Introduction to Lankford’s Grocery & Market
Lankford’s Grocery & Market has been a fan favorite in Houston for almost 90 years. The business was first opened in 1937 as a fruit stand by Aubrey and Nona Lankford. Two years later, the couple moved to Lankford’s current location and expanded it into a mom-and-pop grocery store. The store remained a grocery store until the late 1970s and early ’80s, when their daughter Eydie Lankford Prior took over.
Evolution into a Restaurant
Eydie realized that it was time to surrender to bigger grocery stores like Kroger, H-E-B, and Randalls and branch out to open a full-service restaurant. Her son, Paul Prior, who took over the business in 2021 alongside his wife, Jessica, says the evolution came naturally. "It was kind of customer demand, plus just the changing of times," he says. "We had to make some changes to survive, and that’s why it became a restaurant."
Menu and Customer Favorites
The menu started off pretty basic, just regular burgers, cheeseburgers, and bacon cheeseburgers. But eventually, Eydie, who loved cooking, decided to experiment with different spices. One of the fan favorites is the Firehouse Burger, which boasts a half-pound patty and comes topped with habanero mustard, cayenne butter, jalapeños, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onion. Another fan favorite is the Grim burger, which was created by one of Lankford’s customers over 20 years ago. It’s made with mac and cheese, jalapeños, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a sunny-side up fried egg.
Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
In 2009, Lankford’s was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The show sampled its Firehouse burger, and Paul says this is what really put them on the map. "We had a line out the door the day after. [It was] all the way down the street," Paul says. "It probably got the word out across the city of Houston. Now we have people coming from Katy, the Woodlands, you know, [people] from all over come here."
New Ownership and Expansion
Just over a decade after the restaurant’s TV show debut, Eydie decided it was time for her to hang up her apron and hand over the business. Although Paul and Jessica both take care of Lankford’s, Paul has been pretty busy with the corporate life since the beginning of their marriage. So when the opportunity came for the couple to take over the business, Jessica became the actual owner. Given her constant involvement over the years, the decision wasn’t shocking. The biggest change since taking ownership is the addition of the Bellaire location that opened in 2023.
The Bellaire Location
The Bellaire location operates with a counter service, and it offers an expanded menu with cocktail options and a self-pour beer wall with 20 Texas craft beers priced by the ounce. The second location also has several TVs and a gated area for kids to play. Paul says this was done to encourage a family-friendly environment. The food offered also varies from the original location, with several entrées like grilled chicken, chopped steak, chicken fried steak, and Tex-Mex quesadillas, as well as an additional burger dubbed the 3B, or the Bellaire bacon burger.
Future Plans
Right now, Paul and Jessica are enjoying the fact that they’re getting the opportunity to build on Lankford’s history and are even eyeing further expansion. Although he isn’t sure where exactly, he hints that one of Houston’s suburbs could soon be home to a third spot. "We’re feeling more positive about future locations, so we’ll see what happens," he says. And given it’s always been a full family affair, they have high hopes that one of their children will help continue the legacy in the future.
Conclusion
Lankford’s Grocery & Market has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a fruit stand. With its rich history, delicious menu, and family-friendly atmosphere, it’s no wonder that it’s been a fan favorite in Houston for almost 90 years. As Paul and Jessica continue to build on the restaurant’s legacy, they’re excited to see what the future holds for Lankford’s. With its unique burgers, expanded menu, and plans for further expansion, Lankford’s is sure to remain a beloved institution in Houston for generations to come.
