DINING FEATURE Yale Street Grill Historic landmark embraced by community Y ale Street Grill, a Heights staple on the corner of 21st and Yale streets, has kept
Juan Salazar, manager of Yale Street Grill
BY CYNTHIA ZELAYA
under its own owner and manager. The antiques fuel rumors of haunt- ings in the building, although nothing malicious, Salazar said. “You can hear noises every now and then,” Salazar said. “One time, I could hear drums playing, like a toy monkey. I went to the other side, saw though the door; it was walking to the other side. And I thought, ‘Ahhhh, no,’ then walked away.” The antiques are supplied by a combination of local donations and nds by the owners of the shop, Thomas and Linda Lovejoy. A longtime friend of the owners, Frank Aguilar, stepped up to help manage the shop when the couple had trouble due to age and illness. “What started out as a hobby became a business,” Aguilar said. Both the young and old are drawn to Yale Street Grill and Lovejoy Antiques for nostalgia, Aguilar said. The largest customer pool at the antique store is in their late 20s to early 40s, he said. “The millennials are very inter- ested in grandma’s jewelry,” Aguilar said. “A lot of our customers are people that remember stu that they grew up with.” The historic building stands out for its longevity, staying open through- out multiple owners and place in the community, but when asked about what makes the place special, Salazar had one answer. “The customers,” he said. “They keep coming back; they keep the place alive. Even through the pan- demic, there’s still a lot of loyalty.”
Houstonians coming back since 1923, but it was not always because of the food. “It used to be a post o ce,” Man- ager Juan Salazar said. “It’s always had that counter and a cooking area.” A wall was put up to house a phar- macy in the other half of the building, which closed in 1999, Salazar said. However, he said he is certain the milkshake recipe used today is the same that was used back when the building opened. “I started working here in 2001. Ms. Barbara [Guidry] was still alive, and she was the one that had been making them a long time ago,” said Salazar, referring to a former long- time manager of the grill. “She was the one to teach me, and I taught the others.” Salazar said he knows about 90% of repeat customers by name. “He’s been coming here since 1964,” said Salazar, pointing at a gentleman at the counter. The establishment sells a variety of diner-style breakfast dishes, both sweet and savory, as well as burgers and sandwiches. The eatery is also known for its old-school desserts, which include milkshakes made with Blue Bell ice cream as well as a variety of pies, cobblers and slices of cake. The other side of the building houses Lovejoy’s Antiques and Collectibles, which operates within the same building as Yale Street Grill
Frank Aguilar, manager of Lovejoy's Antiques
An antique shop and a diner both operate out of the Yale Street venue.
PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA ZELAYA COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Lovejoy's Antiques
Yale Street Grill
Lovejoy’s Antiques features donated items and nds by the owner.
Yale Street Grill has been in operation in some form for 99 years.
ON THE MENU
Bacon cheeseburger: A burger is served on a
Wa ewith strawberries: The dish is served with a layer of whipped cream.
Strawberry milkshake: The milkshake is made with real strawberries and Blue Bell ice cream.
toasted bun with french fries on the side.
$8.95
$7.95
$3.95
Yale Street Grill 2100 Yale St., Houston 713-861-3113 www.facebook.com/yalegrill Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
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