Bill Bennett's Grill At 1512 Pierce St.

[Michelle C]

When I was a teen my mom, dad and I would sometimes go to Bill Bennett's grill to eat. One night I was with dad as we were coming back from Galveston, it was late about midnight when we stopped in for some breakfast. I was amazed at the crowd that was there that time of night. Dad said it would be crowded like that just about all night, especially on weekends. Bill Bennett's was located near St joseph hospital downtown. Hopefully someone besides myself remembers it.

[Subdude]

I had never heard of it but a quick google shows:

 

Bill Bennett’s Grill. Thanks to fellow St. Thomas High School Class of 1956 classmate A.J. Garney for opening the memory door on this favorite haunt. Wow! How could I have forgotten. In our trip up South Main, we turn right on Pierce and head to LaBranch. At LaBranch near St. Joseph Hospital, we turn right again and take another right at Jefferson (now St. Joseph Parkway) and there it is on the left: Bill Bennett’s Grill. As A.J. so fondly recalls, Bill Bennett’s served these great homemade all-you-can-eat biscuits and practically everything else that could be grilled or fried – and at the modest prices we could all afford as high school guys out there on the original rock-n-roll boogie trail. I’m not sure when Bill Bennett’s closed, but it came down when TXDOT acted to use that space for that section of the downtown freeway we now call the Pierce Elevator.

 

 

http://bill37mccurdy.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/gone-but-not-forgotten-houston-eateries/

 

 

[FilioScotia]

Am I the only one here who remembers Bill Bennett's Steakhouse in the Sky?  On the top floor of the St. Joseph's Professional Building on Pierce?  Anybody know why it didn't succeed?

[acamarillo]

We had out high school band banquet there one year.  Mid 70s.  It was very nice and as far as I can remember the food was good.  

[Michelle C]

Quote "Bill Bennett’s Grill. Thanks to fellow St. Thomas High School Class of 1956 classmate A.J. Garney for opening the memory door on this favorite haunt. Wow! How could I have forgotten. In our trip up South Main, we turn right on Pierce and head to LaBranch. At LaBranch near St. Joseph Hospital, we turn right again and take another right at Jefferson (now St. Joseph Parkway) and there it is on the left: Bill Bennett’s Grill. As A.J. so fondly recalls, Bill Bennett’s served these great homemade all-you-can-eat biscuits and practically everything else that could be grilled or fried – and at the modest prices we could all afford as high school guys out there on the original rock-n-roll boogie trail. I’m not sure when Bill Bennett’s closed, but it came down when TXDOT acted to use that space for that section of the downtown freeway we now call the Pierce Elevator."
 
Those directions are incorrect. Bill Bennett's sat between Pierce and Gray. The Pierce elevated now sits right on top of where Bill Bennett's used to be. St Joseph Parkway used to be Calhoun street. Mecom oil exploration was across the street from Bennett's on gray street. Both Mecom and Bill Bennett's would have been about the 1500 block.

[Bobaustin]

I used to live across from the Bennetts on Locke Lane near Kirby and my sister Lynne worked at both Bill Bennetts grill and the Steakhouse in the Sky. You might not know but Bill Bennett was president of The Texas Restaurant Association for many years and was an owner of the St Josephs Profesional Building. I was friends with 2 of their kids Mark and Bob. I have eaten at both places many times but their catered parties were a block sized event that would go on through the wee hours in the morning and in the summer he would also be ready for those that could make it, with some breakfast. Bill was an amazing pool player. He also had an uncanny ability to remember names.He would meet you once and then years later come up and call you by name. That was my Dad's recolection. I was in 2nd and 3rd grade but Mr. Bennett made a lasting impression even on me. I believe he also had an interest in the Texas Oil Men's club (not sure of spelling or fact) and I know he was always talking about other Bill Bennett Grills. Who knows he might well have been thinking about a first steakhouse franchise. Didn't have many franchises back then but he was a forward thinker. You were a great memory Bill !

[akagg]

I remember Bill Bennett's Grill from the early '60s when I often stopped for breakfast on my way to work at Gregory-Geizendanner Advertising on Louisiana.

 

Before he opened the Grill downtown, if memory serves me well, Bill Bennett operated the tiny (and original) In-And-Out Diner on Telephone Road in the mid-'50s. The hamburgers, fries and a cold Coke set me back 40 cents, and I'd pay a lot more today to repeat that experience!