Historic Houston Restaurants

[Specwriter]

 

"I just called the Jack In The Box corporate office, and they gave out a list of former locations."

 

I can think of one more but I don't know the store number: in Kemah on State Highway 146, south of the bridge and just north of the intersection with FM 2094. It is now a boat dealership.

I think the structure on El Camino Real just north of NASA Road 1 must have been a JIB at one time too. It has been a succession of grungy looking eateries since and may be abandoned now.

 

 

 

[ArchMemoH]

I listed these locations

[msteele6]

Interesting to see the list of former Jack in the Boxes. It confirms for me what I had always thought. the Jack in the Box on the corner of South Park (now Martin Luther King) and Browncroft was the first one in Houston.

 

It was right across from Palms Center and adjacent to the old Montgomery Wards store.

 

Reading through this old topic brings to mind a few I remember as a kid (and not so much). The first one was Thornhills cafeteria. I remember at least two of them, one at Palm Center and one in a little center not far from Gulfgate, across from Woodridge Baptist Church. They had a conveyor belt that took the dirty dishes back to the dishwasher when you finished your meal. We would put our tray on the belt and then run along to the various openings to check on their progress. The second one is the Hamburgers by Gourmet, I can still taste the burgers I got from that place, that's the one I still really miss. I used to patronize at least three of them at various times, mostly the one on Kirby but also the one next to Saint Thomas. Finally, someone mentioned the Beef and Bun on Fuqua and wondered if it was still open, I am glad to report that they are still open and I was there as late as last week, still great BBQ.

Edited March 3, 2015 by msteele6

[msteele6]

ArchMemoH,

 

i don't see the one at Bellfort @ Nunn, maybe the #626? I still go past that location occassionally and the building is still there, although the last time I went by there seemed to be some activity.

[msteele6]

No, 636 is 6901 Bellfort @ Wayside, near the old bowling alley.

Edited March 3, 2015 by msteele6

[msteele6]

 

I just called the Jack In The Box corporate office, and they gave out a list of former locations.

 

 

 

601) 5850 King @ Browncroft; razed to Chevron

602) 4801 Almeda @ Arbor; remodeled Fitch Florist

603) 8203 Long Point @ Hillendahl; a restaraunt

605) 1902 North Main @ Hogan; razed to Dollar$ & Deal$

607) 3400 Old Spanish Trail @ Scott; razed to Texaco

608) 2703 Hillcroft @ Meadowglen; razed and replaced with 3625

610) 501 West Southmore @ Miami; remodeled Taqueria Sol de Jacisco

611) 11041 Chimney Rock @ West Bellfort; razed to Auto Zone

612) 1204 Spencer @ Perez; razed to Laredo National Bank, BBVA Compass Bank

613) 5302 Airline @ Tidwell; razed to a strip center

614) 12310 Kingsride @ Gessner; remodeled Papa Joe's BBQ, razed to Starbucks

616) 4302 Westheimer @ Midlane; razed to Bo Concept

617) 9310 Stella Link @ South Loop West; razed to parking lot of Discount Tire Company

619) 6109 Kirby @ Rice; remodeled Village Flowery/River Oaks Plant House

622) 2602 Shepherd @ Westheimer; razed to strip center

623) 1041 Uvalde @ East Freeway; Lone Star Title Loans

626) ?

628) 902 Decker @ West Texas; Pineapple Express

636) 6901 Bellfort @ Wayside; was Cash Money Tax Services, empty

638) 2203 Strawberry @ Cherry Brook; Star Old Fashioned Hamburgers & Shrimp Galley

639) 703 11st Street @ Stagg; Baskin Robbins

642) 14500 Memorial @ Dairy Ashford; was General Joe's Chopstix, razed to Burger King

643) 18001 El Camino Real @ Nasa; was Fish & Chicken, Daddio'z Pizza

648) 5145 Gulfway @ Dryen; was Yvonne's Mexican Imports, was G & Y Auto Sales, M & B Auto Sales

650) 1100 Jefferson @ San Jacinto; razed to Sacred Heart School

652) 4302 Lockwood @ Cavalcade; razed to Auto Zone

655) 10450 Fuqua @ Behmer; razed to Domino's Pizza

656) 11602 Bellaire @ Belle Park; was Belle Park Auto Sales; razed to strip center

657) 1406 Nederland @ 14th Street; remodeled Cook's Nursery

661) 109 Highway 6 @ Katy Freeway; razed to the Highway 6 lanes

662) 3333 Red Bluff @ Orel; Lone Star Title Loans

682) 2200 Navarro @ Park; Texas Seafood

688) 1136 Dallas @ West Davis; empty

699) 20363 Katy Freeway; razed to NTB

3604) 1603 West Main @ Gulf Freeway; Title Max

3607) 801 Main Street @ Rusk; inside a building

3610) 5602 Richmond @ Chimney Rock; Title Max

3611) 5104 Kirby @ Westpark; remodeled for Amazon Grill

3637) 5850 Eastex Freeway @ Dowlen; remodeled Mattress Firm

3649) 15802 Northwest Freeway @ Senate; razed for the Northwest Freeway lanes

3651) 7203 East Freeway @ Highway 62; empty

3900) 17203 East Freeway @ Magnolia; Franklin Motors

3902) 2501 Clinton @ Galena Manor; was Boston Seafood Steakhouse, Texas Star BBQ

3916) 601 Highway 146 @ 7th Street; Nautic

3926) 160 Main @ Allen/Raider; empty

3996) ?

4703) ?

4712) 2395 Texas @ Glynn; empty

 

 

[msteele6]

ArchMemoH,

 

I see what happened, the list they gave you shows #636 to be 6901 Bellfort @ Wayside, actually 6901 Bellfort is at Nunn street (at least according to MapQuest), just across the railroad tracks from Wayside.

 

I don't really remember the one at Wayside, even though I used to go that way quite a bit, was there one there as well?

 

 

[ArchMemoH]

I just found a recently closed location

 

 

629) 3401 Ella @ Kempwood

[geekgirlolivia]

I just found a recently closed location

 

 

629) 3401 Ella @ Kempwood

 

That location is right in front of my high school. It is on Ella @ 34th. Great memories!

[geekgirlolivia]

There was a little white building on Washington, not too far from the Salvation Army. It had the BEST burgers! I remember frequenting it in the early 80s. A little old lady was the cook. There was no where to sit inside. I think they had one or two of those concrete patio tables outside. I am sure that placed closed because she passed away. I always wondered what it was called. 

[geekgirlolivia]

"SINGLEPORSALINGS"

I dare you to say that 5 times really fast.

Ummm, I'm putting up SQUARE PAN PIZZA here. I just talked about it in another thread, but it just popped into my mind. One of the absolute BEST pizza places ever. It was on the NW side of town in a strip mall, on 290 and 34th I think.

Square Pan Pizza in NW Mall was the best!!!!

[brhaltx]

You know what Mexican restaurant I miss?  Las Alamedas on the Katy Freeway.  Going there always seemed like a special occasion.

 

   Amalia's.  She had 4 locations at one time; one near the Highway 6/Longenbaugh place someone else mentioned...

 

   The last one was very close to where I live now; Grant and Louetta.  Unfortunately, it's long closed, and "replaced" by a place I'll never go into.

[Specwriter]

I listed these locations

 

Yes, # 643 and # 3916. My bad.

 

I'm not sure why the one in Kemah closed. It always seemed to have enough business. There was a stretch of time in the early '00s when I was putting in some very late hours at a job in the area and this was the only place open after 11:00pm.

[Specwriter]

Specwriter, you got a list of former fast food locations?

 

Sorry, no. I think it was fortunate that JIB had one you were able to get. Just yesterday I thought about all the McDonalds (existing and no longer here) there must be in Harris County alone! Same with Burger King.

 

I'm sure I could answer my own question just by driving down North Shepherd, but is the Jack-in-the-Box at Shepherd and Donovan still there? My cousin attended St. Pius X high school in the mid-1960's. Sometimes my sister and I would ride along with our aunt when she went to pick up her daughter from school and we would often use the drive through to get shakes and fries on the way home.

[IronTiger]

Sorry, no. I think it was fortunate that JIB had one you were able to get. Just yesterday I thought about all the McDonalds (existing and no longer here) there must be in Harris County alone! Same with Burger King.

 

I'm sure I could answer my own question just by driving down North Shepherd, but is the Jack-in-the-Box at Shepherd and Donovan still there? My cousin attended St. Pius X high school in the mid-1960's. Sometimes my sister and I would ride along with our aunt when she went to pick up her daughter from school and we would often use the drive through to get shakes and fries on the way home.

Well, that's what I'm trying to do, and I do have the Burger King list updated with old Houston locations (at least late-1990s era).

 

Current link, to be closed soon

New link if old link doesn't work

[ArchMemoH]

And speaking, you know the Jack in the Box at 9310 Stella link @ south loop?

Did you see the DTC lady breaking the jack window with a tire, fire and gun?

Get it, an explosion to 9310 Stella link! Lol!

Discount tire company is at 9316 Stella link, she now nailed the parking lot as 9312, at lease 9314 in honor of the Marines commercial channel, in which will be home of these old time commercials.

See them on smile of a child Houston 39:5

[msteele6]

Not really a restaurant but rather a cafeteria but I remember a chain of cafeterias called Thornhill's. The one I went to most often was at Palm Center, but as I recall, there was also one near Gulfgate on Winkler near the corner of Woodridge.

 

The thing I most remember was their conveyor belt. It was set up in such a way that you put your tray with the dirty dishes on it and the conveyor belt took those dishes back to the dish washing area thus eliminating the need for people to pick up the dirty dishes and carry them back to the washing area. There were several openings along the length of the mostly enclosed conveyor which served the function of stations in which you could deposit your dishes.

 

Can't remember anything about the food.

[ArchMemoH]

Would Miss Charity open her diner at the former Jack in the Box at 6901 Bellfort, she would razed that and make the address 6907 Bellfort.

 

 

1-888-450-1111

[mkultra25]

Add Roznovsky's to the list. They've been closed since Ron Roznovsky passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in February, and I don't think anyone really expected them to reopen, but the Chron is reporting that Braun Enterprises has purchased the building with an eye toward leasing it to another tenant. 

 

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2015/04/roznovskys-hamburgers-building-trades-hands/

[NenaE]

The Los Alamedas building with the bayou view (I-10, just outside 610 Loop) is gone now. 

 

Yeah the property owner died. The surviving family then opened a property dispute. So when the lease that was valid when the owner died, finally expired. A new lease couldn't be granted due to ownership disputes.

 

Eventually the restaurant just relocated. I believe they're out in Katy now. I'm not sure if a deal was ever met on the ownership of the property. Even if it was though, that strip of land is nothing like it once was in terms of businesses. So you'd probably be hard pressed to find someone willing to take that big of a lot that they'd have to tear down anyways. (I don't think that building has been maintained since 2009).

 

The Los Alamedas building with the bayou view is gone now. 

 

And that Thornhills near Woodridge and Gulfgate, what was near it? I can't recall ever seeing it. I know that area well.

Edited May 2, 2015 by NenaE

[ArchFan]

I really miss the Las Alamedas on Voss.  I remember it as being one of several nice, relatively authentic, Mexican restaurants opened (or invested in) in Houston during the oil boom of the early 80s by wealthy folks from Mexico City.

 

It wasn't actually on the bayou (Buffalo), but was on a tributary of it, which was rather deep and picturesque.   Before it was built, there was a "Putt-putt" miniature golf course in about the same spot, which was a lot of fun.  It was situated on a steep gradient, very unusual for Houston.  Unfortunately, like many other such rare places, it got filled in to make it more suitable for building on.

[msteele6]

The Thornhill's was in a little center on the south side of Winkler, just before it runs into Woodridge, the address was 320 Winkler.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2015 by msteele6

[mkultra25]

Kahn's Deli is no more - although the *real* Kahn's Deli died when Mike Kahn sold the business and then left shortly thereafter several years ago. I remember when it first opened, and quickly became a haven for hungry Rice students and West U residents. 

 

Quite a bit of misinformation here:

 

http://swamplot.com/kahns-deli-quietly-calls-it-quits-after-67-years-in-the-rice-village/2015-05-15/

[rallycat]

Rong Sing in Town and Country. Panjo's too. Mom never let me get an airplane shaped pizza, lol. Monterey House on Gessner. God help us all if a stray onion bit arrived with my Saltillo Plate back then.

[rallycat]

Though we were never allowed to eat there I want the big bull from El Toro d'Oro on Long Point. It's even cooler than the big boy in front of Kip's in Highland Village.

[Ann Cain]

Several from long ago in my childhood when we used to come to Houston to see my grandparents:

-Kapan's on South Main at Kirby (where the Eckerd's is now), our usual Sunday after church lunch place - good steaks and seafood, and those excellent crab ball appetizers that the guy in the white suit used to bring around to all the tables

-Angelo's, another long gone seafood restuarant

-The Strawberry Patch on Westheimer, the Pappas family's country/home cooking concept (Pappas Bros. Steakhouse is there now)

-Tokyo Gardens, the first place I ever had Japanese ssullivan, I know you penned this 11 years ago but my heart skipped a beat when I saw you not only loved the BEST& classiest seafood restaurant in Houston, Kaphans, but you also appreciated the magnificent dining experience my sister & I loved at Tokyo Gardens!  So long ago, but my palette learned to appreciate the best and it's literally gone from Houston!   No lumb crab meat au gratin, oysters with sherry sauce, which Peter also took to tables as toothpick appetizers, and then there was the traditional and almost sacred ritual of dining at Tokyo Gardens with our shoes off, seated on the floor and a regal & graceful Japanese lady in Kumono serving us 4 course meals with the delicacy of a butterfly!   Thank you.  I just moved back home after living out of state for 30 years.  I miss the Appalachian foothills of Cincinnati, my horse and my home.....I sure wish these 2 stellar restaurants were around to soothe my soul.  

[Ann Cain]

I know you penned this 11 years ago but my heart skipped a beat when I saw you not only loved the BEST& classiest seafood restaurant in Houston, Kaphans, but you also appreciated the magnificent dining experience my sister & I loved at Tokyo Gardens!  So long ago, but my palette learned to appreciate the best and it's literally gone from Houston!   No lumb crab meat au gratin, oysters with sherry sauce, which Peter also took to tables as toothpick appetizers, and then there was the traditional and almost sacred ritual of dining at Tokyo Gardens with our shoes off, seated on the floor and a regal & graceful Japanese lady in Kumono serving us 4 course meals with the delicacy of a butterfly!   Thank you.  I just moved back home after living out of state for 30 years.  I miss the Appalachian foothills of Cincinnati, my horse and my home.....I sure wish these 2 stellar restaurants were around to soothe my soul!   No one will probably ever read this but I feel better having communicated with someone of like memories....thank you!  

[august948]

Crescent City Beignets has closed it's last location on Westheimer near River Oaks.  For a few years they had another location on Westheimer near Kirkwood plus some others.  They closed that one and the others and shrank down to the River Oaks store until a month or two ago.

 

Anyone got suggestions for alternate places to get a beignet fix?

 

It looks like Crescent City might be making a comeback.  We saw what looks like a new one going into a shopping center on Westheimer east of the Hillcroft/Voss intersection.

 

[ArchMemoH]

former kentucky fried chicken

 

104 Dominik Drive, 77840 (Shiraz Shish Kabob)

203 East Crosstimbers, 77022 (razed)

301 West Gray, 77019 (razed)

363 North Sam Houston East, 77060 ?

415 Sheldon, 77511 (Church's)

604 West Little York, 77091 (moved to 601 West Little York, Auto Insurance/Ace American Cash Express)

727 West Mount Houston, 77037 (was Pizza Inn, Cricket)

804 North FM 1960 West, 77090 (Ace American Cash Express)

904 North Shepherd, 77007 (El Rey)

907 Edgebrook, 77034 (moved to 10527 Gulf Freeway, Taqueria Taconmadre)

927 Nasa, 77058 (razed)

927 North Interstate 35, 78666 (Fuego Grill)

927 West Sam Houston West, 77024 ?

1004 Hogan, 77002 (remodeled to La Casa Bakery & Cafe)

1004 Decker, 77520 (Taqueria Rositas)

1203 West 11th, 77008 (Bakery Donuts)

1204 South, 77503 (Taqueria Agaves)

1270 Uvalde, 77015 (Titlemax)

1400 Nederland, 77627 (Domino's Pizza)

1412 North Gessner, 77080 (Ace American Cash Express)

1516 1st, 77338 (Sonic)

1816 West Waco Drive, 76701 (Adriana, Jeanette, Sam's Southern Eatery)

1850 Hamilton, 77003 (Natto)

2002 Yale, 77008 (moved to 2701 Yale, Quizno's)

2222 Alexander, 77520 (Telepager)

2271 Clinton, 77547 (Shipley Donuts)

2310 North Gessner, 77080 (moved to 2763 North Gessner)

2310 Pease, 77003 (razed to Chevron)

2327 Jensen, 77026 (was Mr. Burger, empty)

2412 Elgin, 77004 (Navy Seafood)

2512 University, 77005 (razed)

2604 West FM 1960 East, 77073 (razed to Mr. Sticker)

2804 Collingsworth, 77026 (city games)

3030 Highway 30, 77340 (Tinsley's)

3102 Seawall, 77550 (Splash Bar)

3207 Spencer, 77504 (Titlemax)

3270 Telephone, 77023 (razed)

3358 Ella, 77018 (moved to 3000 Ella, El Rey)

3701 North Main, 77009 (El Taquito Rico)

3801 Harrisburg, 77003 (Taqueria El Charro)

4003 Montrose, 77006 (Dirk's Coffee Shop)

4258 West Highway 6 North, 77084 (Frank's Grill)

4318 Almeda, 77004 (Green Seed Vegan)

4318 Westheimer, 77027 (Quizno's)

4412 West Fuqua, 77045 (moved to 4036 West Fuqua, Shipley Donuts)

4635 Telephone, 77087 (Tortilleria Tiaxcali/Galaxy Auto Insurance)

4642 Scott, 77004 (empty)

4701 Kempwood, 77092 (Checks Cashed)

4827 North FM 1960 West, 77090 (moved to 4419 North FM 1960 West, Arby's)

5051 Griggs, 77021 (Louisiana Fish House)

5328 Antonie, 77091 (House of Fries)

5328 North Shepherd, 77091 (razed)

5351 West Bellfort, 77035 (was Blockbuster Video, TitleMax)

5852 Westheimer, 77057 ?

5927 Bellaire, 77081 (moved to 6004 Hillcroft, was Timmy Chan's, razed)

5927 Lyons, 77020 (was Lyons Seafood, razed)

6805 Greenbriar, 77030 (What a Burger)

7016 Lawndale, 77023 (Lawndale Fish Market)

7041 Beechnut, 77036 (Hartz)

7203 South Loop East, 77087 (razed)

7501 Harrisburg, 77012 (razed)

7603 MLK, 77033 (razed)

7701 West Bellfort, 77071 (Bakery Donuts)

7802 East Bellfort, 77061 (remodeled to Burger King)

7802 Long Point, 77055 (razed and moved to 7904 Long Point)

8601 Beechnut, 77036 (moved to 9904 Beechnut, razed for defunct Eckerd)

8601 Jensen, 77093 (shipley Donuts)

8904 Westheimer, 77063 (Del Taco)

9107 Long Point, 77055 (Tornado Taco)

9203 Cullen, 77051 (moved to 9271 Cullen)

9863 Homestead, 77016 (Timmy Chan's)

10516 Eastex Freeway, 77093 (razed)

10527 South Post Oak, 77035 (Shipley Donuts)

10704 West Bellfort, 77099 (moved to 12516 Southwest Freeway, Mar Azul)

10927 East Fuqua, 77089 (razed to Walgreen's)

11104 Airline, 77037 (Pollos Asados El Regio)

11301 Veterans Memorial, 77032 (razed and moved to 12036 Veterans Memorial)

11544 Bellaire, 77072 (Belle Park Dental Center)

12144 Bissonnet, 77099 (Frank's Grill)

13704 Cypress North Houston, 77429 (Mi Tierra Taqueria)

14258 South Post Oak, 77045 (Variedades Pasaquina)

16604 El Camino Real, 77058 (Colosseum)

[august948]

It looks like Crescent City might be making a comeback.  We saw what looks like a new one going into a shopping center on Westheimer east of the Hillcroft/Voss intersection.

 

 

It's open!  Now if we could just kick Krispy Kreme in the pants...