heights_yankee Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 saw the sign today. anyone know what the deal is there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 What's the sign say? Closed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share Posted November 10, 2009 What's the sign say? Closed?ha! i am laughing over here. sooo tired.... anyway, the sign said "OPEN UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP"just wondering if the all-knowing HAIFers have the scoop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Well, it turns out that Archie (the former owner) has been in Asia somewhere for the last couple of years. He was back in town a few weeks back, but said he was going back to whatever country he was hanging out in. He claimed that he had the stores (11th Street, Sports Lounge, Prive) being taken care of, but we all know that has not been the case. So this sounds like he may have sold the place, or at a minimum worked a deal with someone to run it for a cut of the profits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omar2bar Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Well, it turns out that Archie (the former owner) has been in Asia somewhere for the last couple of years. He was back in town a few weeks back, but said he was going back to whatever country he was hanging out in. He claimed that he had the stores (11th Street, Sports Lounge, Prive) being taken care of, but we all know that has not been the case. So this sounds like he may have sold the place, or at a minimum worked a deal with someone to run it for a cut of the profits.Isn't Prive and Heights Sports Lounge closed? Both look like they've been abandoned. If 11th Street is under new management, has the menu changed? I'd love to see something that isn't fried or full of grease on the menu. Also, the place could use a little TLC inside. There's so much potential with that location! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Isn't Prive and Heights Sports Lounge closed? Both look like they've been abandoned. If 11th Street is under new management, has the menu changed? I'd love to see something that isn't fried or full of grease on the menu. Also, the place could use a little TLC inside. There's so much potential with that location!i don't mind a good greasy sppon (esp after too much good wine the night before) but i can do without the maple syrup containers that are so old the labels are half faded and peeling.you're right. tons of potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Matt Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Maple Syrup?? You mean the Log Cabin jugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMME Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I have always loved the location and the feel of this place, but it has never ever lived up to its potential to be a neighborhood favorite. Hopefully, the new owners will bring some consistency to the food served. I would love a good greasy spoon, accent on "good." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Maple Syrup?? You mean the Log Cabin jugs? oh yes. i should have said "maple colored HFCS with attempted maple flavor." as a yankee, i should be ashamed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 We ate here last night, wanted to try the pizza. It wasn't great. Next time we'll get something different. We like the breakfast there, just haven't been for dinner before. The service was great, maybe because no one else was there at 6pm. Works for us, that way it's easier to let the little one jump around in the booth and not ruin the urbanites' dinner experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwki Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Wife saw Archie himself hanging the "New" Ownership sign a week or so back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 We ate here last night, wanted to try the pizza. It wasn't great. Next time we'll get something different. We like the breakfast there, just haven't been for dinner before. The service was great, maybe because no one else was there at 6pm. Works for us, that way it's easier to let the little one jump around in the booth and not ruin the urbanites' dinner experience.try the turkey melt. not healthy at all, but its the tastiest thing on the menu imoWife saw Archie himself hanging the "New" Ownership sign a week or so back.stinker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksmu Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 try the turkey melt. not healthy at all, but its the tastiest thing on the menu imostinkerIve wanted that place to be good for so long. It has a great location, but I have never had anything there that was even half decent. I have not had breakfast there, but after 3 different trips and 3 different entrees, unless they stop doing things the way they are that place is off the rotation. I like to eat at the reasonably priced non-pretentious places, and this place is perfect but for the price Im going to hit any of the creeks for a much better meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcook2002 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Looks like it wont be "ruggles" for much longer....not that it was any good but might explain why it was so bad. Quote The new concepts come as Molzan says he's having the Ruggles name removed from the Ruggles 11th Street Cafe. "I'm real particular about quality," when it comes to licensing use of the Ruggles name, he says. http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/12-05-11-09-48-waiter-walkouts-and-real-estate-rumors-are-there-troubles-at-ruggles-grill/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Ruggles Grill is in hot water about not paying employees right now. Edited December 6, 2011 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Ruggles Grill is in hot water about not paying employees right now.I was going to ask -- what is going on with Ruggles on Westheimer? I thought I heard it was closed, but it looked like there were people there last weekend.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerloop Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I liked the food at Ruggle's on 11th. The problem for me was the terrible service, both inattentive and slow. But I guess if you're not paying your staff, then that's going to have an effect on their performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksmu Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I never tried the ruggles on 11th....my wife did and she said it was terrible...just as bad as when it was 11th st. cafe, which I found to be terrible, so I never went. I wont miss the place. It has so much potential to be a nice neighborhood place, but sadly it just continues to be terrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I heard it was because they weren't family friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverJK Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Red, maybe they can relocate Lupe's sandbox. = ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heights_yankee Posted December 6, 2011 Author Share Posted December 6, 2011 I heard Mazlan is putting all the money up his nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west20th Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I heard Mazlan is putting all the money up his nose.You "heard"? Way to trash someones reputation based on hearsay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s3mh Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Weird set up. Ruggles in name only? I can understand wanting to have different restaurants incorporated as separate entities to protect against liabilities. But the Ruggles Green website has a big disclaimer about the Ruggles name, saying that Ruggles Green is in no way associated with Ruggles Grill except for the use of the Ruggles name. Why not do a Ruggles Restaurant Group and stand behind the name while keeping the entities separate? People certainly think there is an association.And I always thought the 11th St was an odd location for a Ruggles (whatever a Ruggles really is). Too small for a restaurant looking to serve that kind of food. Always seemed like the kitchen was too small to keep up with that kind of menu. Or it could be that management was treating everyone like crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 I was out protesting in front of Ruggles Grill last night. Bruce Molzan owed his employees thousands of dollars and had been dragging his feet on the paychecks for at least six months. This isn't just their $2.13 an hour, but their actual credit card tips that they earned. He was over $4000 behind for one woman's pay.Ruggles Green is currently suing Molzan. According to an employee I spoke with, Ruggles Green says Molzan stole a bunch of money from them.Ruggles 11th Street Cafe, Molzan has been trying to back the Ruggles name out of, because he says the food wasn't up to quality. They've probably expedited that now that Molzan is getting all this press about stealing from his employees.Ruggles Cafe Bakery is a fourth separate restaurant. This is run by Molzan's ex-wife, Susan. Molzan was allegedly cheating on her with the hostess at Ruggles Grill, who he later married.Molzan is no stranger to legal troubles. A lawsuit was filed by WB Music and several other music studios in 2007, because Ruggles Grill was playing music without paying royalties. When the studios demanded the royalties, Ruggles Grill ignored the letters. The judge found in the studios' favor for $65,000 in 2009. Molzan was also sued for $406,000 in 2004 by Sysco. I think that case was settled, and Sysco still supplies him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73Ghia Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I spoke with a local restaurant owner last night whose eatery is very near the 11th street location. If his story is true, supposedly the deal was on shaky ground from the get-go. Restaurant was pretty much lent the Ruggles name only. And now, Ruggles and 11th St. have apparently parted ways. Ruggles has been deleted from the side of the building and all the signage. I went a few times when it was "Ruggles", and although the food was pretty good, some of the staff and the service was piss-poor. Now that it's back to plain 'ol 11th Street Cafe, I don't see it lasting much longer. It sucked before, and it sucks still. There's too much activity going on in the Heights right now. Hoping something better will come take its place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcook2002 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Per a sign on the door - Closed for Good, thanks for the memories. New tenant to take over the building in late January also per signage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Per a sign on the door - Closed for Good, thanks for the memories.New tenant to take over the building in late January also per signage.Were they open long enough to create memories? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwki Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 11th Street Cafe was the first restaraunt in the Heights we visited back when we were house hunting in 1992. Pat Nunn was the long-time owner at that time, and she had run it as a BBQ joint long before I arrived and converted to Cafe. Archie bought the business and property maybe six years ago and like the rest of his ventures, couldn't make it last. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggplant Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 The saga continues. Looks like Ruggles Green is taking over the place and will give it another in the series of makeovers. Great news if it happens.Ruggles Green to re-open 11th Street Cafe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J008 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 The saga continues. Looks like Ruggles Green is taking over the place and will give it another in the series of makeovers. Great news if it happens.Ruggles Green to re-open 11th Street CafeI wonder if the ruggles folks realize that the nuance between Ruggles and Ruggles green having different owners is really lost on most consumers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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