Browse the Collection
View a database that includes artifacts, photographs, and documents in the History San José collection which relate to Lou’s Village Restaurant in San José, California.
Share Your Lou's Village Story
If you were one of the thousands of people who ate at Lou's Village in San José, California, we want to hear your story. As we collect new experiences, we will add them to the website.
-Dave HickeyThroughout the seventies my parents dined in Lou's at least once a week, or so it seemed. They loved the food, but I think that what sent them back there so often was more the warmth of the staff and the personal touch they accorded the customers, now totally disappeared from any restaurant that I have patronized in the last 25 years. I joined my parents there often, and I remember the Muller brothers quite well, particularly Tom who was quite friendly to the customers. Few knew that he was once a part of the Beach Boys Band. I even dated one of the waitresses, named Colleen for a short while. There was also a very warm hostess/waitress of Dutch ancestry and accent who very execeptional (I wish that I could remember her name). In addition there was a Vietnamese waiter who was a linguistics scholar at San Jose State who went into a delightful mock tirade over his disdain for Noam Chomsky every time he saw me as we differed on the linguist's contributions. Lou's also provided a meeting place for the then aging San Jose gentry from the fifties, which added a great deal to some dining evenings. Probably what stood out for me as part of the menu was the appetizer tray. Restaurants have gotten away from little niceties like that in their collective efforts to be ultra sophisticated.
I miss Lou's very much.
-Patrick ReedIn 1979, just slightly ahead of the "80's "comedy explosion", Tom Muller took a chance on a group of local comedians just starting out. Performing in the bar area, we started out playing to a room of less than ten patrons, but eventually some Saturday nights packing 'em in! Some of the comedians who performed during that period were Mike Booher, Rick Sanchez, Patrick Reed, Doug Ferrier(who went on to win the 1984 SF Comedy Contest) and of course Kevin Pollack (Actor/Comedian).
The Comedy night at Lou's only lasted about three months, but they will last in the memories of the performers and anyone who shared in the laughter!
-Edith Lewis Walter“I miss Lou’s Village very much. We have attended weddings, New Year’s Eve parties, Mother’s Day Bruncheon, birthday parties, anniversary parties, organization meetings and just out to lunch or dinner since 1946 when they opened their restaurant.”
- Barbara Johnson“Lou’s Village had a feeling of community. When you went into the bar it felt like a place where everyone knew your name.”
- Tim Muller, Owner“We'd do summer picnics, barbecues, and we kids would serve the food. We'd go to catering parties with our dad. Those are the memories I have as a kid - good family work."
-Cindy Gilmore“I remember that the waitresses at Lou’s Village called everyone 'hon'...”
“I miss the excellent food, Ruben the head waiter, Sion the excellent chef, a feeling of being at a family dinner rather than a restaurant, and taking the shuttle to the Sharks games.”