If you haven’t heard of Rose’s Hamburgers — the tiny, alley-entry burger shop that once operated off Greenville Avenue in Dallas — you’re not alone.
The restaurant closed more than 20 years ago, but longtime Dallas residents still describe it as one of the city’s most memorable hidden gems. And for those curious about what became of the shop and the woman behind it, here is what we know.
Our reader Jan Phillips asked Curious Texas: I wonder what happened to Rose’s Hamburgers on Greenville Ave., and the two sisters who ran it?
The restaurant, officially called Rose’s Bluebonnet Sandwich Shop, was located at 4515 Greenville Ave., accessible only through a narrow alley near Yale Boulevard, now known as SMU Boulevard.
Curious Texas
Its “unusual” back-door entrance, modest setup, and loyal following made it a quiet but enduring part of Dallas’ food history.
Originally, Rose’s Bluebonnet Sandwich Shop served breakfast and plate lunches. Eventually, the menu became only hamburgers and cheeseburgers (and packaged chips) that were beloved.
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Rose Elizabeth Slovacek Stivers took over the business around 1939 or 1940.
For more than six decades, she ran the restaurant herself, earning a devoted customer base and a reputation for simple, well-made burgers.
The front door stayed locked; the regulars always knew to come through the alley.
Rose, born in 1914 in Alma, died Dec. 1, 2003, just two days before her 89th birthday.
Soon after, the restaurant closed, ending one of the city’s longest continuously operated eateries under the same ownership.
Her obituary lists three siblings — Edith Sedlacek, Emma Hrbacek, and Henry Slovacek. While many remember seeing family members helping around the shop, no records show that her sisters co-owned or managed the restaurant.
Rose Slovacek Stivers, the owner of Rose’s Bluebonnet Sandwich Shop in Dallas, died in 2003. Her obituary ran on the cover of the Metropolitan section of The Dallas Morning News.
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Most reports and recollections agree that Rose handled nearly every part of the operation herself, with family support in the background.
The lasting image of “two sisters running Rose’s” likely comes from those family ties or from the welcoming, home-style atmosphere Rose cultivated. But from available records, Rose’s Bluebonnet Sandwich Shop remained her personal venture from start to finish.
Over the years, Rose’s earned a devoted following that stretched beyond the immediate neighborhood. Dallas chef Dean Fearing, known for elevating Southwest cuisine, has spoken about eating there as a young man – describing it as one of those places where the simplicity was the magic. Local lore holds that Mickey Mantle, a Hall of Fame baseball player, stopped by when traveling through Dallas, adding a touch of celebrity mystique to the place.
Today, the restaurant is remembered as a Dallas hidden gem that closed quietly after operating for more than 60 years.
Janet Leal (from left), Larry Leal, Barbara Horn, and Nader Ayoub enjoy hamburgers at Rose’s Bluebonnet Sandwich Shop at 4515 Greenville Ave. in 2002.
Richard Michael Pruitt/2002 File Photo / 172675