Photographer Karen Dressel was on hand at lunchtime today to document the final few bites of the excavator demolishing the last of the 3 former Ruggles Grill buildings at 903 Westheimer, just east of Montrose. Two adjacent buildings, at 817 and 907 Westheimer, were torn down earlier this month; Cherry Demolition’s excavator worked up an appetite waiting on-site for the last demo permit to come through. That happened yesterday, and the meal began shortly after breakfast this morning:
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Bruce Molzan’s original Montrose Ruggles location closed this past February, after 27 years in operation. Triniti Restaurant owner Ryan Hildebrand has hired Houston’s MC2 Architects to design a new “contemporary building with a rustic farmhouse feel†on the site. It’ll house a restaurant called Brande, scheduled to open about a year from now.
- R.I.P: Ruggles Grill Demolished This Morning [Eating Our Words]
- Previously on Swamplot: The Restaurant Replacing Ruggles Grill on Westheimer
Photos: Karen Dressel (demolition); Candace Garcia (before demo)
I wonder if they will now have a ritual exorcism on that site.
Oh I remember the Old Ruggles very well when it was a really hot spot..one had to wait to get a table..Mike Steinman was at the helm in those days…Fond memories…
While dining there years ago, I saw a guy come in wearing a chicken suit, and a birthday cake catch fire. They were related, and….it’s a long story.
Last supper.
Ah, Ruggles and the Pink Flamingo. Those were the days….
I had a trio gig at Birdwatchers for a while. I remember well that late-’70s hunter green ambience.
Is this at all related to the new Ruggles Green going up on 11th and Studewood in the Heights?
@chris: Not even close. Search on swamplot archives for the long story of the Ruggles restaurants. In short, Ruggles Green only licenses the Ruggles name from the guy who owned/operated Ruggles.