Local Charm Bar At 1501 Telephone Rd.

[terrbo]

Hi! Don't know if this subject has been brought up, and I wasn't in Houston at the beginning of this place.. I think it's pretty old.

My girlfriend used to bartend at Loreno's Local Charm in the late 80's when Rory Miggins was the owner.. while she was working with me at Radio Music Theatre.. and I used to go over there and hang with her after my day job. It pretty cool and funky, and had live music.

Some of my art car friends.. used to have a Valentines Day party over there and I went to one, after working at RMT once. Twas fun. I hear Marty Racine enjoyed this place.

I also went on a Shiner Brewery Tour based out of Local Charm. We had a blast!

Would be interested in hearing history of this place.

[Vertigo58]

Hi! Don't know if this subject has been brought up, and I wasn't in Houston at the beginning of this place.. I think it's pretty old.

My girlfriend used to bartend at Local Charm in the late 80's when Rory Miggins was the owner.. while she was working with me at Radio Music Theatre.. and I used to go over there and hang with her after my day job. It pretty cool and funky, and had live music.

Some of my art car friends.. used to have a Valentines Day party over there and I went to one, after working at RMT once. Twas fun. I hear Marty Racine enjoyed this place.

I also went on a Shiner Brewery Tour based out of Local Charm. We had a blast!

Would be interested in hearing history of this place.

I can give you history as far as 1968. Go to East End section and we bring it up quite often. There are others from that specific area that know quite a bit! This area is my old stomping grounds.

[tmariar]

Local Charm reopened on Washington Ave. in 2001, changed its name to the Rhythm Room at some point thereafter, and then closed not too long ago. Here is some Local Charm history.

[Vertigo58]

Local Charm reopened on Washington Ave. in 2001, changed its name to the Rhythm Room at some point thereafter, and then closed not too long ago. Here is some Local Charm history.

thats great, but it seemed to delve more into where they moved to. Not much about Telephone Road/Lawndale shenanigan's.

I recall as a kid in my 4th grade class at Rufus Cage across the street, we would gaze out of our 3rd floor classroom window and have a great view of Lorinos. We would spy on the old guys pulling up and going inside to have a drinky winky.

I know that before it even became Local Charm (mid 80's?) it was just a old timers bar with groceries on a few shelves. As teenagers we loved it because the brew was always ice cold and only $2.00 for a 6 pack of Lone Star! That's about as Texas as you can get!

Mrs Lorino still owned most of that area, like homes, stores, bars even after her husband passed away. She never went Hollywood either, still lived a block from us in a quaint little home. A bygone era for sure.

[Don Julio]

thats great, but it seemed to delve more into where they moved to. Not much about Telephone Road/Lawndale shenanigan's.

I recall as a kid in my 4th grade class at Rufus Cage across the street, we would gaze out of our 3rd floor classroom window and have a great view of Lorinos. We would spy on the old guys pulling up and going inside to have a drinky winky.

I know that before it even became Local Charm (mid 80's?) it was just a old timers bar with groceries on a few shelves. As teenagers we loved it because the brew was always ice cold and only $2.00 for a 6 pack of Lone Star! That's about as Texas as you can get!

Mrs Lorino still owned most of that area, like homes, stores, bars even after her husband passed away. She never went Hollywood either, still lived a block from us in a quaint little home. A bygone era for sure.

Is the original building still there? What is it now?

I remember going to Local Charm many times in the early '90s.

[Vertigo58]

Is the original building still there? What is it now?

I remember going to Local Charm many times in the early '90s.

Still there which is TOTALLY AMAZING for the fact that Houston normally demolishes its good old landmarks. Now that you mention it that corner would seem so desolate if it went away. What surprises me is that it once was a home maybe back in the 1930's. It would seem hard to imagine trying to get sleep with cars passing within feet of your window! The present owner lives next door in the similar looking house and she told me she was wanting to open as another bar but so far it hasnt happended $ issues I assume. There is a Spanish name above the entrance which makes one beleive its an open business which is misleading.

Now here is what has always puzzled the locals, what did that name ever really mean? Local Charm?

The area has never really had "charm" its just a typical working class neighborhood. Charm just sound so sissy-wus-wus. I mean its hardcore Telephone Road "sin city" if you will, boozing blvd, porn shops, etc. We dont want to make it sound soft

[terrbo]

Still there which is TOTALLY AMAZING for the fact that Houston normally demolishes its good old landmarks. Now that you mention it that corner would seem so desolate if it went away. What surprises me is that it once was a home maybe back in the 1930's. It would seem hard to imagine trying to get sleep with cars passing within feet of your window! The present owner lives next door in the similar looking house and she told me she was wanting to open as another bar but so far it hasnt happended $ issues I assume. There is a Spanish name above the entrance which makes one beleive its an open business which is misleading.

Now here is what has always puzzled the locals, what did that name ever really mean? Local Charm?

The area has never really had "charm" its just a typical working class neighborhood. Charm just sound so sissy-wus-wus. I mean its hardcore Telephone Road "sin city" if you will, boozing blvd, porn shops, etc. We dont want to make it sound soft

Well.. this forum is getting to me.. the hub and I drove over to Local Charm Saturday.. still there.. and it's now grill, the sign says. Drove down Lawndale to show Rog (the hub) this apt. I lived in around Nov. of '76 or so.. twas a pretty nice apt. back in '76 (S. Wayside off Jamail.. Villa de Matel is the street, I believe), but it's not looking good there now. The once kind of beige-ish white brick is now almost black (or gray).. not that attractive. I was impressed with the apts around there in '76.. maybe because I got to live there free, but nicer looking than my 1st apt. in Montrose (Persa and Westheimer, acr. from St. Anne's Catholic Church).

Tried to eat at Dinner Bell Cafeteria but it was closed on Saturdays! oh well.

We also drove to check out the "Witch House" I read about around Telephone and Bellfort off Santa Fe.... nice neighborhood, but couldn't see the witch house because of all the schrubbery and trees..