Garbo’s Coming!

Posted on October 8, 2020 by dwightbrown

No, not Gabbo, Garbo’s.

By way of Austin Eater, we have discovered that Garbo’s is moving into the old Opal Divine’s Marina space (12709 North Mopac Expressway, in the same parking lot as the soon-to-be-defunct Fry’s).

This is great news from our point of view: Garbo’s makes excellent lobster rolls. While we’ve had them from the trucks more than once, we’ve only managed to get into the current sit-down space one time. That space is over in the Wells Branch area, and has actually been the home of many excellent restaurants (including the original location of Gumbo’s). The problem is, that space is just too darn small. With the expansion into the larger old Opal Divine’s space, and especially if they maintain the outdoor seating, this could be a whole lot more fun.

(Side note: you know who else has a really good lobster roll? Shore Raw Bar and Grill. This is an unpaid endorsement.)

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Shut down the company and give the money back to the shareholders.

Posted on September 8, 2020 by dwightbrown

That’s what Luby’s is doing.

Luby’s Inc. said Tuesday that it plans to liquidate its businesses and distribute the proceeds to its existing investors.
The Houston-based company had said in June that it was looking to sell its restaurants and assets.
Assets to be included in the proposed sale include Luby’s Cafeterias, Fuddruckers, real estate and the company’s culinary contract services business, it said. The company projects that it would receive between $92 million and $123 million in proceeds from its liquidation operations.
Luby’s said it values its property and equipment at $104 million. It had long-term debt of $57.3 million and obligations on operating leases of $22.7 million.

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Another shoe drops.

Posted on August 17, 2020 by dwightbrown

I missed this last week, but the Luby’s Cafeteria on Brodie Lane is closed.

Good.

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Austin Java Closes Three of Four Locations

Posted on August 5, 2020 by lawrenceperson

Three more restaurants fall victim to the Wuhan coronavirus:

Austin Java will close three locations in Austin and Dripping Springs, including the cafe’s City Hall, Met Center and Dripping Springs locations, according to an Aug. 4 social media announcement that referenced coronavirus as the reason for downsizing.

“It’s been a rough few months for us,” read the post. “We intend to keep serving up your favorite java and eats at our Menchaca location and find some new spots to rebuild post-COVID[-19].”

With the closing of Austin Java’s City Hall location at 301 W. 2nd St., Austin; its Met Center location at 7701 Metropolis Drive, Austin; and its location at 3799 Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs, only the company’s 5404 Menchaca Road location in South Austin remains.

Not to be confused with Cafe Java, which is still open…

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Another one down.

Posted on July 15, 2020 by dwightbrown

Dart Bowl is closing.

Yes, it is a bowling alley. But:

The Dart Bowl Cafe is one of the attractions that has always made Dart Bowl unique and special. Sure, you can get a burger and maybe even a chicken-fried steak at bowling alley diners across Texas, but how many offer enchiladas covered in chile con carne and served with homemade toast?
The cafe, which at times might have an even bigger crowd than the actual bowling alley, helped define Dart Bowl as a one-of-a-kind Austin cultural institution, one that was featured in Richard Linklater’s film “Boyhood” and the TV show “Friday Night Lights,” and its weathered wall features an array of graffiti and autographs from Ethan Hawke, Lance Armstrong and at least one Texas governor.

Never ate there, though.

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Stuff’s getting serious.

Posted on June 24, 2020 by dwightbrown

Franklin Barbecue closes temporarily after worker tests positive for coronavirus

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Black Walnut Cafe Closes Both Austin Locations

Posted on June 23, 2020 by lawrenceperson

Well, darn: “It is with a heavy heart that we must announce we have decided to permanently close both of our Austin locations at Four Points and Austin Commons as of today, June 22.”

A shame, as they made a very tasty burger, and have the mad scientist soda fountain machines that are probably frowned on in the current climate.

Most of their Houston locations are still open (though the Sugar Land location is temporarily closed).

Added by Dwight: their breakfasts were pretty good as well. I’d go so far as to say I liked them better as a breakfast sport than a lunch/dinner spot.

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Be More Closed.

Posted on June 12, 2020 by dwightbrown

Be More Pacific, a Filipino restaurant on Shoal Creek, has shut down.

The reason behind the North Shoal Creek restaurant is because of the “forced closures from COVID-19, the incredibly slow reopening process and the future economic uncertainty,” according to the Facebook post. The Houston location of the restaurant remains opens [sic].

We never ate there, but we’ve eaten at other restaurant incarnations in that space. Could this be another spot of the damned?

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Cafe Josie Closes

Posted on June 10, 2020 by lawrenceperson

Another restaurant that used to be a contender bites the dust:

After 15 years of working at Cafe Josie, the last seven of those as owner, the 38-year-old Taylor decided it was time to turn off the lights for good at the West Sixth Street restaurant established by his mentor, chef Charles Mayes, in 1997.

“My connection with Cafe Josie runs deeper than anything I have in my life,” Taylor told the Statesman recently. “It’s been a painful two months once I made that decision, and I’m still struggling with it, whether or not I made the right decision.”

The coronavirus devastated Austin’s economy and disrupted its culture in mid-March, as dining rooms were forced to close, but Taylor had already come to terms with Cafe Josie’s future a couple of weeks earlier.

Taylor says his restaurant experienced four record-breaking years in a row under executive chef Todd Havers, but with his lease ending in 2021, Taylor expected his rent to double. He countered this anticipation with plans to add lunch service, Saturday brunch and a catering operation, which he thought would bring in enough money to help the restaurant thrive into the future.

But Taylor says his landlord, Larry McGuire, whose companies own the Pecan Square shopping center and operate the adjacent Clark’s, was not amenable to expansions of the restaurant’s footprint that were part of Taylor’s plans.

Cafe Josie used to be one of our favorite fine dining venues, but after the millennium their menu changed and it didn’t seem to be as good. Also, parking has simply gotten far more difficult to find over the years.

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Heh. Heh. Heh.

Posted on June 5, 2020 by dwightbrown

By way of the Statesman:

Luby’s, the beloved Texas cafeteria chain and home of the famous LuAnn platter, is looking to sell its restaurants and assets, the company announced Wednesday.The Houston-based company’s board decided to pursue the sale after a review of operations that included the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a news release.

I HATE cafeterias. (Insert “Rex Humbard’s Soup Kitchen” story here.) So I am filled with delight down to the bottom of my shriveled coal black heart at the prospect of Luby’s closing down and being replaced with something worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the Luby’s Corporation also owns what’s left of Fuddrucker’s, and that’s also on the table for sale. Or they might just sell the whole company. I guess it depends on who is willing to offer how much for what in the current economy…

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