Owners plan on rebuilding decades-old Montrose sports bar after being destroyed by overnight fire

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The owners of Griff's Irish Pub in Montrose say they will rebuild after an overnight fire destroyed the beloved institution.

Griff's was best known for its St. Patrick's Day celebration and support of local sports teams.

"The state senate just gave a proclamation that we are now the oldest Irish sports pub in the state of Texas," original owner Michael Griffin said.

Griffin opened the bar in 1965.

Griff, as he goes by, is originally from Boston but moved to Houston on a basketball scholarship at St. Thomas University.

After opening the bar, the first singer he ever brought in was Janis Joplin.

"She said the last thing you should hear is a 'thank you' from your group. That's when I turned to her and said, 'Thank you, what is your name?' She said, 'Janis Joplin.' She said, 'If you treat people good, I'll guarantee, you might be here for over 50 years.' Now, like I said, it's 57," Griffin laughed.

The fire happened at Griff's Irish Pub on Roseland Street just before 4 a.m. Friday.

When Houston firefighters arrived at the scene, they were faced with heavy flames and smoke in the front of the building.

Fire officials said they had a difficult time putting out the flames due to strong winds. Firefighters also had trouble getting inside the building due to security.

"Once in place, they made a valiant effort to knock the fire down from the interior, but there was just too much fire," Clyde Gordon with HFD said. "So, we had to go defensive for a few minutes, knock it down from the exterior, and now they are back interior."

Gordon said it appeared the fire started in the front of the building, closest to the street.

The building was unoccupied at the time, and no one was hurt.

Firefighters said the age of the building made it more difficult and more dangerous to fight the fire.

The bar was also known for its clientele.

Famous athletes and NASA astronauts have been inside over the years.

"If you drove past here, you would never have guessed the kind of clientele they drew," said Ian Martin, a member of the Houston Highlanders Pipe Band, which has been performing at the bar for years. "I met so many astronauts here it was not even funny. Here I'm thinking, 'you're coming to a little bar in Texas?'"

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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