Original Christian's Tailgate to close May 24

A burger at Christian's Tailgate on Washington Avenue. A burger at Christian's Tailgate on Washington Avenue. Photo: Alison Cook Photo: Alison Cook Image 1 of / 53 Caption Close Original Christian's Tailgate to close May 24 1 / 53 Back to Gallery

May is National Hamburger Month, a time to celebrate all things beefy and good.

It is not the time for bad news about one of Houston’s burger institutions.

So let’s start with the good news: You still have two weeks to try the hamburger that critic Alison Cook decreed should be in a Houston Hall of Fame.

RELATED: Twenty juicy, must-try burger joints in Houston.

The bad news: The (almost) original Christian’s Tailgate will serve its last customer May 24.

“It’s tough, but 21 years is enough,” owner Steve Christian told the Chronicle.

Christian is handing over the keys on May 25 to a to a development company, which has plans to remodel and lease the space, which is neighboring several new apartment complexes. Christian sold his Midtown restaurant several years ago; the younger operating group subsequently opened three more locations.

Christian said his grandfather moved to Houston from Mexia, telling his wife that “there had to be a better way to make a living than working in the oil fields.” He opened the original Christian’s on North Main in the 1930s. Christian’s three great uncles and father were all involved in the restaurant business for a time.

“The restaurant and bar business is changing,” Christian said. “It is time to go.”

Christian, an inventor as well as burger master, has five patents and more pending. Last year he appeared on the ABC reality show “Shark Tank” with his invention the Table Jack, a table stabilizer.

The restaurant's regulars aren’t taking the looming closing well. The response has been huge, Christian said.

“You ought to hear them,” he said. “ ‘Where am we going to get our hamburger fix?’ I tell them I have to retire, too.”

Christian’s Tailgate: 7430 Washington, 713-864-9744

Browse the slideshow above to see photos of Christian's Tailgate on Washington.