Earl Abel's

Earl Abel's is a popular restaurant in San Antonio, Texas that opened in 1933 and existed at one location from 1940 until 2006. It has been popular for its diverse menu ranging from Fried Chicken and Rainbow Trout to its selection of desserts including German chocolate cake and lemon meringue pie; its clientele included the well-to-do from nearby Alamo Heights, businessmen and politicians including Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez who got in a fist fight at the restaurant in 1986 with a fellow customer who called him a communist.

History

Founded as a chain of restaurants in San Antonio in 1933, Earl Abel — the owner of the restaurants — decided to close most of his restaurants due to labor shortages during World War 2 leaving the remaining location at the corner of Broadway and Hildebrand Ave. intact as a landmark for the city's near northside.

The end came for the restaurant's long-time Broadway location in 2005 when Earl's son, Jerry, decided to sell the property to Koontz McCombs, a San Antonio development firm for the purpose of constructing high-rise condominiums.

Jerry Abel was quoted in the "San Antonio Express-News" regarding the restaurant property's sale saying that everything just came together perfectly and that the building is old and that he did not wish to continue running the restaurant in his old age. The original restaurant closed its doors for good in March 2006.

In late 2006, Earl Abel's re-opened under new ownership at a new San Antonio location on Austin Highway at Vandiver Road. The restaurant still has the same menu, although much of the staff is different.

External links

* [http://www.earlabelssa.com Earl Abel's website]
* [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA111505.1A.earlables.ca78811.html "San Antonio Express-News" article on Earl Abel's closing]
* [http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=45369&sid=adcb9b8b4a36d211d4b129cdbfc8d315 Earl Abel's razed] Lottaliving.com