Revisiting "Office Space" Filming Locations 25 Years Later, Part I

I visited several magical Austin places where Mike Judge's 1999 classic was filmed to see how they're holding up in 2024

Jun 24, 2024

Foreshadowing for Part II. I’m wily like that. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)

Similar to what I just did with Dazed and Confused, I recently took it upon myself to visit several local Austin spots used for scenes in all-timer workplace comedy banger, Office Space. This sojourn, surprisingly, took me even further afield than Dazed’s did, and I saw a lot more of the city than I was expecting to (I’m looking at you, Domain area), partially due to Judge’s penchant for using different locations for interiors and exteriors.

Most of the places still at least vaguely resemble their 1999 selves, but, like Austin generally, there have been a lot of significant changes.

So, without additional TPS Reports, let’s get started with Part I:

Initech: The GOAT of Office Space locations. It may be a fictional company, but that doesn’t mean we all don’t know a real-world Initech. I like to believe that Judge was doing location scouting for the movie in 1998 and had a joyful eureka moment when he laid eyes upon this nondescript office building (4120 Freidrich Lane) just east of I-35 (perfect!) in Southeast Austin. The fact that it’s barely changed in 25 years instead of becoming a hip brewery with $13 IPA pints makes it all the better.

Hell on Earth (Photos: 20th Century Fox and Evil MoPac)

Chotchkie’s (Exterior): Some have suggested that Chotchkie’s shares a soul with the Chili’s at 45th/Lamar, but I’d fire back that the Office Space grub and sadness outpost has no soul at all—just crushing, forced flair-obsessed drudgery. It’s just so perfect that, 25 years later, it’s a sterile, north Austin bank in the Arboretum.

The food is better at Chase. (Photos: 20th Century Fox, Evil MoPac)

Chotchkie's (Interior): In 1999, it was The Old Alligator Bar and Grill, but in 2024 it’s the really solid Baker Street Pub & Grill on S. Lamar, and looks absolutely nothing like it did in the movie, instead offering a dark wood, old English feel modeled after Sherlock Holmes that has fish and chips and hearty ales perpetually in front of you while Man City plays in the background. No pieces of flair in sight. Huge upgrade.

Upgrade: Massive (Photos: 20th Century Fox, Evil MoPac)

The Walk Back to Initech From Chotchkie's: There was something so apropos about four unmotivated office workers lumbering back from yet another mid-shift coffee break using an unglamorous, storm gully short cut. This spot is adjacent to the Initech location and is almost as perfect as the industrial strip mall in serving up a glimpse into these souls’ bleak, bureaucratic existence.