CathyLyn

Oof! Houston19514, thank you! I answered without finding the rest of the thread, and I shouldn't have. My only excuse is that I'd been up all reading the whole Defunct Restaurants seent, on my phablet, and I obviously missed some pages. I appreciate the corrections, and I promise not to jump without looking again.

As I understand it, Randall's was owned by the Randall family of Houston, and Tom Thumb was owned by the Cullums of Dallas. The two families were friends, and when the Randall's last family member who wanted to stay in that business died, they sold the stores to the Cullums. (Or maybe the other way 'round, my chronology is fuzzy). Then a few years later Tom Thumb was sold to Safeway, and it deteriorated rapidly. 

Pretty sure I read a year or two ago that Albertsons, (neé Skaggs Albertsons) Kroger, and Tom Thumb were merging, or being bought together by a bigger corporation.

 And read yesterday that Warren Buffet was selling nearly a billion dollars of Walmart shares, because...Amazon. With Amazon's Fresh grocery, will brick and board groceries disappear, I wonder...or maybe return to their produce wagon origins origins?

On 10/5/2005 at 9:32 AM, TJones said:

Over the years many many restaurants have come and gone in out fair city. Houston is known as "The Restaurant Capital of The World". Houston has more restaurants per capita than any other U.S. city. I started this Thread to let people list their all-time favorites, of the ones they miss the most. Does anyone remember The Rail Head and Victoria Station from back in the 70's? These were Rail Road themed restaurants, that's were really popular in the 70's and 80's. As a kid it was wonderful. At the Rail Head, they actually had a stage for music acts, surrounded by open rail cars with dining booths and tables. I used to frequent it alot when The Elliot Walter Band used to play there. My mother is really good friends with them. If you never heard of The Elliot Walter band, you have probably heard a song of their's though, it's called "Slime in the Ice Machine". Marvin Zindler's theme song.

My last year in Houston, 1972? Saw Michael Martin Murphy play songs from his first album. Calico Silver stays in my mind...

On 9/12/2004 at 8:23 PM, groovehouse said:

Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. The chain Antone's pale in comparison to the original locations. I don't even know how many 'original' stores exist.

I also miss ZuZu, which was on Shepherd near Fairview. It was Mexican fast food and I remember a salsa bar or something... it was quaint with good food.

Antone's! Po'boys, and pickles in barrels.

On 9/13/2004 at 11:59 PM, Montrose1100 said:

I miss that drive threw only burger place, and they where cheap, but the BEST! Does anyone remember? I think they had like 3 around Uptown-Westchase... I remember the color yellow, there where generally in parking lots, ONLY drive threw...

and CHECKERS!!! They had the BEST fries!!

Cinco De Mayo on Holzworth (It burned down to the ground)

Prince's, or Price's? 2 different burger places, early 60s. I liked Price's better.They had a 'secret sauce' that was like ketchup and mayo mixed, 1000 island? Their burgers were thin and crispy 'round the edges.