at the hotel. Ms. Jones also said she wanted to see stiffer laws for prostitution violations and longer confinement in jail for the offense.


According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Mona Plaza Hotel (Mona Plaza Liquor Store) closed down on the date of 9/30/1986. (Ref: https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/staxpayersearch/processTaxpyer.do?tpNtrlId=2000161266765)

 

The Mona Plaza Motel was demolished by contractor Jimmy Shilling on the date of Tuesday, October 24, 1989. Waco City Council paid Jimmy Shilling $6,333 for demolishing the structure. Waco Citizen called Mona Plaza Motel “a city landmark”. The hotel building is no longer extant and is now home to the East Waco Library. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/42934327/)

 

Mona Plaza Hotel was located at 915 Elm Street, Waco, Texas, US 76701.