One of the Third Ward’s premier nonprofits has teamed up with one of Houston’s most prominent restaurant groups to bring new life to a historic venue. Project Row Houses has retained Lucille’s Hospitality Group and its affiliated Lucille’s 1913 nonprofit to operate the historic Eldorado Ballroom.
Located in the heart of Third Ward at the intersection of Emancipation and Elgin, the Eldorado Ballroom is a performance venue that dates back to 1939. Originally a place for Black Houstonians to gather as a community.
A rendering previews the final look of the Eldorado Ballroom after renovations are completed.Courtesy of Project Row Houses
In its role as operator, Lucille’s Hospitality Group, lead by James Beard Award Outstanding Restaurateur nominee Chris Williams, will have three venues in the building: the Hogan Brown Gallery, Rado Cafe & Market, and the Eldorado Ballroom. Williams tells CultureMap that he recognized the building’s potential when philanthropists Hasty Johnson and Anita Smith initially approached him with the idea of operating the space. They're the first projects for Lucille's Hospitality Group, the company Williams formed in 2021 to extend beyond Lucille's, the acclaimed Southern restaurant he's operated in the Museum District since 2012.
“I don’t even have words for how honored and grateful we are for the opportunity. It’s huge,” Williams says. “The history is huge. It taps into everything I love and I personally think is so important for the greater community . . . It’s about ownership. For the community to take ownership of this, I think the opportunity will be deep.”
First to open will be the Hogan Brown Gallery, Named for Williams’ grandparents, the gallery will provide Third Ward’s artists with a venue for showcasing and selling their work as well as a space for community members to appreciate pieces by local talent. Operated by Lucille’s 1913 as a nonprofit venture, Houston artist Robert Hodge will curate the gallery’s exhibitions and work with the featured artists to enhance their careers.
Rado Cafe & Market will give the neighborhood a high quality restaurant and retail market that sells local produce and prepared food designed to service both people who have lived in Third Ward for years and newcomers. Picnic baskets meals will be available to encourage shoppers to dine across the street in Emancipation Park.
“I love Local Foods in Rice Village. I love everything about it, that great little counter service market with artisanal products on the shelves. It’s a unique shopping experience,” Williams says. “It’s very high end, very niche. I wanted to bring that model to Third Ward.”
Like Local Foods, Rado Cafe will serve sandwiches, salads, and other dishes created by Top Chef finalist Dawn Burrell. Ingredients such as collard greens, okra, and tomatoes will be drawn from local farms. In addition, Lucille’s will contribute fermented and pickles items from its preservation program. The retail shop will feature products from minority vendors along with a selection of wines.
“Everything we do at 1913 is access leading into education. If you don’t have access, you won’t give a shit. There’s no inspiration to learn about it,” Williams says. “I had this idea about having Chris Shepherd come in and teach a wine class for everybody. I think it would be a good way to get old and new neighborhood under one roof enjoying wine.”
In addition, Williams will partner with Third Ward bookshop Kindred Spirits to sell cookbooks. Each month, the market will feature a different book that will be paired with the ingredients necessary to make its recipes.
Like both the Hogan Brown Gallery and Rado Cafe & Market, the Eldorado Ballroom will improve access for Third Ward residents by providing local musicians with a new venue to showcase their talents. The 260-seat room has been upgraded with, in Williams’ words, “2030 lighting and sound” that restores its legacy as a room that’s hosted legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, and Lightnin’ Hopkins. While Williams sees the venue as primarily hosting local acts, he has big goals for the kind of artists he wants to attract for quarterly headlining gigs.
A historic photo of the Eldorado Ballroom.Courtesy of Lucille's Hospitality Group
“Once a quarter, we’re going after [someone like] Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper,” he says. “I’m going after Beyoncé within the next three years. It may be a five-minute cameo. She may be incognito, but I’m getting Beyoncé in that space.”
As a Third Ward resident, Williams recognizes the historic neighborhood is changing. Still, it’s always played a unique role in Houston’s civic life. The renovated ballroom has the opportunity to enhance the neighborhood’s legacy.
“The street I live on is one of the first places in the city where African Americans were able to design their own houses. It’s where we bought the land and designed our own existence. It’s like Black Wall Street,” he says.
“When I was growing up, Third Ward was always its own planet. People were more in touch. It’s always been the anchor of community activists, thinkers, and artists. It really hasn’t changed.”
All three venues are expected to open permanently in May and June, but Houstonians will get a sneak peek this Saturday, April 22 with Lucille’s seventh annual Prince Day. Held to commemorate the anniversary of Prince’s death on April 21, 2016, festivities kick off with an outdoor market from 1-6 pm that will preview many of Rado Cafe & Market’s vendors. From 8 pm - midnight, the Eldorado Ballroom will host a Prince tribute concert. General admission tickets are priced at $35. VIP tickets, priced at $77, include food prepared by Burrell, early admission to the venue, and priority access to table seating. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
“I’m a Prince fanatic,” Williams says. “This is our seventh year. Seven was Prince’s favorite number. It’s perfect to bring it home to the Eldorado.”
