Exploring history of Ritz Hotel in Port Arthur, Texas.

Ritz Hotel was located in the heart of a black neighborhood in Port Arthur, Texas. Ritz Hotel was one of the many businesses that were located at the intersection of 7th Street & Texas Avenue on the West Side of the city.


Ritz Hotel first opened in 1921. The hotel operated inside a single story maroon colored brick building. Willard G. Fowler owned and operated Ritz Hotel for many decades. This hotel surrounded a portion of what was once ILA Hall and is currently Holiness Pentecostal Sanctified Church. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1126208/)

The hotel was remodeled and retrofitted in 1938. A cafe called Ritz Cafe was opened in the same building in 1939. Ritz Cafe was listed as one of the dispensers for Canadian Ace Beer. “Beer in the distinctive green bottle Beer with the charm“ was the slogan. Their cafe had the highest amount of beer and liquor sales in the city. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-aug-02-1940-p-4/)

According to the Port Arthur News newspaper, Ritz Cafe and Ritz Hotel started serving liquor in 1940. Willard G. Fowler applied for a liquor permit in August 1940. This hotel was the only hotel in Port Arthur known for selling hard liquor. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-aug-16-1940-p-14/)

“Notice is hereby given that Willard G. Fowler, owner of Ritz Cafe and Hotel, 700 Texas Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas, has applied to the Texas Liquor Control Board for a package store permit under the exceptions provided in Section 5, Art. 667-23a, R. S., Texas. WILLARD G. FOWLER”

Not too many businesses in Port Arthur sold hard liquor. Ritz Hotel was the exception in this case.

However according to The Negro Travelers’s Green Book of 1959, Ritz Hotel is listed as being located at 708 Texas Ave instead of 700 Texas Ave. This could meant that Willard G. Fowler could have purchased additional land or had the addressed changed for his hotel. Since this hotel was located on the black side of town, black patrons frequented this hotel. (Ref: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/The_Negro_Travelers%27_Green_Book_1959.pdf)


Curley Adams. Jr. became owner of Ritz Hotel in 1967 after William G. Fowler sold him the property. This brought forth a few changes some of the buildings around the hotel property were demolished. The maroon colored brick building remained in place while other buildings were demolished such as the manager’s house and a storage building.

Film star Rock Hudson fell ill and died at the Ritz Hotel in 1985. His personal business manager Mark Miller advised him to enter the American Hospital in Paris France immediately. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-jul-25-1985-p-2/)

Ritz Hotel shut down in 1994 after Curley Adams Jr was forclosed against by the City of Port Arthur. 2 years later in 1996, Curley Adams Jr transferred his property to the City of Port Arthur.

Sometime in 2005 is when the maroon colored brick building was demolished. Not much remains at all since most of these buildings at this intersection have been demolished. All that remains is Holiness Pentecostal Sanctified Church.

The former address for Ritz Hotel was 700 Texas Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas, US 77642. The current address of Ritz Hotel is 700 Freeman Avenue, Port Arthur, Texas, US 77642.