Galveston’s Hubcap Grill now open on the Strand

The fourth Hubcap Grill location is now open at 2021 Strand in Galveston, Oct. 26, 2016. The fourth Hubcap Grill location is now open at 2021 Strand in Galveston, Oct. 26, 2016. Photo: Darla Guillen/Houston Chronicle Photo: Darla Guillen/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 54 Caption Close Galveston’s Hubcap Grill now open on the Strand 1 / 54 Back to Gallery

Hubcap Grill is now open in Galveston, and it's offering something different than its three sibling establishments.

Owner Ricky Craig converted his former concept at 2021 Strand, Harborside Mercantile, into a Hubcap Grill with a full bar and a few new menu items.

Craig cites staffing issues as the reason for the change. "Help is very hard to find on the island. In Houston we have our problems too, but it's worse here in Galveston," he explains, describing how employees would fail to show up for dinner service shifts.

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Harborside Mercantile required roughly 30 people on hand, where Hubcap Grill is fully staffed with about 12 people.

"I'm bringing in staff from my other locations, paying them a little bit more by the hour, and they get overtime. So everyone's happy," he says.

Craig says another reason he shut down Harborside Mercantile to open a Hubcap Grill is the demanding schedule the full-service establishment required. Craig explains he could rarely leave the island, which was a problem because he's currently overseeing all of his locations: two in Houston, one in Kemah and another – the fifth outpost – set to debut at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Craig anticipates that the airport Hubcap Grill will be open by early to mid-November.

All factors considered, Craig got to work refitting the space and reapplying for city permits.

Inside, the delicate glassware on the space's built-in shelves have been replaced by car rims – the same decorative touch that outfits the other Hubcap Grill locales. There's also a lounge with diner-style seating next to the bar area.

Craig's father, a Galveston native, helped to decorate the space. "My dad's Mr. Décor, fixing everything up," he says.

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One Harborside Mercantile component that's endured is general manager Cedomil "Chedda" Slokar, who heads the bar. The menu includes beer, wine and classic cocktails, including negronis, palomas and juleps with ginger beer and juices made in-house.

As for the food, expect all of the seasonal and mainstay burgers from the other locations, as well as chicken sandwiches, salad bowls and the New Orleans-style muffaletta from Harborside Mercantile – Craig says island regulars asked him to keep that on the menu. He's still sourcing ingredients from the same local vendors that stock his other outposts.

Craig says he won't offer lunch specials because his menu's already competitively priced. "You can eat here under $10," he says. Burgers at the counter-service restaurant start at $5.50, fries at $2.25 and 4-slider entrée at $5.99. Specialty burgers range from $6.99 to $8.49.

"This is what Galveston needs: relaxed, local, laid-back, no servers, just order at the register. You don't have to be all fancy," Craig, who has a second home in Galveston, says. "We're a true burger joint."

Hubcap Grill, at 2021 Strand, can be reached at 409-220-3551; hubcapgrill.com