Victory East
Southern restaurant (US) · Central East Austin ·
Soul food with a rich history; enjoy live blues & southern classics
Soul food with a rich history; enjoy live blues & southern classics
"Starting as a small bar in 1945, Victory Grill grew into an important music venue on the Chitlin’ Circuit and has played a significant role in Austin’s Black culture; it is now home to the new location of the Black-owned soul food and Southern restaurant the Rolling Rooster." - Nadia Chaudhury
"I learned that Johnny Holmes opened Victory Grill in 1945 and that it became an important stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, hosting performers such as James Brown, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Chuck Berry, and Janis Joplin; the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and is recognized by the Texas Historical Commission. The Holmes family still owns the building and, after coming to eat at Rolling Rooster’s Wells Branch restaurant and enjoying the food and vibe, proposed that Rolling Rooster open a central location in the Victory Grill space." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Founder Johnny Holmes opened Victory Grill in 1945 after World War II, hence the name. Austin was still segregated at the time, and Victory Grill was a place for African-Americans to hang out and watch live blues performances." - Nadia Chaudhury
"A historic Black cultural landmark founded in 1945 during the chitlin circuit era, this music venue became a key gathering spot where Black musicians performed and now stands as an enduring touchstone of Austin’s African-American cultural history and resilience amid a legacy of segregation." - Nina Hernandez
