http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/02/mais_is_burning_badly.php Mai's restaurant, the well-loved place on Milam near Alabama, is burning pretty badly. Kelly Graml, an attorney who has an office across the street, tells Hair Balls: "It's totally burning down. There are five -- no, six -- fire trucks here, including one with a ladder, and about 50 firemen. Black smoke is just billowing from the roof. There are also ambulances here." More eyewitness reports: "An air-conditioning unit fell out of building and landed at feet of firemen...Mai and her daughter are both on-scene. The daughter is said to be simultaneously bawling and taking pictures. The owner is just crying." It seems to be intense: "You can definitely feel the heat even behind the safety cordon," the eyewitness says. We've got people on the scene, so check back for photos and news. Twitter pictures are popping up on the net, too. But it doesn't sound good, if you're a fan of Mai's. The restaurant, which opened in 1978, says it was the first Vietnamese restaurant in the city. http://twitpic.com/13fgvr
WHAT THE HELL omg no no no no no no no no no WHY! I LOVED MAIS! I WAS GOING TO MAIS TODAY! I am about to cry, why cant crappy restaurants like any of the ones in discovery green burn down...not delicious MAIs! I guess this is Karma for not splitting checks after midnight.
Total bummer. For those unfamiliar: In 1978, roughly three years after settling into the United States, the Nguyen family opened a pool hall on Westheimer and Dunlavy, (which now stands as a tattoo parlor). Shortly after, they moved to Bell street to expand their pool hall to a more elaborate Billiards and sandwiches establishment called Mai’s Bida (meaning billiard in Vietnamese). This was a 24 hr, 7 day a week operation that the family worked strenuous hours to serve their patrons. After numerous requests and realization that the majority of their revenue was generated from the food sales such as their delicious Vietnamese sandwiches and dishes, Mai’s Bida relocated to its current home on Milam and became the Mai’s restaurant as we see it today, a full service Vietnamese food establishment. They broke out the old family recipes and polished their taste buds determined to provide quality Vietnamese meals. Originally started by Phim and Phac Nguyen as a means to support their migrant family of eight children, Mai’s has flourished to fulfill both a need and a vision. Mai’s restaurant was the first Vietnamese restaurant in Houston, making it a pinnacle among its competitors to be the first to introduce Vietnamese cuisine to Houston, but also an establishment that is in a league of its own. Mai’s has been the “late night spot” since its doors first opened in 1978. The fact that the management chooses to keep its doors open into the wee hours of the morning in order to accommodate Houston’s night life spectators has attributed to much of the restaurant’s success. In 1991, Phim and Phac decided their years in the service industry were long over due and handed down the business onto Mai Nguyen, the daughter in which the restaurant’s name was inspired. In Vietnamese translation, the name Mai represents a golden flower that never dies yet continues to blossom throughout each of the four seasons of the year. Mai Nguyen has certainly lived up to her name as well as the reputation of her restaurant. Today, Mai’s has a strong following of regulars that clearly represent the diversity of the City of Houston – from college, medical and law students, to club-goers and downtown business professionals alike, through every ethnic group. With its vast and extensive menu selections, Mai’s Restaurant offers a serving that is surely to fulfill any appetite – from strict vegans to the downright meat-lovers or the seafood delighters. Their regulars are not just limited to Vietnamese folks searching for some home cooking – Mai’s has rapidly become a hang out, a dining destination for all ethnic groups. Mai Nguyen would be proud to say that she feels that the cooking she has offered for decades now has become part of the local cuisine in Houston, whether it be a 3am bowl of noodles or a family-style meal for any gathering.
damn that really sucks... it's not my favorite vietnamese place anymore, but this is a big loss. i'm sure they'll come back bigger and better, though.
Went there once; food wasn't really that great, but I know a lot of folks who swear by it. Sucks to see such a fixture around my office go down. I've been hearing helicopters all morning.
Isn't Brennan's going to reopen tomorrow after their Ike fire? Midtown gets one back and loses another...
Meh, after getting some rather stinky spring rolls I crossed Mia's off my list. Well that and one time around 97 I almost witnessed a drive by shooting or other violent act while eating. A car drove by and the entire staff started freaking out and as it backed up everyone got under their tables. After a few seconds a guy came in screaming "where is my brother? Where is my brother??" Noone seemed to know and the dude left and we promptly left without paying.
Oh man that's really unfortunate. I used to go there with my roommates every other week. We used to keep asking if there are pork in the Pho meat just so we can hear the waiter say "no, beep!" :grin: Anyways most of my Vietnamese friends say Mai's suck and I should go to this place at Bellaire for the real deal. Oh well, I liked its convenience since I used to take classes at HCC central. RIP Mai's.
