The new restaurant opening in the space left behind by the shuttered 11th St. Cafe, also known for a time last year as the Ruggles 11th St. Cafe? Ruggles Green. No, seriously. But apparently it’s not the same Ruggles the restaurant started with.
For about 5 months last summer, the 11th St. Cafe at 748 E. 11th St. took on a new name: Ruggles 11th St. Cafe — after Ruggles Grill owner Bruce Molzan agreed to operate the restaurant. But Molzan later pulled out of the arrangement because “he considered the quality of the food there poor,” he told Chronicle reporter Purva Patel last month. A trademark-infringement lawsuit Molzan then filed against the cafe prompted owner Archie Patterson to remove the Ruggles name from the restaurant in early December; he closed it entirely — after 35 years of operation — at the end of the year, announcing that a new tenant for the space would be named in late January.
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That new tenant is a Ruggles, but it’s Ruggles Green, reports the Houston Business Journal‘s Jennifer Dawson. Molzan was one of the founding partners of Ruggles Green. But last year he sued his former partners, claiming that their licensing agreement had expired and that the restaurant on West Alabama at Revere St. (there’s now a second location open CityCentre; a third is planned for Sugar Land Town Square) infringed on his trademark; according to Patel, Ruggles Green investor Randy Bower claims Molzan owes him 50 percent of Molzan’s flagship restaurant, Ruggles Grill. Molzan has since sold the Ruggles Grill building.
The 11th St. Ruggles Green is expected to open as a certified-green restaurant in May, after a substantial renovation the owners say will “maintain the charm of the historic building.”
- Ruggles Green to reopen 11th Street Cafe [Houston Business Journal]
- Restaurateur gets in scrape after scrape amid growth [Houston Chronicle]
- Previously on Swamplot: The End of the 11th St. Cafe, The Lawsuit Behind the Paper at the 11th St. Cafe, The Rugglefication of the Heights’ 11th Street Cafe
Photos: Swamplot inbox (top) and Candace Garcia (bottom)
My head assplode!
I will try this new Ruggles Green if, and only if, the restaurant has a wholesale change in operations staff. It’s going to take more than just another change in signage and a new coat of paint to get me back in the door of that place.
11th Street Cafe hasn’t been good in years. I was excited when it changed, but quickly realized that it was the same old strung out derelects that ran the place before. Never went back again. I hope the place completely changes everything from the cooks to the wait staff. They are really close to poisoning the location where nothing will succeed there.
Finally. After being a fan of the original Ruggles, then renamed Ruggles Grill, the Ruggles at Enron Field, Ruggles in Saks, frequenting Ruggles Green on Alabama since it opened and also the City Centre location – I was surprised to find the first incarnation of a “Ruggles” at 11th Street Cafe to be not only a disappointment but a huge question as to how Bruce Molzan could have his namesake on such a dreadful place. I tried it three times and kept hoping for better but realized it was a doomed venture. Mistakenly, took out-of-town guests there twice. Inquiries to staff as to when the place would start serving better food a la Ruggles Green always was met w shrugged shoulders – if you could find a staff person to ask. Good riddance 11th Street Cafe. A neighbor for almost 20 years but I won’t miss you.
The old 11th Street cafe was so universally disliked for so long, I actually felt disappointed that I didn\’t get a chance to see for myself before it closed down. At least I\’ve been to Andy\’s in case it ever closes.
Do they not know the reputation that this place has (as both and 11st and Ruggles)? Good luck – And if you keep ANY of the old staff – you will fail again. If I walk in and see any of those punks – I’m out.
I went to the Ruggles on 11th Street only one time. The place still looked, and unfortunately smelled, like the old 11th Street Cafe, even thought it was supposed to have been renovated. Plus, the over-priced food was nothing to write home about. Not sure I’ll go again. I read in HBJ that the owner(s) weren’t paying their staff. Can’t stand that!
It turned me off back in High School when they didn’t serve fries. The explanation was that they didn’t have a fryer- made the place cleaner and made it not stink. I -barely- bought it. Now, as the owner/operator of my own place in Marfa, I completely understand and agree. Dairy Queen is down the street- crappy fries available there, Zapp’s potato chips and red beans and rice on the side here… I’m talking about the late 80’s of course for 11th St– DB
i am pretty sure these guys know how to run a business. the ruggles green on west alabama is always slammed and has a wonderful staff. we are not going to see a Ruggles 11th St. Cafe redux….this one will be the real deal done right.
Oh wow, 11th St Cafe didn’t serve fries?
Then why DID it smell so bad in there?
Everyone in the neighborhood has been there once. And only once.
I went once when it was the 11th St. Cafe, and it seemed to be staffed with stoned, resentful teenagers. I ordered a small pizza, and when it was served, it looked like they had just piled the ingredients on the pizza and then cooked it for about 5 minutes. The cheese wasn’t even melted.
When it became Ruggles’ 11th St, I tried it again. The interior was much nicer than the earlier incarnation, the service much better, and the food better as well–but it wasn’t nearly as good as the original Ruggles or Ruggles Green. I couldn’t understand that. (I didn’t know that the name had just been licensed out.)
I look forward to trying the new Ruggles Green there, but one thing I hope they do better than the Ruggles Green on Alabama–pick better art to put on the walls! I may be the only person who cares about this, but the art on the wall at the Ruggles Green on Alabama is distractingly bad. I always make a point of sitting facing away from it. I know no one goes to a restaurant to look at the art, but it is part of the ambiance.
I’m glad. If we get one more small restaurant with crappy service…..
Ruggles Green doesn’t have waiter service.
Perfect fit!
If I were the Ruggles Green people, I would NOT put the name “Ruggles” on this place again. Aside from swampies and foodies who have followed the saga of the Sybil-esque Ruggles name, most people think a Ruggles is a Ruggles (or a distant relative of the Fraggles). People in the Heights are pretty pissed off about how crappy they were treated at the disfunctional Ruggles 11th Street Cafe. Unless they know the full story (most don’t), they will just think that Ruggles Green is just a gimic to whitewash over the crappy Ruggles 11th Street Grill. Just call it “Heights Green Cafe” or something.
Evidently the Ruggles name is meaningless.
Shit, this is unreadable. learn to use punctuation. Is this written by the incompetent wait staff everyone is complaining about?
“But last year he sued his former partners, claiming that their licensing agreement had expired and that the restaurant on West Alabama at Revere St. (there’s now a second location open CityCentre; a third is planned for Sugar Land Town Square) infringed on his trademark; according to Patel, Ruggles Green investor Randy Bower claims Molzan owes him 50 percent of Molzan’s flagship restaurant, Ruggles Grill.”
WHY IS THIS ONE SENTENCE?
Ashley, the irony of your post complaining about punctuation is too delish to ignore.
This is why I’m a commenter and not submitting an article, Mel.
I’ll stick with Zelko, thanks. Wonderful food and great staff.
Is it just me or did they stop work on this place? I haven’t seen any activity there in at least a couple weeks.