December 2007 - Silent Auction December 9

The Historic Victory Grill will host a Holiday Bazaar and Silent Auction beginning at noon on Sunday, December 9 at the Grill, 1104 E. 11th Street. The festive bazaar will feature a Sunday filled with music and food. Proceeds will go toward the restoration of the historic site that is part of the historic Texas Chitlin’ Circuit.

Performers that day will include:

-Gospel music produced by Barry J W ”The Shepard” Franklin
-Another Option Hip Hop Crew
-2Blues w/Jamie Van Beek & John Cockrell
-Victoria Hammil's Zeta Five
-The Blues Specialist
-The Jeff Lofton Quintet

Items to be auctioned that day will include award-winning photos from Austin’s acclaimed photographer Alan Pogue, gift certificates from Flemings Steakhouse, Threadgills, Estrada Cleaners, Antone’s Music, Daily Juice, Canvass Press and African Queen. Also featured will be an array of musical items, computer equipment, handcrafted designer glassware and holiday gift items.

The Victory is still seeking donations of items for the auction or financial contributions to “Friends of the Victory Grill.”

Also, featured vendors that day will include Ajay Services Natural Healing Oils, Nicole Eutsey’s Toy Chest, Cynthia’s Handcrafted Dolls, Another Option Productions’ Customized T-Shirts. Door prizes will also be given away.

“We are ready to move forward with our complete restoration, now that we have earned our designation on the National Registry of Historic Places and been designated as a City of Austin Landmark seal,” says Manager Eva Lindsey. “We want to continue on our journey to preserve the most important Texas Landmark of the original Chitlin’ Circuit. The Victory Grill has been home to so many great artists over the years. We are looking forward to the future – the future of blues and jazz streaming from the doors of the Victory Grill calling out to patrons and musicians alike.”

Established in 1945 by Johnny Holmes, the Victory Cafe was originally an icehouse that hosted local blues musicians out on the porch while selling beer to local patrons in the hot Austin summer. Later, in 1949, Johnny Holmes decided to expand the icehouse and build a bar & grill that provided a space for African American soldiers returning from the war to enjoy good food and good entertainment (segregation prohibited these soldiers from doing so in most parts of town), appropriately calling it the Victory Grill. The Victory is one of the last remaining, original Chitlin’ Circuit juke joints. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, archived by the Texas Historical Commission, and donned as a Texas Treasure by the statewide organization Preservation Texas. It stands as a living artifact of a tradition essential to the development of a distinct American music tradition. Notable acts such as Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry, Janice Joplin, Bobby Bland, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and W. C. Handy performed at the Victory Grill during the age of racial segregation in the United States.

September 2007 - Cafe Reopens

In case you haven’t driven by the Victory Grill to see the wonderful paint job, the new colors are Crimson and Gold. Johnny Holmes would be pleased to know the colors he loved now grace the walls of his building. Crimson and gold are the colors of Huston-Tillotson University. Johnny Holmes and his wife Winifred were alumni of Huston-Tillotson. Johnny believed in supporting his own.

Today, I am pleased to announce that the cultural legacy of the Victory Grill lives. We will open a full service cafe on October 6th. The music venue, known fondly as “the back room” or the Kovac room will also serve up a full schedule of music and performance.

Lunch will be served at 11:00 a.m., dinner at 4:00p.m. and short order after dinner. Cafe hours are Mon – Thurs from 11a.m.-10p.m and Friday and Saturday from 11.a.m. – 3a.m. Each day features a daily special, like the famous Johnny Holmes’ enchiladas and don’t forget the Roland catfish special.

Monday begins with ‘Blue Monday” sounds of DJ Bonny “Old School and Sexy” blues sounds, rounding out the week Sunday evening with Jeff Lofton Quintet - Music from Miles Davis. Check out features from Diverse Arts’ Word Jazz, Blues Specialists Happy Hour, Austin Blues Society Blues Jam, and Another Option’s Hip Hop Rap Fest.

The buzz is on, exclaimed one student. It’s all over campus about the Victory Grill. As I tell the stories once told to me by my elders, I see and feel the inspiration I once felt, all the while, hoping to coax my young “yet to be stars” to be as good as those before them. To me, that is worth the effort.

The Victory grill is available for luncheons, private parties and organizational meetings. If you would like to contribute to the Victory Grill restoration and preservation activities, such as allowing us to make digital copies of old photos or other memorabilia, please contact us at 512-474-7440 or viewing our website at www.historicvictorygrill.org

August 2007 - 62nd Anniversary

It’s August and our 62nd anniversary is near ~ August 17th thru August 19th are our celebration dates. Mark your calendars so you won’t miss it!

Friday, August 17th 9pm till Close
The biggest “Funk Party" Austin has ever seen - music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Noel Waggoner of Waxploitation will be spinning 45’s from back in the day. It’s a perfect party for the Victory Grill.

Saturday, August 18th 7pm till Close
“Blues Party” featuring Chris Thibodeaux of Port Arthur Texas who will perform with drummer Sam Granger (of George Jones, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band). Chris, who has Cerebral Palsy is an incredible talent, check him out on openlabs.com. The Victory Grill Birthday Party will host several wonderful musicians throughout the night including: the amazing Jacqui Cross, David Breaux with John Nallie and Bryan Janzen, 2Blues, and acoustic act Lumpy and the Double D’s. Following the bands, starting at 10pm join in our Open Blues Jam - musicians bring your instruments (we love horn players) and be ready to sit in. While partying you may imbibe food prepared by our new food service team, including pork chops, fish and sausage on a stick.

Sunday August 19th 7pm till Close
The Legendary “Spot” Barnett will grace the Victory Grill with “Chitlin’ Circuit” stories. His band will be there to entertain you. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be with a Blues legend up close and personal. I am pleased to announce that the Victory Grill café is opening in September.

Food will be served each night in the Victory Grill Cafe. Our food service team is operated and managed by Bay Seas Food Service, owners Eddie and Freddie Roland. We are ready to paint the building and spruce up the place, affix the National Registry plaque and the City of Austin Landmark seal. This is a milestone along the journey to preserve the most important Texas Landmark of the original Chitlin Circuit.

Thanks to all of our friends, supporters and sponsors. If you would like to contribute to the restoration or preservation of the Victory Grill please contact us by email or come by to see Eva who may be reached at 512-902-5057.

If you wish to send a donation, make it payable to Friends of the Victory Grill and send to 1104 E. 11th St. and we will send a letter of confirmation and our tax exemption information.