Chris Williams, Owner of Lucille’s Hospitality Group and a James Beard Award Outstanding Restaurateur nominee, is bringing Rado Cafe & Market to Eldorado Ballroom located at 2310 Elgin St.
Eldorado Ballroom was founded in 1939 by Anna and Clarence Dupree. It was one of the country’s leading Black music venues, and eventually was given the nickname, “Rado.” Its stage was graced by some of the musical greats to include B.B. King, Duke Ellington, and Etta James. A little under a century later, the Third Ward nightclub will now be home to the new concepts: Eldorado Ballroom, Hogan Brown Gallery, Rado Cafe & Market with Williams at the helm.
The ballroom has a lot of local talent and a few big names in the works to come through, such as Herbie Hancock, and the gallery will be home to some amazing art and education. “Like with everything in the ballroom, it’s supposed to be a cultural celebration and access point of the beautiful community,” Williams told What Now Houston. Rado Cafe & Market will also be a part of that celebration with its locally farmed foods and will be a “a conduit for minority business owners” to sell their goods of all sorts.
The cafe specifically will have a menu made from scratch and created for the “palette of its customers” from the expertise of Lucille’s Hospitality Group Creative Culinary Director Chef Dawn Burrell. Williams is excited to be providing accessible pricing to the community around Eldorado while using food that is in season to create its offerings.
There will also be a “cookbook” aspect offered with minority authored text with ingredients that will be found at the market. Williams also has plans for a curated wine program also. “We want to create more access for the community we are looking to service.”
It is all expected to open in June 2023 at the latest.
