Oldest restaurants in Houston?
Jennifer E.
that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
exist?
The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when I
try and think of any other Houston originals.
Jennifer
Lee S.
good thread... I can think of a couple that may be in the running.
Duchos steakhouse, Brenners, Christies Seafood.
cheers
Lee S.
who wishes he could list Kaphans or Harry's Kenya or Trader Vics.
Sharon Amabile
Art Enderli and Herman Greiner owned and operated it for years in what is
now called the Old East End.
--
Sharon Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Jay P Francis
Vonroach
<ama...@airmail.net> wrote:
>Is the Kopper Kettle still around? It was the first cafeteria in Houston.
>Art Enderli and Herman Greiner owned and operated it for years in what is
>now called the Old East End.
>
>--
>Sharon Amabile
>Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
You jogged my memory, the Cleburne Cafeteria is still around on
Bissonet. Odd, I'm unfamiliar with a `Kopper Kettle' Cafeteria - I
always thought the earliest cafeteria in Houston was either the Rice
Hotel Cafeteria or Weldon's on South Main.
Vonroach
>On Sun, 08 Sep 2002 19:40:31 GMT, "Jennifer E."
><jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>
>>I'm racking my brains trying to think of non-chain restaurants in Houston
>>that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
>>exist?
>>The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when I
>>try and think of any other Houston originals.
>>
>>Jennifer
>good thread... I can think of a couple that may be in the running.
>Duchos steakhouse, Brenners, Christies Seafood.
>cheers
>
>Lee S.
Houston Club, Avalon `Drug;, One'AMeal come to mind. Wish I could add
the San Jacinto Inn.
Frank Matthews
If all you want is 25 years or so then Bellaire Broiler Burger
qualifies. Also the BBQ Inn. Tookies has been there about that long.
Frank Matthews
Julia Dream
Several people have mentioned the only ones I could come up with at first:
Christies, BBQ Inn, and Bellaire Broiler Burger. Finally thought of
another, though: La Hacienda on Memorial. I was going there around 1977.
I'll keep trying to come up with more... it will be fun to see what else is
mentioned. Cool thread!
Becky
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
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Forrest Z. Marler
<pink...@ev1.net> wrote:
Sammy's Lebanese, home of Houston's best falafel
--
Forrest Z. Marler
Lee College-Huntsville Center
Department of Mathematics
kerr
oldest building in town.
2. The restaurant in the Lancaster Hotel? I bet they've served food in that
building forever.
3. Otto's on Memorial?
Kerr.
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Russell Schexnayder
currently building a new facility in back of the present location.
Also there is a Chinese place that I used to eat at 30 years ago near Elgin
and S Main called Ten Ten or maybe TinTin. On my last trip to Harry's, I
thought I saw it at a new location, but I have not eaten there in about 30
years.
Anie's hamburger on S. Post Oak used to be a Luke's, its been there since at
leaast 1977, but as some of you know, Anie got a divorce from Luke, and the
Luke's on S. Post Oak became Anies. The other Luke's closed within the last
few years.
Also Post Oak Ranch Barbeque was there in 1977 also, and it had been there a
long time before. Moses, the current owner, bought the place from his
previous boss. Moses is there every day behind the counter cutting the meat
for you, so the next time you are in there ask him when the place first
opened.
What about Kahn's Deli?
Prince's, although it used to be more of a chain than it now is.
Russell
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
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Gulffritallary
Tea room at NM
Andre's
Old Spaghetti Warehouse
Doyle's on 34th
A. Brain
House.
Others: Stables, Hungry International (only one location left), Niko
Nikos, Avalon Drug, Star Pizza.
--
A. Brain
Remove NOSPAM for email.
"Forrest Z. Marler" <fma...@tca.net> wrote in message
news:080920021840242255%fma...@tca.net...
Sharon Amabile
--
Sharon Boring Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jay P Francis" <jaypf...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020908172735...@mb-cn.aol.com...
> Tel Wink
Sharon Amabile
think) he and Art Enderli introduced the idea of cafeteria style dining to
the Houston area.
--
Sharon Boring Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Vonroach" <vonr...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:iugnnu4o9ssqlq2ks...@4ax.com...
Kelly Younger
If you're talking about the "Harry's" on Tuam...it's been there 25 yrs.
at most.
--
Kelly Younger
Jack Sloan
Chapultepec
Alfreda's soulfood kitchen
Green's barbeque
59 Diner
Mario's pizza - Webster
Frenchies-Webster
Joe Lee's Kemah
T Bone Tom's Kemah
Laredo's-Seabrook
"Gulffritallary" <gulffri...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020908202515...@mb-fl.aol.com...
Julia Dream
Harry's looked as if it was being leased when passing by at 4am early on
Sat. morning. Someone made mention here about it being re-built... is that
true??
Becky
"Kelly Younger" <kyou...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
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Julia Dream
"Jack Sloan" <jqs...@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
news:algv0f$1f6$1...@news.hal-pc.org...
> New Orleans Poboy
> Chapultepec
For some reason, Chapultepec always smelled like the restrooms... at least
at the tables near them, anyway. I never thought the food was all that
great anyway. Been a while, though.
Becky
Chris Dieckmann
> 59 Diner
The 59 Diner? Bite your tongue, that was Phil's.
> "Gulffritallary" <gulffri...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20020908202515...@mb-fl.aol.com...
> > Andre's
Has Andre's really been around that long? The original in Kansas City
(where I spent most Saturday mornings of my high school years) has been
open in various stages of development since the mid-50's but I though the
other branches were vintage 80's.
Jack Tyler
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Christie's has been in business since 1917. In 2007, they will have been
in business for 90 years.
Jack Tyler
>
>
Jack Tyler
"kerr" <rke...@houston.rr.kom> wrote in message
news:ZIRe9.234580$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
> 1. La Carafe downtown, do they serve any food? It's supposed to be the
> oldest building in town.
La Carafe is the oldest "Commercial" building in Houston. However, it
doesn't count in the oldest restaurant chase.
Jack Tyler
> 2. The restaurant in the Lancaster Hotel? I bet they've served food in
that
> building forever.
The Lancaster is old. But there hasn't been an operating restaurant there
for the entire time.
Jack
Jack Tyler
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Massa's opened up at Capitol and Louisiana in April of 1947.
Jack Tyler
>
>
Jack Tyler
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:d9Ve9.427602$q53.14...@twister.austin.rr.com...
>
> "Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
for
> over 25 yaes
years!!!! Not yaes.
Jack Tyler
.... and she hates gumbo.
>
> Jack Tyler
>
>
> >
> >
>
>
Jack Tyler
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Speaking of 25 years... the same woman has been making gumbo at Massa's for
over 25 yaes.... and she hates gumbo.
Jack Tyler
>
>
Lee S.
wrote:
I think Chapultepec has only been around about 15 years or so. I
think it opened when I was in college
Lee S.
who didn't realize college was that long ago.
RAMBLER32
were across the street from their present location on El Camino.
Also Stables has been around a while and Shanghai has been in the Galleria
since it opened.
Sharon Amabile
has been around at least 40 years.
--
Sharon Boring Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:FPUe9.427592$q53.14...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Bruce Reistle
Tha Last Concert Cafe claims to have opened in 1949.
Jack Sloan
"Chris Dieckmann" <chen...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.17e5cb4f6...@news.rice.edu...
Jack Sloan
New orleans poboy IS good. The Jumbo burger with swiss,mustard and mayo, all
the way is hard to beat.
"Julia Dream" <pink...@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:uno4311...@corp.supernews.com...
Jack Sloan
It was a cajun place before that.
"Lee S." <nob...@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:b7aonuol35mdg02r5...@4ax.com...
Lee S.
I beleive that is true- but it wasn't the Last Concert Cafe, it was a
whorehouse with many city government officials as clients.
cheers
Lee S.
who now knows why I-10 jogs around that little building.
Julia Dream
being that the food was bad and the place smelled funky. Where is New
Orleans Poboy, btw?
Becky
"Jack Sloan" <jqs...@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
news:ali8ca$lgi$1...@news.hal-pc.org...
Gulffritallary
Mytiburger
Someburger
vonroach
<MATT...@MATH.CL.UH.EDU> wrote:
>How about the Mandola's place over on Leyland?
>
>If all you want is 25 years or so then Bellaire Broiler Burger
>qualifies. Also the BBQ Inn. Tookies has been there about that long.
>
>Frank Matthews
>
>Jennifer E. wrote:
>
>> I'm racking my brains trying to think of non-chain restaurants in Houston
>> that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
>> exist?
>> The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when I
>> try and think of any other Houston originals.
>>
>> Jennifer
Felix - 25 years? They were an old restaurant with the owner
supporting education for Mexican-American pupils in the HISD, 60 years
ago when I first ate there, at their present location on Westheimer.
vonroach
>>Tha Last Concert Cafe claims to have opened in 1949.
>>
>I beleive that is true- but it wasn't the Last Concert Cafe, it was a
>whorehouse with many city government officials as clients.
>
>cheers
>
>Lee S.
>
The Last Concert on Nance was a restaurant opened in the old warehouse
(not to be confused with whorehouse) district, and had been there
several years in 1946. Featured was classical music on the juke box.
It was a place well known to the controlled substances fans of those
days. Owner was carried off by the cops one day when they found him
flushing marijuana down the commode on one of their `courtesy' calls.
It was too upscale for the politicians of those days.
Lee S.
wrote:
that may be true as well, but my friend Dawn Fudge who owns the place
now and has for the past decade or so says it once was a whorehouse.
When it came time to push I-10 through there, they wanted to raze the
place, but the owner at that time made some veiled threats as to
exposing some of her high profile clients to the media. Presto- the
interstate made a jog around the building.
Go ask Dawn or David to tell you the story over some enchiladas.
Cheers
Lee S.
Larry Kessler
wrote:
>Until a recent name change that I find inexplicable, The Confederate
>House.
>
>Others: Stables, Hungry International (only one location left), Niko
>Nikos, Avalon Drug, Star Pizza.
Mason Jar
Ninfa's, though it's not nearly as good as it once was
--
"I do not feel obliged to believe that same God who endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect, had intended for us to forgo their use." - Galileo
Aje RavenStar
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
> that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
> exist?
> The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when I
> try and think of any other Houston originals.
>
> Jennifer
The AAA Restaurant on Airline at the Farmer's Market. Hung out there with
my grandfather beginning in the early 60's, and it was already well
established.
Sam's Bar-B-Q further up on Airline. Ex-wife and her family in the Aldine
area grew up with it.
I don't know how long it's been around, but the Potatoe Patch on FM 1960
has a fairly long history, I understand.
11th Street Cafe in the Heights?
I hung out at that original empanada place on lower Westheimer back in the
late 70's. Last I heard, they had moved further out. Are they still around
in the new location?
And, of course, the original Ninfa's in the frame house on Navigation
(forget the later chain).
stephen s.
the Mason Jar there???? The whole building is gone!
FYI... There is a new Jar opening up on either Bissonette or Bellaire
just beyond Broiler Burger on the right hand side heading towards the
loop.
Dave Garrett
> Sam's Bar-B-Q further up on Airline. Ex-wife and her family in the Aldine
> area grew up with it.
My parents live near Sam's, and I've always been fond of their BBQ, but
I don't know that I'd rank it among Houston's best, like Williams.
> I don't know how long it's been around, but the Potatoe Patch on FM 1960
> has a fairly long history, I understand.
Based on the incredibly poor service (or lack thereof, to be precise) I
recently experienced there, I'm surprised they have any repeat business.
My first visit was my last one.
> I hung out at that original empanada place on lower Westheimer back in the
> late 70's. Last I heard, they had moved further out. Are they still around
> in the new location?
I really miss the original Marini's. I think they're still around in the
new location, but I'm not sure as I haven't been there in several years.
Dave
s...@merritt.houston.tx.us
> Was just in the area of Richmond and the West Loop. What happened
> to the Mason Jar there???? The whole building is gone!
Burnt up, eventually they tore it down.
sam
s...@merritt.houston.tx.us
>> I don't know how long it's been around, but the Potatoe Patch on
>> FM 1960 has a fairly long history, I understand.
> Based on the incredibly poor service (or lack thereof, to be
> precise) I recently experienced there, I'm surprised they have
> any repeat business.
While their service isn't so hot, I have found that their food
always more than makes up for it. Its like Chacho's. Sure its
loud, and the service/register-monkies have never been good, the
food dang sure is, so I keep going back.
sam
ww40
think) seems when I was a kid (1960's) it was a Kips Big boy.
Dots has won several clean resturant awards from Mr. Zindler. Seems like
everytime my wife and I have been there,the food was great! BUT! The
service has been the pits! :0( But Hey,its been there a long time!
<s...@merritt.houston.tx.us> wrote in message
news:uns0h7f...@corp.supernews.com...
vonroach
wrote:
>Guess what I meant was that I didn't understand *why* it was still there,
>being that the food was bad and the place smelled funky. Where is New
>Orleans Poboy, btw?
>
>Becky
Has it moved from So Main location?
vonroach
If you cruised in that area, you should know Matranga's in
Fulton/Irvington area near the park. Joe is dead but there was still a
restaurant there the last time I was by. Matranga's was about the
oldest Italian restaurant in Houston.
vonroach
>Justed surf-in thought I'd add one-- Dots coffee shop on 45s at woodridge (i
>think) seems when I was a kid (1960's) it was a Kips Big boy.
>Dots has won several clean resturant awards from Mr. Zindler. Seems like
>everytime my wife and I have been there,the food was great! BUT! The
>service has been the pits! :0( But Hey,its been there a long time!
There is a whole other topic. `Service'. When Alfred Kahn was still
around running his great deli, we said the food was great but it was
the graveyard of service (very old and faithful wait staff)
Jack Tyler
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:PINe9.233278$Yd.94...@twister.austin.rr.com...
> I'm racking my brains trying to think of non-chain restaurants in Houston
> that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
> exist?
> The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when I
> try and think of any other Houston originals.
>
> Jennifer
>
>
with a restaurant that is still in operation that has been operating longer
than Christie's (85 years)? It would be interesting to know which
restaurant in Houston has been in operation the longest.
Jack Tyler
Jack Sloan
Jack
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:w3Ig9.454987$q53.15...@twister.austin.rr.com...
kerr
been serving grub for 100 years.
Kerr.
"Jack Sloan" <jqs...@hal-pc.org> wrote in message
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Zen Cohen
"kerr" <rke...@houston.rr.kom> wrote in message
news:dsJg9.266040$Yd.10...@twister.austin.rr.com...
> There's got to be some sandwich place downtown near the courthouse that's
> been serving grub for 100 years.
> Kerr.
>
>
Prolly the snack bar in the old Harris County Civil Courts Bldg (the one
with the dome), which was built early in the 20th century. Yeah, I'm sure
it's had many different owners and I guess a place that serves Chiclets and
Cheez Nips as main courses shouldn't really count anyway. Other than that,
the oldest restaurant I know of around there is Rachel's. The restaurant
itself is probably c. 1950s but I'll bet the grease they fry the chicken in
is damn near 100 yrs old. ;-)
history buff
"Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>I'm racking my brains trying to think of non-chain restaurants in Houston
>that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
>exist?
>The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when
I
>try and think of any other Houston originals.
>
>Jennifer
>
>
to Houston in 1939, so they're not a Houston original dating to 1917. And
I’m not sure what’s meant by “chain restaurant.” Christie’s has had multiple
locations in
operation at the same time I think, altho their website doesn't mention them
(Bellaire @ Renwick; Main around Holman; wasn't there also one on S. Main
either around OST or outside the Loop?)
James Coney Island opened downtown in 1923 (clearly now a chain).
According to an article in the Press a couple of years ago Felix Tijerina
began operating Mexican restaurants in Houston as early as 1929 but the depression
put him out of business. He had another place by 1937 on Westheimer in River
Oaks. By the late 40s he had several locations with the name Felix Mexican
Restaurant; the one on Westheimer near Montrose opened in 1948 and wasn’t
the first with that name but it isn’t clear from the article what the name
of the one that opened in 1937 was.
He had restaurants as far away as Beaumont, so is that a chain? (A biography
of Tijerina was published last year by A&M but I haven’t seen it).
The sign on Prince’s on the SW Fwy says “Since 1934.” I was surprised to
read on their website they started in Dallas in 1929, moved to Houston in
1934, so it’s not a Houston original. And they haven’t been in continuous
operation; Prince’s went out of business in the mid-90s, reopened a couple
of years later when new investors bought the rights to the name and recipes.
According to an article in the HBJ Cleburne Cafeteria opened downtown on
Cleburne in 1941, moved to the current location in 1969. Only one location
at a time so obviously not a chain but they were closed for a while in the
last couple of years after a fire - continuous operation?
According to their website, Molina’s has been in business since 1941. With
three locations, is that a chain?
In the 60s, I ate frequently at a place on Almeda near Southmore that was
called, as best I can remember, ‘Brooks System Sandwich Shop - One’s a Meal.’
There were apparently other locations. According to a ‘Cheap Eats’ column
in the Daily Cougar a couple of years ago, One’s a Meal has been in operation
in Houston in one form or another since the 1930s. But is that a chain?
And I have no idea if it’s a Houston original.
According to the sign in front of Nielsen’s Delicatessen on Richmond, they’re
celebrating 50 years of being in business.
If a restauranteur has a viable enough format and expertise to have several
locations and keep them in business, I don’t think that should disqualify
him (or her). The most important criteria for the title “Houston’s Oldest
Restaurant” seem to me to be “Houston original” and “continuous operation.”
From what I’ve been able to dig up it looks like JCI wins this one.
But if multiple locations makes a difference, then it looks like Cleburne
Cafeteria is the winner, unless being closed by fire for a short time disqualifies
them, too.
Whatever the definitions of “chain restaurant” and “continuous operation,”
all of these are pretty impressive records of longevity in the restaurant
biz.
Jack Tyler
"history buff" <herm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uo7baaq...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Jennifer E." <jest...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
> >I'm racking my brains trying to think of non-chain restaurants in Houston
> >that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
> >exist?
> >The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when
> I
> >try and think of any other Houston originals.
> >
> >Jennifer
> >
> >
> According to their website, Christie's opened in Galveston in 1917, moved
> to Houston in 1939, so they're not a Houston original dating to 1917. And
> I'm not sure what's meant by "chain restaurant." Christie's has had
multiple
> locations in
> operation at the same time I think, altho their website doesn't mention
them
> (Bellaire @ Renwick; Main around Holman; wasn't there also one on S. Main
> either around OST or outside the Loop?)
The location on Renwick at Bellaire was a family branch.... not the same
ownership, which has only had one location operating at the same time.
They opened in Galveston in 1917.... then had an operation near Valian's
Pizza on Main across from the Shamrock... they, then moved nearer to
downtown in another location on Main where they took over a restaurant
location that was formerly a steakhouse. I can't think of the name now, but
it was near the old Southwestern Bell building at Main at Elgin. Kind of a
Spanish looking building. Then they moved to the current location at
Westheimer and Greenridge.
I forgot to ask Michael Massa.... but Massa's was run by his Dad and Uncle
Joe in the 40's.... they're one of the oldest.
Jack Tyler
Sharon Amabile
--
Sharon Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:_0Pg9.252836$eK6.7...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Jack Tyler
"Sharon Amabile" <ama...@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:620CE57E91C42E07.F484407C...@lp.airnews.net...
> You are talking about the place with the big crab out front up
high--right?
>
> --
> Sharon Amabile
> Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
No, that was farther out South main.... at Kirby. Kapan's (sp?), I think.
The place that Christie's moved into is farther into town... near Elgin.
Jack Tyler
Claire
stephen s. <m...@email.com> wrote:
>Was just in the area of Richmond and the West Loop. What happened to
>the Mason Jar there???? The whole building is gone!
>
>FYI... There is a new Jar opening up on either Bissonette or Bellaire
>just beyond Broiler Burger on the right hand side heading towards the
>loop.
>
In the old First State Bank of Bellaire Building - the new Community
National Bank Building...
--
Claire
vonroach
<market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>So, this thread has been up and down and all around... has anyone come up
>with a restaurant that is still in operation that has been operating longer
>than Christie's (85 years)? It would be interesting to know which
>restaurant in Houston has been in operation the longest.
>
>Jack Tyler
>
I reiterate, I suspect the Houston Club has.
vonroach
wrote:
>There's got to be some sandwich place downtown near the courthouse that's
>been serving grub for 100 years.
>Kerr.
Actually in the Court House and basement at City Hall - both present
an excellent excuse for dieting though the politicians and shysters
don't show much evidence of this.
vonroach
wrote:
>Even your buddy Vonroach can't seem to come up with one older.
>Jack
Haven't tried that hard. Christi's was on South Main about where the
St. Luke's Professional Towers are now when I first ate there. They
have changed location and I suspect managers since. If these are
factored in, there might be several candidates, I'd wonder about
D'Amicos in the Village on Morningside - the family has been in the
food business a long time. Then once again, I return to the Houston
Club - a very elaborate and long running restaurant and club. One's A
Meal has also been around for eons at various locations. Jame's Coney
Island and Pappas Coney Island fall into this class also. If any old
hotel survives down town, they would probably have a sandwich shop -
revamped Auditorium Hotel (whatever that new name is) comes to mind.
One could always get a sandwich and cup of coffee at Hobby airport. A
small restaurant has always been a feature at Foley's Dept. Store, it
was one of the best in town when they were located further down town
near the Rice Hotel. A den and canteen of sorts has been present on
campus of Rice Institute as far back as I can remember.
vonroach
<herm...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>If a restauranteur has a viable enough format and expertise to have several
>locations and keep them in business, I don?t think that should disqualify
>him (or her). The most important criteria for the title ?Houston?s Oldest
>Restaurant? seem to me to be ?Houston original? and ?continuous operation.?
> From what I?ve been able to dig up it looks like JCI wins this one.
JCI ? James's Coney Island ? Perhaps the one on Walker downtown -
otherwise a far-flung chain locally . I even surprisingly encountered
one opening for business in Ann Arbor, Mich. in early '60's when I
briefly worked there. On subject of restaurants moving back and forth
between Houston and Galveston, I suspect that Gaido's is older than
Christi's.
vonroach
<market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>The location on Renwick at Bellaire was a family branch.... not the same
>ownership, which has only had one location operating at the same time.
>They opened in Galveston in 1917.... then had an operation near Valian's
>Pizza on Main across from the Shamrock... they, then moved nearer to
>downtown in another location on Main where they took over a restaurant
>location that was formerly a steakhouse. I can't think of the name now, but
>it was near the old Southwestern Bell building at Main at Elgin. Kind of a
>Spanish looking building. Then they moved to the current location at
>Westheimer and Greenridge.
Perhaps Elliot's Steak House who move far out South Main before
closing? The goofy building stucco building was still around the last
time I looked . Valian's was outside Holcombe on Main; Christi's was
inside Holcombe and later became Angelo's I believe. Angelo's also
deserves consideration - they opened on Westheimer near Montrose, had
a fire, moved to South Main, had a fire, moved further out South Main,
had 2 more fires and finally burnt to the ground there even though
they were only about 1/2 block from the South Main Fire Station. They
reached their peak operating an after-hours coffee night club in the
first South Main location with drop-in `celebrity' entertainers.
vonroach
<ama...@airmail.net> wrote:
>You are talking about the place with the big crab out front up high--right?
>
>--
>Sharon Amabile
>Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
That was Gaido's (Houston), also had a large Cowboy Shrimp holding a
pistol.
Jack Tyler
"vonroach" <vonr...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:jjjboucq82r8al36h...@4ax.com...
You're right. Gaido's opened in 1911 in Galveston.
Jack Tyler
vonroach
<market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>No, that was farther out South main.... at Kirby. Kapan's (sp?), I think.
>The place that Christie's moved into is farther into town... near Elgin.
>
>Jack Tyler
Humm... the paper mache managerie was further out at Gaido's South
Main near Murworth. Kapan's at Kirby was recipe stepson of Ye Olde
College Inn. Captain Benny is recipe stepson of Bill Williams and his
`savage chicken skillet'. But I guess borrowed recipes don't count in
the `oldest' search.
Jack Tyler
According to the website, JCI opened on Rusk Street in February 1923.
Jack Tyler
Albert Nurick
> You are talking about the place with the big crab out front up high--
> right?
That was Gaido's, when they were in Houston.
--
Albert Nurick
alb...@nurick.com
www.nurick.com
history buff
Oysters Rockefeller, Oysters Bienville.
Gaido's was the place with the crab, I think. Around where Main and OST
came together. Then there was another seafood restaurant further out Main,
outside the Loop, but that was in the 70s, much too late for this discussion.
According to the Handbook of Texas article on Felix Tijerina, the restaurant
he opened on Westheimer in 1937 was named Felix Mexican restaurant, so that
company traces it's lineage to that year, but not at the present location.
According to HoT, his earlier restaurant was called Mexican Inn and operated
on Main street from 1928 to 1935.
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/TT/fti8.html
history buff
Their website says they were founded in 1894; doesn't say when dining services
were first offered. Does a private club count?
yegoo...@ev1.net
vonroach <vonr...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>On Sat, 14 Sep 2002 10:39:37 -0500, "Jack Sloan" <jqs...@hal-pc.org>
>wrote:
>One could always get a sandwich and cup of coffee at Hobby airport.
Houston Municipal Airport 'opened' in 1927 as just a landing field in a pasture.
Presumably no food service was available. Purchased by the city in 1937
and renamed Hobby in the 60s.
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/epwhe.html
vonroach
Sure if you can come up with an older one. Food Service has always
been a feature at the Houston Club. It occupies several floors at
present location, caters many events for members, as well as a dining
room for members. Also hosts parties with lavish entertainment kept
out of limelight.
Jack Tyler
Whether or not it counts, it's still interesting info.
Jack Tyler>
Sharon Amabile
restaurant and if so did it go out with the hotel or is it still in the
down town area?
--
Sharon Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:IR7i9.293818$Yd.11...@twister.austin.rr.com...
Albert Nurick
> So... when Jesse Jones had the Rice Hotel redone, did he put in a new
> restaurant and if so did it go out with the hotel or is it still in
> the down town area?
AFAIK, all of the old restaurants, including the coffee shop, the
basement cafeteria, and the Flag Room are gone. :-(
basilic
Taj Mahal on 45S between Belfort and Monroe
Dante's Italian Restaurant on 45S (never been there)
Jack Tyler
"Albert Nurick" <alb...@nurick.com> wrote in message
news:Gkmi9.299823$Yd.11...@twister.austin.rr.com...
I believe the Capitol Club (or a supposed reincarnation of it) has reopened
in the Rice.
Jack Tyler
Sharon Amabile
the 1920s.
--
Sharon Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:s%ri9.281733$eK6.8...@twister.austin.rr.com...
vonroach
<ama...@airmail.net> wrote:
>So... when Jesse Jones had the Rice Hotel redone, did he put in a new
>restaurant and if so did it go out with the hotel or is it still in the
>down town area?
>
Actually, old Jess lived in a penthouse at the Lamar Hotel which has
since been cleared away by a spectacular implosion. The Rice had a
number of excellent facilities: Roof Garden, Empire Ball Room (fine
steaks), Coffee Shop on Main Street with excellent breakfasts, and the
really excellent Rice Hotel Cafeteria in the basement (great fried
oysters among many others) which was a mainstay dining place for
downtown workers for years. The Cafeteria was a pioneer in the
utilization of a computer for control of their menu and food service.
It is sad to realize they are all gone with the wind like most of the
great old downtown hotels and even the Shamrock. The price of
`progress' I guess. Incidentally, old Jesse's Lamar had a very good
Coffee Shop - Travis and Lamar near the old downtown movie palaces,
now also gone - Metropolitan, Loew's State, Majestic, Kirby, ... Time
marches on (but not always forward).
vonroach
wrote:
>Sharon Amabile wrote:
>> So... when Jesse Jones had the Rice Hotel redone, did he put in a new
>> restaurant and if so did it go out with the hotel or is it still in
>> the down town area?
>
>AFAIK, all of the old restaurants, including the coffee shop, the
>basement cafeteria, and the Flag Room are gone. :-(
But not entirely forgotten compared to the plastic food servers now
found in down town fast food emporiums. Unfortunately, one can never
go home again.
vonroach
<market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>I believe the Capitol Club (or a supposed reincarnation of it) has reopened
>in the Rice.
Capitol Club was never in the Rice Hotel. It was a saloon for shysters
over near Fannin and Capital, close to law office of Percy Foreman and
associates. It was a pretty sleazy place, including the walk-down
below. A few blocks and maybe one grade above the Congress Ave. Dives.
On a par with Aragon Ballroom, Ambassador Taprooms, Cotton Club, and
Southern Dinner Club (a fine place for entertainment - not food)
Albert Nurick
Actually, the Old Capitol Club *was* in the Rice Hotel, across the
hall from the entrance to the Flag Room, behind a nondescript door.
It was, as you describe, a hangout for judges and attorneys. My
father, who owned the jewelry store in the Rice, was a member.
(I spent much time in my youth in that hotel; Dad's store was the
family business, and Mom and I would help out around the holiday
season, when business would be hectic.)
As a boy, I'd go in with him occasionally and play chess against
the attorneys. Beat 'em a few times, which raised some eyebrows,
and made Dad very proud. I remember the clubby main room, with
the highback maroon leather chairs and banquettes, and the large
bar with a liquor locker for each member's bottles.
An interesting fact about the Old Capitol club is that it was for
Men Only; women were not allowed inside. One time Dad took a break
from work during the afternoon, and Mom was minding the store.
She needed him, and walked across the lobby to the Old Capitol. She
was politely but firmly told that women were not permitted inside.
She had to send me, her then 10-year-old son, to retrieve Dad. The
doorman didn't blink as I walked in, but greeted me like an old
friend.
An icon of a bygone time.
Sharon Amabile
(Johnston,Marguerite, "Houston: The Unknown City, 1836-1946," (College
Station:Texas A&M Press, 1991), page 141.)
In 1917 to Judge and Mrs. James A. Elkins who had recently moved to Houston
from Huntsville, Jesse Jones said "Don't buy a house! You'll be tying up
capital that you'll never get to use. Live here at the Rice as I do."
(Johnston, page 198.)
Jesse Jones bought the Rice Hotel in 1911 and he had it torn down and
rebuilt in 1912-1913. He had it expanded and improved {spelled made more
elaborate} in 1925-26 and its "four restaurants ranged from a men's grill {I
guess the one to which Albert Nurick referred} to a palm room and a dining
hall. It had a great banquet hall and a concert room. " (Johnston, page
181)
Of the Lamar and Jesse Jones...................
It seems that Suite 8F was a group of meeting rooms from which Jones and
others like George and Herman Brown, Gus Wortham, Jim Abercrombie and Oscar
Holcombe conducted city politics and big business deals during the 1930s and
40s. I am thinking that it was from there that the group was able to keep
bank failure from happening here in the depths of the Great Depression.
However it seems that other than occasionally staying at the Lamar, Jones
did not actually live there until after he left the FDR administration which
would have been about the last 10 years or so of his life. The Rice was his
offical home for far longer than the Lamar.
--
Sharon Boring Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"vonroach" <vonr...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:obulou45a0o1bh2or...@4ax.com...
vonroach
<ama...@airmail.net> wrote:
>It seems that Suite 8F was a group of meeting rooms from which Jones and
>others like George and Herman Brown, Gus Wortham, Jim Abercrombie and Oscar
>Holcombe conducted city politics and big business deals during the 1930s and
>40s. I am thinking that it was from there that the group was able to keep
>bank failure from happening here in the depths of the Great Depression.
>However it seems that other than occasionally staying at the Lamar, Jones
>did not actually live there until after he left the FDR administration which
>would have been about the last 10 years or so of his life. The Rice was his
>offical home for far longer than the Lamar.
You are obviously much older than I. I just wandered into town about
65 years ago. Jesse lived at the Lamar in this period (when not in
Washington). He was a `stealth' Houstonian similar to Howard Hughes.
Seldom seen in public. I recall the afternoon that he was present to
turn the first shovel of dirt in the construction of the Jesse Jones
Library at the Texas Medical Center. In contrast, the Browns, Wortham,
Abercrombie, especially Holcombe, Cullen, McCarthy, Jim West, Percy
Foreman, Hofheintz (elder), et al were frequently seen here and
there and all around. I recall noting Hugh Roy Cullen wandering in to
James Coney Island with the rest of the crowd one noon for a lunch of
hot dogs and pop. Don't believe I ever caught sight of Judge Elkins or
ever knew why a banker was called Judge.
The old Capitol Bar, saloon or what ever one called it was 2 or 3
blocks from the Rice on Capitol Ave. There was a walk-down partially
private area in the basement. The `Capitol Club' must have been
entirely different.
Jack Tyler
Suite 8F was his main connection to the Lamar Hotel.
Jack Tyler
Albert Nurick
> The old Capitol Bar, saloon or what ever one called it was 2 or 3
> blocks from the Rice on Capitol Ave. There was a walk-down partially
> private area in the basement. The `Capitol Club' must have been
> entirely different.
Could be. The Old Capitol Club was a private club. Houston did
not have liquor by-the-drink when it opened.
Sharon Amabile
1950s. However, I have studied the history of the area at greater length
and depth than most AND my own memories of the last 40+ years in the area
along with those of people with whom I have talked have shown a Houston
few who live here now know.
--
Sharon Boring Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
Sharon Amabile
have put my hands has shown that his primary residence was at the
Rice--another hotel of his.
vonroach
<ama...@airmail.net> wrote:
>I have no idea of how old you are. I have only lived here since the late
>1950s. However, I have studied the history of the area at greater length
>and depth than most AND my own memories of the last 40+ years in the area
>along with those of people with whom I have talked have shown a Houston
>few who live here now know.
How sad but true. A Houston that few can even imagine. All of the
gentlemen you mentioned now reside in small boxes and both of the
hotels are only memories.
The last `no ladies allowed' establishment that I recall was in
Foley's Dept. Store on Main at Lamar in 50's.
Sharon Amabile
had vestiges of the "Old Boys' ONLY" feeling to it.
--
Sharon Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
>
Jay P Francis
list from an old article of the oldest restaurants in Houston, many of which
are no more. A good document though.
Shirley
> I'm racking my brains trying to think of non-chain restaurants in Houston
> that have been around for a long time, like 25-30 years or more. Do many
> exist?
> The first one that popped into my head was Felix but I'm at a loss when I
> try and think of any other Houston originals.
>
> Jennifer
I have really enjoyed reading this thread as it has brought back a lot
of memories. I know it is not the topic of *this* thread but a couple
of restaurants that I have great memories of which are no longer open
are Sonny Looks and The Red Lion. I loved Red Lion out near the south
main area. I haven't lived in Houston since 1987 and I wonder what
happened to Red Lion. They had such good food and the atmosphere was
wonderful. Yummmmm great prime rib and Yorshire pudding.
There was also a great cajun restaurant on the outskirts of the
Montrose area, I think it was called The Gumbo King...a little hole in
the wall but great food. And one more was the one on Westheimer that
was in a tree. I don't remember the name of it but it was really
located in a huge tree; trying to get to your table was half of the
fun. Sorry fo the segue
Shirley in Waco
history buff
SiloHi...@msn.com (Shirley) wrote:
And one more was the one on Westheimer that
>was in a tree. I don't remember the name of it but it was really
>located in a huge tree; trying to get to your table was half of the
>fun. Sorry fo the segue
>
>Shirley in Waco
Los Troncos? or just The Treehouse or The Treehouse Restaurant?
Right next to it (or perhaps across the street) was a coffee house that I
was told was the center of Houston's beat community in the 50s!
Slightly OT (but we've mentioned Galveston restaurants in this thread):
does anybody know anything about the Busy Bee Cafe in Pearland? I passed
thru recently for the first time in many, many years, and noticed this restaurant
at the intersection of FM 518 and TX 35; the building is not old, but I think
the sign said "Serving good food since 1935." (But then again, I need new
glasses).
Aje RavenStar
"Jay P Francis" <jaypf...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020921103753...@mb-ml.aol.com...
Would it be possible to get a picture of this, or photocopy to scan in, to
put up somewhere so rest of us could check it out and possibly have our
memories jogged?
Jack Tyler
> On Sat, 14 Sep 2002 22:48:26 GMT, "Jack Tyler"
> <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
From a 1995 article in the Chronicle:
ONE by one, most of Houston's longstanding and even legendary restaurants
have served their last meals. Over the years, they have been flattened by
wrecking balls, lost over leases or died with their owners. Make way for the
new.
Only a handful of dining establishments that opened a half-century ago or
more still remain. How have these few endured in a city that so often seeks
novelty over nostalgia?
There's something special about an old restaurant, a good one. You can
almost feel all the meals gone by, the birthdays, the anniversaries that
have been celebrated in these venerable rooms.
Maybe the owner started the restaurant to earn a living, but making money
isn't nearly enough to keep a restaurant going for 50 years. It's too much
hard, hard work.
There's love involved. It greets you and seats you. It takes your order with
a joke or a smile. It cooks you a meal you've become attached to, maybe
would even make a pilgrimage for.
The Chronicle took a look at some of the restaurants that have survived more
than a half-century, taking a look at how they've evolved over the years and
the niche they carved for themselves.
Mostly they aren't fancy. They are the farthest thing from trendy. But they
have what it takes to make the long haul. In more cases than not, that
something is a family or owner who really cares.
Pig Stand
<snip>
Manager, Wavra has brought new life to a family restaurant that evolved from
one of the country's first drive-ins. When the Pig Stand opened on
Washington in 1924, carhops served its trademark Pig Sandwiches from a small
stand, like a hot dog stand. Later, it was expanded, closed in and curb
service ended. The Pig Sandwich, though, remains on the menu, served with
coleslaw or without. Fountain service and family-style food round out the
menu.
The Pig Stand was once a national chain, one of the first, with hundreds of
stores in many states. It even had a location in Hollywood at Sunset and
Vine. It claims many innovations as its own: carhops, drive-through windows,
onion rings and Texas toast.
One of the first neon signs, signed by the inventor of neon, is a prized
possession of Richard Hailey, who now owns the eight remaining Pig Stands.
The sign, of course, is shaped like a pig with Pig Sandwich lettered across
its loins.
<snip>
There are two locations in Houston, the other being on Long Point. Three are
in San Antonio and three in Beaumont.
<snip>.
Kaphan's
<snip>
Kaphan's, a somewhat upscale restaurant that was once more formal than it is
today, was the epitome of the Gulf Coast seafood restaurant throughout its
heyday in the '60s and '70s. Say "lump crabmeat" and Kaphan's comes to mind.
Kaphan's has been a gathering place for native Houstonians and others for
generations. Patrons know their waiters and mostly know each other, and
that's a comfort, too.
For as long as they've been coming, they have learned to expect consistency.
They know they'll be welcomed by Tomac or manager George Cosakis, seated at
the same table by waiters in black jackets from an era gone by. They know
within minutes their complimentary garlic toast and crab balls will arrive.
If they don't feel like ordering, the staff knows what they like. Or, the
cook will prepare something just for them. If they ask for a salad dressing
recipe, they get sent home with a pint from the kitchen. One customer brings
his own catch to be prepared for parties he hosts at the restaurant.
The regulars may venture out to try the other, trendier spots (and recommend
the better ones for Tomac to try), but they come back to the quiet
restaurant that makes them feel like they've come home.
Kaphan's was started by a Galveston baseball player named Eli Kaphan. After
operating in several other locations, he opened an oyster shack in the
present location in 1927. In 1951, the "new" building, with its landmark red
sign and Astrodome-scale parking lot, was built.
"It was at the end of the trolley, where it turned around to go back to
town," Tomac said. "It was a stop-off on the way to Richmond."
After Kaphan's death, two partners took over in 1943, and Tomac joined them
in 1960. The other two partners died in the '70s and '80s.
"And I'm still here," Tomac said in an accent that has traces of his
Croatian heritage.
So is Walter "Panama" Johnson, who first waited tables at Kaphan's in 1951.
He's been there on and off ever since, a tall man of nearly 70 who carries
himself with dignity.
<snip>
Allbritton's
<snip>
Allbritton's draws a loyal crowd, many of whom remember eating there as far
back as 1938 when the cafeteria opened. Fresh vegetables and the same recipe
for chicken and dumplings keeps them coming back.
The cafeteria is open every day from 10:45 a.m. until 8 p.m.
"Unless Dad decides we can close," Booth said. "Then we put up
a sign a few days ahead to warn people."
Both Sonny and Ollie work in the cafeteria every day. And have no desire to
retire, said Sonny, 78.
"I think it kills people," he said.
Nor would he require any of his longtime employees to retire.
"Most of them stay until they die,"he said. "All the old-time customers are
dying off, too. That sounds bad, but it's natural. Just like eatin'."
Allbritton's father got into the food business in 1907 with a horse-drawn
wagon from which he sold hot dogs, fried fish and hamburgers. A photo of the
wagon hangs over the cash register.
Allbritton followed his father because he believed in his wisdom: that a
cash business was a good business. He worked in his father's later
restaurants , killing chickens, keeping ice on the ice cream, cleaning up.
At one time Allbritton and his brother had a chain of cafeterias, but when
his nephew was murdered at one of the locations, his brother got out of the
business. Now, the original location is the only one.
He attributes the longevity of the restaurant to hard work and keeping on
top of things. He works the line at the cafeteria daily, slicing roast beef
for friends and customers.
<snip>
Felix Restaurant
Four generations of Houstonians have cut their teeth on Mexican food at
Felix. For many, its brightly colored floor tiles and flower-painted pine
chairs define Mexico just as the chili con queso and cheese enchiladas
epitomize Tex-Mex.
And it's Tex-Mex that some Texans have been known to go to some length to
get. New York columnist Linda Ellerbee once had chili con queso Federal
Expressed to New York for her son's birthday. Others just make sure they
visit once or twice a week.
George Harris has been sitting at the same table by the same arched window
for the 47 years Felix has been at Montrose and Westheimer. Before that he
ate at the first location down the street. Before that, he ate at the first
restaurant the Felix family opened in 1928 across from the old Humble
Building downtown. That was the one that went under in the Depression.
Harris, owner of Harris Moving and Storage, first ate there with his family,
growing up. Then he brought his own children. His son Joe Harris now brings
his two children.
They all eat under the watchful eye of waiter Frank Barrera, who has worked
for the Felix family for 50 years. Barrera's loyal customers sent flowers
and money when he was in the hospital recently.
The restaurant was started by Felix and Janie Tijerina, and is now managed
by Felix Jr. His father died in 1965; his mother is quite ill. His sister,
also Janie, used to work in the restaurant but is now in law school.
<snip>
Geneva Harper, a semiretired cashier who has been with the restaurant more
than 50 years, said the only big change has been the price.
"When I first started, the Felix Mexican Dinner was 50 cents," she said.
"Now, it's $4.95."
Leo's
When a restaurant picks up and moves, lock, stock and salsa, is it a new
place? Not if it's Leo's.
The restaurant was on South Shepherd from 1942 to 1993, when it moved to
Washington Avenue because the lease ran out.
All the famous photos of Leo Reynosa and his ride with Pancho Villa are
enshrined in the entryway of the new location. The back wall is a memorial
to ZZ Top, and Red Adair memorabilia has a room of its own.
Longtime customers say the cheese enchiladas haven't been altered. It's
business as usual under the direction of the Reynosa family, now in its
second generation with the restaurant.
The Reynosas and their relatives manage the place, fix things that break,
wait tables, and man the cash register. The recipes are those developed by
Leo Reynosa and his wife, Elouise, who died 10 years ago. Aurelio or "Leo"
died last month at 96.
The recipes survive because about 10 years ago, before his mother died,
Felix asked her to measure the ingredients for her well-loved recipes.
"Before that, she'd say a handful of this, a little of that," he said. Now
the recipes are recorded.
Felix now manages the restaurant. His father worked until ill health forced
him to retire a few years back. Longtime customer Herb Jamison remembers the
elder Reynosa setting his walker aside and grabbing a bus cart to use as a
walker so he could keep working.
Felix Reynosa said his goal is to try to keep the place going another 50
years, like it was on Shepherd.
Brenner's
<note: This article was written in 1995... I believe they shut down a
couple of weeks ago (Jack Tyler).
The site of the first Brenner's, which opened in 1936, now lies underneath
the Interstate 10 feeder. But on the same plot of ground, set back from said
feeder, the restaurant was rebuilt in the late '40s. If it looks like an old
house, it was built to look homey, with cypress paneling and a garden.
This well-known steakhouse began life as a cafe selling blueplate specials
to farmers in an area that was right on the edge of the Katy prairie. When
the Addicks Dam was built in the '40s, the construction workers kept
business booming.
It grew and evolved, becoming well-known for its excellent Kansas and Iowa
steaks. In recent years, the restaurant has served more seafood.
The restaurant was opened by Herman and Lorene Brenner. Lorene Brenner is no
longer active in the restaurant. She and her daughter Julia are still
part-owners.
<snip>
Molina's
From 1941 to 1977, the original Molina's served Mexican food on South Main.
Raul Molina Sr. opened the restaurant, serving Tex-Mex food. The four
locations open today are under management of his son, Raul Molina Jr.
His family, including his wife and children, all work in the restaurant.
"We are into the third generation," Raul Molina Jr. said.
"And we have customers in the fourth generation."
<snip>
One's A Meal
For 17 years, Harithos Bibas and his brother Gregory have owned the One's A
Meal on West Gray. They bought this old Houston establishment with the idea
of turning it into a New York City-style diner like the ones they had known
back home.
Fortunately, said Harithos Bibas, the realty company holding the lease
talked the brothers out of changing something that had been relatively
unchanged since it opened in 1920.
"They made me understand it was like the Acropolis in Athens," Bibas said in
a still-pronounced Greek accent.
,snip>
At one time, there were 15 One's A Meal locations in Houston, when the chain
was operated by Brooks System Sandwiches. When the Bibas brothers took over,
they kept only the main location. Eight years ago, they opened a second
location of their own on Memorial.
<snip>
Jack Tyler
Jack Tyler
"vonroach" <vonr...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:7bkbous96m8lm8569...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 14 Sep 2002 22:48:26 GMT, "Jack Tyler"
> <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
San Jacinto Inn (from a 1988 Houston Chronicle article):
<snip>
The San Jacinto Inn evolved from a small lunch counter founded in 1916 by
Jack and Bertha Sanders near the Lynchburg Ferry landing on the Houston Ship
Channel. The couple caught the seafood they served, baked their own biscuits
and made the preserves they served with them.
As the popularity of the restaurant grew, the owners moved their place to
its present location about 1917. It was housed in an old dance hall near the
San Jacinto Park.
In 1926, fire destroyed the original structure. The replacement withstood
the ravages of time and hurricanes until 1977, when land subsidence forced
its demolition.
The new structure that rose about 100 yards from the site of the old place
was such a faithful reproduction of the destroyed building that many
customers believed the old place had been spruced up by a paint job.
Jack Tyler
Jack Tyler
RE: San Jacinto Inn
Historic San Jacinto Inn, one of the oldest restaurants in the Houston area,
is closing its doors after 70 years.
J. Frank Bobo, for 19 years manager of the famous seafood and chicken house
that stands opposite the Battleship Texas at San Jacinto Battleground in
eastern Harris County, said Thursday that Sunday will be the last day of
operation.
"We wanted to let our old customers know, so they could come down, if they
wish, for one last time," Bobo said.
The decision to close the restaurant, which has been losing money for about
two years, came two weeks ago, Bobo said.
Bobo gave the bad news to about 35 employees after the restaurant closed
Thursday night.
It is possible that the inn will reopen if the local economy revives, he
said.
In the meantime, he said, the owners are unable to sustain continuing heavy
losses.
During the past two years, Bobo said, the restaurant has done only about a
third of the business that it enjoyed during its peak years, from 1970 to
1980.
He attributed the red ink to a combination of factors: the poor state of the
local economy, the distance of the res taurant from the city, the changing
eating habits of the dining public and the proliferation of restaurants on
Houston's affluent west side.
"People are more diet conscious, eating lighter foods than in the old days,"
Bobo said.
In truth the inn has been a relic of and a monument to the era of
gourmandising of the 19th and early 20th centuries, a period when restaurant
patrons demanded multicourse meals of rich food and plenty of it.
The San Jacinto Inn evolved from a small lunch counter founded in 1916 by
Jack and Bertha Sanders near the Lynchburg Ferry landing on the Houston Ship
Channel.
The couple caught the seafood they served, baked their own biscuits and made
the preserves they served with them.
As the popularity of the restaurant grew, the owners moved their place to
its present location about 1917. It was housed in an old dance hall near the
San Jacinto Park.
Dining at the inn became a tradition in many Houston families. During the
1930s and early 1940s, a dance orchestra performed at the restaurant. During
World War II, however, the dance floor and the band area were closed to
accommodate additional tables.
During the 1930s, Jack and Bertha Sanders were divorced. Jack Sanders
thereafter opened the Pier 21 restau rant in Houston, and Bertha Sanders
continued to run the inn until her death.
Bertha Sanders' niece, Gladys Poe, operated the inn until 1967. In that
year, the present owners, the Battleground Corp., headed by John T. Jones
Jr. and Bobo, acquired the restaurant.
In 1926, fire destroyed the original structure. The replacement withstood
the ravages of time and hurricanes until 1977, when land subsidence in the
area compelled its demolition.
The new structure that rose about 100 yards from the site of the old place
was such a faithful reproduction of the destroyed building that many
customers believed the old place had been spruced up by a paint job.
From its earliest days, San Jacinto Inn has followed an unusual serving
policy: Everyone gets the same thing, and all of it that he wants.
(Jack Tyler)
>
>
Albert Nurick
> I have really enjoyed reading this thread as it has brought back a lot
> of memories. I know it is not the topic of *this* thread but a couple
> of restaurants that I have great memories of which are no longer open
> are Sonny Looks and The Red Lion. I loved Red Lion out near the south
> main area. I haven't lived in Houston since 1987 and I wonder what
> happened to Red Lion. They had such good food and the atmosphere was
> wonderful. Yummmmm great prime rib and Yorshire pudding.
The building is gone, alas. George Crowder (?) was an old friend of my
father's; we went there often. A particularly memorable time was when
we took my then 88-year-old great aunt; George flirted with her the
whole meal, and from that point on, she referred to him as "That
Terrible Man", but with a twinkle in her eye.
> There was also a great cajun restaurant on the outskirts of the
> Montrose area, I think it was called The Gumbo King...a little hole in
> the wall but great food. And one more was the one on Westheimer that
> was in a tree. I don't remember the name of it but it was really
> located in a huge tree; trying to get to your table was half of the
> fun. Sorry fo the segue
Los Troncos! Another spot I remember visiting with my parents. The
coolest restaurant in the world for a small boy. It to is gone.
Albert Nurick
We drove by Brenner's yesterday, and the sign said "Closed. Temp", with a
phone number for reservations. I'm assuming that this means the closure
is only temporary.
Jack Tyler
>
> "Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:Lelj9.322651$Yd.12...@twister.austin.rr.com...
> >
> > "vonroach" <vonr...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:7bkbous96m8lm8569...@4ax.com...
> > > On Sat, 14 Sep 2002 22:48:26 GMT, "Jack Tyler"
> > > <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote:
> >
I doubt that many believed that date..
Jack
Sharon Amabile
--
Sharon Boring Amabile
Wife, mother, perpetual student and frequent volunteer
"Jack Tyler" <market...@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:1blj9.322617$Yd.12...@twister.austin.rr.com...