Local steakhouse, nightclub serves up good times for nearly three decades

ROYSE CITY, TX (March 16, 2015) As the saying goes, everything’s bigger in Texas. And if there’s any place that exemplifies that phrase to a tee, it would have to be Southern Junction Nightclub and Steakhouse.

Located at 5574 Highway 276 in Royse City, Southern Junction offers the distinctive experience of a steakhouse serving up good (and big) food in a fun nightclub atmosphere.

“We have all of the staples of the Texas experience,” said co-owner Charles Houk. “We have a big dance floor, live music every night, a mechanical bull, pool tables and the best hamburger that nobody’s ever heard of.”

So just what is the best hamburger no one’s ever heard of? It all begins with the restaurant’s cook-your-own steak feature. Folks can choose from a variety of steaks cut by the cooks at Southern Junction, season the meat however they desire and then cook it right on the two huge hickory charcoal grills – each 16 feet long and four feet wide – located conveniently inside the steakhouse. Of course, you can also let the cooks on hand prepare the steak for you.

According to Houk, the trimmings leftover from the steaks are used to make those flavorful Southern Junction hamburgers.

“As you cut those [steaks] you wind up with scraps from them, which we grind up and make hamburgers out of,” Houk said. “So you might get a Filet Mignon burger, you know, that you pay eight bucks for. It’s the best hamburger that no one’s ever heard of, is the way I describe it.”

Open Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. (3 a.m. on weekends), Southern Junction offers specials three nights a week. Wednesday night’s two-for-one special grants those who purchase a steak dinner and two drinks a complimentary steak dinner. Thursday night features all manner of specials including all you can eat barbecue ribs and flat iron steaks, free dance lessons, half priced drinks all night long, free pool after 9 p.m. and no cover charge if you’re over 21.

Friday night is Ladies Night where gals 18 years and older get in free and can enjoy all kinds of specials including a balloon drop with the chance to win free cash, concert tickets, vacation trips and more.

To top it off, Southern Junction has also played host to country music legends such as Garth Brooks, the Charlie Daniels Band, Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, as well as to some more modern popular country artists like the Randy Rodgers Band and Casey Donahew.

Recently, co-owner and founder of Southern Junction, Paul Morelan, sold his share of the business after 30 years. Paul and his wife, Sandy, bought the place in 1987 and turned the 20,000 square foot facility into the unique venue it is today. Stepping into Morelan’s position as co-owner is Chris Harlow, who managed the business through the ‘90s.

Houk, meanwhile, moved out to the area with his family from the east coast and fell in love with the lone star state. When he first stepped foot into Southern Junction, he said it epitomized everything he loved about Texas.

“The first time I walked into this place I thought, this is what Texas is all about,” Houk said. “From good and big food for a great price to people dancing to the live music and just living it up and having a good time.”

With a building 20,000 sq. ft. in size, a dance floor measuring 2,000 sq. ft. and seating for 500 people (up to 1,500 for a concert), it’s easy to see why Southern Junction has continued to draw more and more people to its doors for the past 30 years.

“There’s very few places you can go get a good meal, stay for hours at a time and have a good time while you do it,” Houk said. “We’re not trying to feed people and then turn the table over and get somebody else sitting there. If you make a reservation, you have that table for the whole night if you want it. For only $30 – $6 entry fee and a $21 meal – you can have a good time all night long. Where else can you really get that? As long as this place has been around, and as many people who keep coming back, and as good a time as they have, it’s a great value.”

To make reservations, view the menu or find out about upcoming shows, visit southernjunctionlive.com.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News staff writer. Photos by Richard Redig.