BEAUMONT, Texas — The newest addition to Crockett St. is giving city leaders and the community hope that downtown Beaumont could return to what it once was.
"Riverside Grille," located at 260 Crockett St., officially opened its doors on Oct. 30, 2023.
The restaurant took over the property that once houses Spindletop Steakhouse, which closed in 2010.
On opening night, newlyweds Brad and Caty Mason enjoyed a quiet steak dinner at Riverside Grille.
"We need new fun stuff to do in Beaumont," Brad Mason said.
"This is very our age appropriate you know, not so much the younger crowd," Caty Mason said.
With its shiny chandeliers and full bar, the restaurant joins the lineup of new downtown businesses.
"There's a long-term plan, a vision for downtown Beaumont and I see nothing but great things happening here," Chairman and CEO Allen Perkins said.
Perkins has spent 40 years in the catering and restaurant business.
He tells 12News he spent two years studying crowds during downtown events and believes there's a real need for dining in the heart of the city.
"It wasn't unusual to see four to five thousand people down here if you had a event at the Civic Center, but there's no place to eat or grab a drink," he said.
Perkins hopes to answer that call, but knows it'll be hard work.
"We did our best today and we've got 25 things to fix before tonight. If people come to you and you do your job, they're going to come back," Perkins said.
Beaumont Mayor Roy West says the Riverside Grille is a piece of the downtown puzzle.
"We want to continue to do more and more to attract people downtown," West said.
The mayor says while other plans for a hotel and river walk aren't set in stone, the new restaurant makes downtown more attractive.
"We are still collecting the data so that we can answer everybody's questions, but we certainly see the need for downtown development and economic development," he said.
Caty Mason says she's excited to see what else is in store for the rest of the area.
Riverside Grille will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Perkins tells 12News they also plan to renovate the space next door to use for to-go orders and eventually a market deli. Those renovations should start in spring 2024.
