Late night bar seating at a dying restaurant

[washing machine]

Yeah, that's not the case here. This particular resto group's folly is the classic tale of Icarus. A lot of former employees got hurt along the way and I'd imagine they don't think the owners ever gave a shit, but ambition was clearly at the heart of it all. Ambition and misplaced priorities.

Hurt how? Typical kitchen wear n' tear, or something more unique?

Payroll and benefits issues. PM me if you want the skinny that was published.

[washing machine]

Last call at Doc’s Motorworks and Grill on Westheimer. This is a sad one. My wife’s good friends from austin moved to Houston to expand this franchise, and the concept just didn’t quite work out. A local restaurant group Is buying the property. Until then, we take shots. So it goes.

[washing machine]

Last call at Doc’s Motorworks and Grill on Westheimer. This is a sad one. My wife’s good friends from austin moved to Houston to expand this franchise, and the concept just didn’t quite work out. A local restaurant group Is buying the property. Until then, we take shots. So it goes.

Our friends gave us a tour of the kitchen and keg cooler last night, and now I'm really bummed that this place is done. Clean, efficient kitchens like that are too good to go! I've never seen anything more organized and tidy in all of my years working in bars and restaurants.

That building has a great history, too. When I was in college it was a Wendy's. Then when Wendy's sold the property, someone gutted it and let the open-air brick frame of the building stand on the lot for two years, undeveloped. During that time it became an unofficial art gallery called "The Wendy". Street artists colored the outside with murals and canvas pieces were displayed inside. Run totally on donations until the city or whoever finally fenced off the property and posted a "no trespassing" sign. There it sat, again, for years. Just an eyesore at that point.

Eventually the building was bought by Doc's and that concept lasted a couple of years until yesterday. Doc's was a sports bar that could have been great. Our friends who managed tried hard to upgrade the food quality and make the 50 taps more interesting than just 50 different types of blonde ales and hefes, which is kind of what it was. The owners just didn't listen. Wanted it to be exactly like the one in Austin, but Austin is a college town and Houston patrons will always pay more for better quality and beer variety.

I really hope our friends stay in Houston now that the place has closed. Also interested to see what's in store for that real estate, but it will be kind of tough to go into that building again knowing that people we know and love tried their hardest to make it theirs.

[Norah]

Reid, Sunset went under.

https://boston.eater.com/2017/12/19/167 ... ons-closed

[washing machine]

Reid, Sunset went under.

https://boston.eater.com/2017/12/19/167 ... ons-closed

[washing machine]

We really had some good times there. What do you think brought them down?

[96583UP]

that child sex ring in the basement

[washing machine]

Come on, 93up. Get serious.

[Norah]

We really had some good times there. What do you think brought them down?

Probably the half million in unpaid taxes.

[washing machine]

We really had some good times there. What do you think brought them down?

Probably the half million in unpaid taxes.

That’ll do it.

[washing machine]

https://houston.eater.com/2018/7/30/176 ... two-months

Two years. I've watched this place slowly build out for two whole years. For two years I saw them take out the handicap ramps and put in stairs. For two years I saw them spray some of the ugliest, most primary colored Trapper Keeper chic lettering on their white washed walls. For two years I wondered how awful their burgers would be if they ever opened. I long suspected these guys to be laundering money, and I don't think I was that far off.

This has been a sad, tired saga that could only ever end this way. I've seen the owner sneak in twice since the eviction notice was posted. He goes in late at night and comes out with burger meat and flat screen TVs.

The staff was great over there. I wish we could give them jobs at my place but there's no room. It's not their fault the owner of this shit show couldn't keep an inventory in stock going into busy Astros and World Cup weekends and it's not their fault he put all of their paycheck money up his nose.

So it fucking goes.

[washing machine]

https://m.chron.com/business/retail/art ... gn=twitter

Mediocrity finally caught up with Luby’s.

Sure, you can get better cafeteria style lunch and dinner elsewhere, but you’ll pay for it and it won’t be as charming.

Luby’s is going the way of Picadilly and I once again have a reason to post in the “times you’ve cried today” thread in GD.

[spike]

oh thank good luby's is gross

[96583UP]

what kind of hair do they serve in the food?

[lennytheweedwhacker]

what kind of hair do they serve in the food?

weave

[doug rr]

i don't know where to put this so its going here..reid?

http://www.grubstreet.com/2019/01/dry-j ... nders.html

[washing machine]

i don't know where to put this so its going here..reid?

http://www.grubstreet.com/2019/01/dry-j ... nders.html

I like that photo.

Eh, there is a little bit of that happening that I've noticed. For instance, I was very excited to tell a regular that I finally put on that cider she'd been asking about for the last few months, only to learn that she was doing dry January. I brought it on just for her, and now it's just money sitting on the shelf until things pick up. Yet, the girl who I did that for is still here. Every Day. Drinking topo chico. Any business is good business.

Januarys are slow in the industry all around, so there's a lot less staffing happening at bars. This helps bartenders, actually, since most bartenders pool their tips. Less hours in the pool means a better hourly rate, and they always walk out with cash.

[washing machine]

Smart bartenders can hustle around a slow shift. We developed a Loteria event on Monday nights last January because a bartender was super bored every Monday night so she brought cards and taught the regulars how to play. Next thing you know, people were staying for 2-3 drinks extra on average because the bartender kept them interested. Her tip jar looked impressive for a Monday. Then a brewery decided to sponsor it and now it's a promoted thing that people count on at the beginning of the week.

[washing machine]

the two closest restaurants to my place have closed in the last couple months. not good; hopefully new tenants are coming soon. good locations.

[Alex]

how do you know these restaurants had bar seating, asshole?