photograph
Catalog Number
2024.6.60Description
Black and white photograph showing the original Russ' restaurant ca. 1944.History
John Russell "Russ" Bouws was born on 5-18-1914 in Graafschap, Allegan CO., MI to John and Jennie Bouws. Russ was a graduate of Zeeland High School, class of 1932, with a struggling egg business and dreams of becoming a farmer. However, the country was mired in a depression and prices for eggs, pork and beef were down.In 1934, the restaurant known as Doc's Barbeque was for sale. Doc's was located on the north side of Chicago Drive, between Highland Ave and Reed Ave. It consisted of a 12' x 16' wooden shack, a three-burner gas plate, a 12-inch skillet, a kitchen table and five chairs. There was also a Heatrolla (a coal burning heat stove) and a small sign for “Curb Service.”
Doc's found a new owner that year, when John Bouws paid $147 for the shack and contents. At 20 years of age Russ was now in the restaurant business. In those early years hamburgers cost 10¢ and coffee, milk, or Coke, 5¢.
In 1946 the business was moved to 361 East 8th Street. A new, larger restaurant was constructed on this site in 1949. This new facility would be known as Russ' Eastown. The 1949 building was torn down in 1983 and replaced by a larger Russ' restaurant.
In 1965 Russ' opened a restaurant in Muskegon, MI. This was followed by the 28th Street restaurant in Grand Rapids in 1970 and the River Ave location in 1973. The Grand Rapis Plainfield Ave location opened in 1974, Grand Haven's restaurant opened in 1976 and the Wyoming, MI location opened in 1976. 1978 saw the addition of the Portage restaurant, as well as Battle Creek's Russ'.