About me
My name is Jim Ellis. I am the oldest granchild of Andrew A. Brockles Sr. The purpose of this site is to collect memories of my grandad, the restaurant, the salad dressing, and the family.
I hope to get my brothers Chet and Mike, and the Brockles cousins to provide input and perhaps become contributors to this site. I have already received advice and background information from the remaining family elders: aunt Alethia, aunt Margaret and uncle Glenn, and uncle Arge. I was especially helped and encouraged by dear uncle Tommy who passed away in 2008.
Hey Jimmy, This looks great. I’ve got some photos you may like-of my dad’s first cafe and of his parents in Greece and my grandmother’s father Haralambos Nikolopoulos.
Alethia Brockles Alt
August 30, 2007 at 9:23 am
Thanks, Aunt Alethia! If you want to send me some pics, I will gladly scan them and return them to you.
As you email or talk to your family, please let them know about this website.
Jim
August 30, 2007 at 10:24 am
I just was told of this blog today by my daugher, Linda. Looks like a winner, so far, but there are a few corrections that need to be made in some of the historical data. I’ve also got some memorabilia you might be interested in. Jim, give me a call if you’re interested in before I forget everything. At 77, it’s going fast.
uncle Arge
September 10, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Thanks Uncle! Based on your inputs I created a new page entitled The Early Years to capture the information.
Jim
September 12, 2007 at 5:50 am
Hi! I am Alice. I worked as a waitress at Brockles Jr. Resturant during the summer of 1972 before I went off to college. Sophie was the manager then. Anyway, I married a preacher and we live in New Mexico. Over the years, I came up with a version of the dressing (which is my secret) and my family can’t get enough of it. I still eat it occassionally on crackers which could account for my “girlish figure” now. LOL!!!!
I heard that the Brockles Jr. burned down a couple years ago….and that another/different restuarant was built in its place.
Good to see this site. Take care!!
Alice (Woods) Smith
November 8, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Jim, I remember the Dallas restaurants Brockles and Jr during my youth; but I have the fondest memories of the Special Dressing and up into my adult years I had bought a jar of Brockles Special Dressing weekly and more for special occasions. We loved it and still do but now we miss it. If there were any way that the family could put the recipe back in production again I would buy it weekly and if you were to search the amount of folks on the net that are looking for it also. I’m sure there would be a lot of red tape to start up production but, if you were a mind to, the recipe might be produced by a company such as Kraft. Otherwise making the recipe for sale is an option. Reading your site is a sweet dedication to the famous family and I think I even remember seeing you grandfather. I was not aware of the other sauces that were made but seeing the label made me smile; I could almost taste the Special Dressing on a cracker. There are several knock-offs to the recipe; I have not tried them because some of the ingredients that they have suggested just does not seem right. There was another small diner in Oak Cliff on S Lancaster called Arthur’s you could go inside and get great fried chicken or set in your car and the carhop would bring your tray to you, but on every table and on every tray was a small clear glass of Brockles Special Dressing and crackers and also hot yeast rolls…those were the days! I hope other add to you site with good memories.
Lovingly Lana Young
Lana Young
November 8, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Just came across the website and think it is wonderful. So far the history seems correct and the remainder is acting as filling for my memory. Just for the record, Basil (Bill), Sr. was my granddad … making Basil, Jr. (1922-2002) my dad … meaning Basil (Bill) III is my brother.
My siblings and I have been thinking about making a small (50+ gallons) batch of the dressing to see if it could be done as well as the original brothers did. Will keep you informed as to our progress.
Love to all of the family,
Thom
Thomas Arthur Brockles
March 17, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Thanks for commenting, Thom. I added you to the family tree under the Greek Connection tab. If you would like me to add other siblings or other info, just let me know through email address in right sidebar.
Our best to you and yours,
Jim
March 18, 2008 at 6:08 am
My family loved your dressing we had to have it in our home at all times. My Mom ran out one time, Pop asked why, she said the price went up he said he diden’t care if it was 5.00 a jar that he liked it an she should buy it anyhow. This must have happned in the early 60’s. I am 58 and am still craving for the stuff there is still nothing like it on the market. I Now work with one of the next generation of the Brookshier Supermarket Clan I bet I could get the chain to carry it. let me Know if you go back into production.
Gary Frauman
March 23, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Thanks for the memories, Gary. However, no plans for producing the dressing again at this time.
Jim
March 30, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Hi Jim!
What a wonderful discovery, finding your website! My siblings and I were born in Dallas (I in 1962), and we moved to California shortly after my 10th birthday in 1972. We used to have some dear friends ship us a case of Brockles (fabulous) Dressing every so often until it was no longer available.
I’m going to make a batch for my brother and sister for each of their birthdays. They’ll get such a kick out of it! Do you happen to have a larger version of the label I could reproduce and put on their birthday gifts?
Jim, you’ve done a tremendous job on this website. It has brought back fond memories and even produced a tear or two. What a great part of my family’s history Brockles was.
Thank you for this wonderful gift!
David
David Tomb
January 15, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Growing up in Irving, nothing was better on a hamburger or sandwich than Brockles Special Dressing.
Can’t wait to try the recipe.
Thanks,
Teresa
Teresa
March 25, 2009 at 5:49 pm