Victory Grill

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the grill was first opened in 1945 by Johnny Holmes. It grew to become an important stop on the "Chitlin Circuit," a national route of bars and clubs featuring then-segregated African-American artists. Painted bright gold and crimson in honor of nearby Huston-Tillotson University, the unassuming building contains a small, informal café and a hopping music club that can accomodate 250 people in the back.

The Historic Victory Grill and Capitol View Arts are proud to present five urban artists who will represent Austin at the Cutting Edge Music Conference held September 22-24 in New Orleans, LA. The artists will be traveling as a package bill entitled The Historic Victory Grill presents Urban Austin. Our inaugural trip, generously funded by Popsicle Rockslide with additional support from the City of Austin Music Division, will consist of three days of music business education, networking opportunities, and multiple performances.

The Victory Grill was on the Chitlin' Circuit. This collective name was given to a string of performance venues throughout the eastern and southern United States, that were safe and acceptable to African-American musicians and other entertainers,

During its heyday in the 1950s, most of the popular national blues, rhythm and blues, and jazz acts that played Austin performed at the Victory Grill. Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, W. C. Clark and Janis Joplin were some of the artists who graced the stage.

The historic Victory Grill is one of the last remaining Chitlin' Circuit juke joints. In addition to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is archived by the Texas Historic Commission and dubbed a Texas Treasure by the statewide organization, Preservation Texas.

Victory Grill stands as an artifact to the development of a distinct American music tradition. The restoration and preservation of this working juke joint and cafe provides performance opportunities and educational events that link past African-American musical forms and culture with the present.

Under the new management of Another Option Productions and with booking and preservation assistance from Capitol View Arts, the Historic Victory Grill is now open for self-produced/private events, educational opportunities and cultural tourism.

		From	To	From	To	From	To
Monday	Open	7:00	3:00
Tuesday	Open	7:00	3:00
Wednesday	Open	7:00	3:00
Thursday	Open	7:00	3:00
Friday	Open	7:00	3:00
Saturday	Open	8:00	3:00
Sunday	Closed	8:00	3:00