Uniquely Texas: West Alabama Ice House

Icehouses are going the way of kick-start motorcycles. These little gems aren’t found up North or even outside of Texas. So when you find a good one, you want to add it to your collection of special places.

One such distinctive location is the unforgettable West Alabama Ice House located at 1919 West Alabama at McDuffie. On the outskirts of Montrose, in the shadow of Downtown, is this Houston landmark that has been around since 1928 serving the thirsty public including us thirsty bikers.

To put how long this place has been serving beer into perspective, in 1928 Herbert Hoover was president, the cost of a first class stamp was two cents, the first television was sold for $75, penicillin was discovered and Disney released the first talking cartoons.

On a recent Friday evening we stopped in to enjoy the ambience of the icehouse and camaraderie of friends. The place was in full swing by the time I pulled up and parking was at a premium unless you ride a bike – then there was parking conveniently at the front. Otherwise you would find yourself hiking it from a block or two in the neighborhood behind the place.

Hot dogs were being cooked on the grill and a band was playing on the stage, as happens every Friday night in the spring, summer and fall. The picnic tables front and back were full and everywhere you looked people were enjoying themselves. A dog or two or three were lounging under tables by their owner’s feet. In general the crowd was taking great pleasure in the weather, the band, the icehouse, the free dogs and the ice-cold brew.

By and large all varieties of people stop in here, from blue to white collar, country boys to bikers, neighborhood folks and downtown workers traveling homeward.

Pete Markantonis, took over proprietorship from, and has followed in the wise teachings of, his father, Gerasimos “Jerry” Markantonis. Pete remembers to be a good neighbor at all times to the inhabitants of the neighborhoods around the icehouse. (So, this is not the place to rev up the bikes and show how loud you can be). Since Pete grew up around the place he knows what makes it work and how to keep his neighbors happy which is imperative to remaining in operation. Jerry Markantonis bought the icehouse in 1947 and it has continued to be operated by the Markantonis family since that time.

Pete told us that during the summer months, the icehouse has a fan hooked up to the awnings that blows mist over the patrons to keep them comfortable, (well as comfy as is possible in 100 plus degree heat!). In those few Houston months that turn cold, the plastic walls come down and there is pool table and a totally rocking jukebox for indoor entertainment.

While we were hanging out there was a pizza guy selling slices and a couple with homemade beef, pork or chicken tamales for sell. (I couldn’t pass up the tamales so a...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "West Alabama Ice House". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of Mar / Apr 2005 where this article was originally published.

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