Two immigrants from El Salvador who survived what they describe as a “precarious existence” as undocumented workers in Houston for several years plan to buy the 3 Ruggles Grill buildings at 903 Westheimer, tear them down, and build a new 7,500-sq.-ft. restaurant on the site just east of Montrose Blvd. Jose and Gloria Fuentes met each other in Houston after fleeing their war-torn native country in 1978. Their Salvadorian restaurant chain, Gloria’s, now has 12 locations in the Dallas area and one in Austin. The Ruggles purchase hasn’t been completed, the HBJ‘s Allison Wollam reports. But the company also plans to open 3 additional locations nearby: in Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and West U. Ruggles chef and co-owner Bruce Molzan hinted last month that he’d reopen the Ruggles flagship in a new location if the building sold. The 26,812-sq.-ft. property was listed for sale at the end of last year.
- Dallas restaurant eyes Ruggles, plans four Houston locations [Houston Business Journal]
- About Us [Gloria’s Restaurants]
- Is Ruggles Grill on the move? Westheimer institution’s building for sale [Culturemap]
- 903 Westheimer [Moody Rambin]
Photo: Moody Rambin
I’ll miss Ruggles and all their delicious desserts, but there is always the Ruggles Cafe in the Village… We rarely went to the Westheimer location, anyway.
Ruggles would look great in that vacant corner store at Taft and Fairview.
So, are the un-documented documented by now?
Here is a video on Ruggles that was just released: http://www.studiosixten.com/shows/inside-dish/ruggles
Maybe thems will name it BUGGLES… ME just love BUGS AND BUMBLEBEES…..
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Salvadoran restaurants and valet parking don’t mix, IMO.
I love those buildings. I am sad they are going to be razed.
I’ll miss Ruggles, but I love me some Glorias. A fixture on the Dallas margarita scene.
I am so glad Gloria’s is coming to Houston! Hallelujah. The food is decent, drinks are a plenty, and the prices are cheap.