[1] In 1979, Sanford and Susan Criner opened Rockefeller's to serve as a performance space for Houston's music scene.
The Criners wanted to create a place where both local talent and already-established acts could play to Houston crowds.
[2] They already owned a former bank building, designed by Joseph Finger in 1925; they turned it into a club and used proceeds to renovate the space.
The old bank vault became an artists’ dressing room, while the large lobby created a distinct acoustic atmosphere.
The owners of Star Pizza purchased the building and it was a private event and wedding space from 1999 to 2014.