Some Austin Places That You (Might) Miss

A trip down memory lane at Sign Bar

If you know Rooster Andrews, you know Rooster Andrews. It’s not getting a write up here, but we miss it!

It has become a bit of a meme for me to playfully mock Austinites of all duration lamenting a purportedly “iconic” place closing to make room for a new labradoodle day spa or generic yoga studio. But a recent trip to far East Austin’s Sign Bar made me wax a but nostalgic for several places that I miss. (No, the recently-shuttered Applebee’s @ 290/MoPac isn’t on that list.)

For those who don’t know, Sign Bar opened almost a year ago with a, frankly, genius idea of a cool, Instagrammable outdoor/indoor space (including a maze!) that features a ton of old/original business signs from the Austin days of yore. While not all of the places have closed (I counted at least four Amy’s Ice Cream signs), the nostalgia here is thick and satisfying.

Better mascot than food, really

So steady yourself for a quick trip down memory lane, courtesy of a cool if not a bit hard to get to new Austin tavern.

Dart Bowl: Although the bowling traffic had gone down a bit toward the end, Dart Bowl’s (and its delightful Dart Bowl Cafe’s) pandemic closing still stung. A down to earth, vintage vibe that never felt forced or performative, it was just a cool space to bowl some frames, grab a few drinks, and, if hungry, scarf down one of Peggy’s Enchiladas.

I once bowled a 469 series here

Abel’s On The Lake: While we can debate its quality of the food and how much it had backslid by the time it shuttered in late 2021, there is no question that Abel’s was still a beloved lake Austin haunt for many locals. In a similar vein to The Oasis, this place was always much more about the vibes than the vittles—the vague combo smell of beer, sunblock, and boat motors never far away. But it’s hard to find anyone who has lived in Austin for more than 10 years who doesn’t have a memory about wiling some quality time away here. (FYI it’s recently emerged as another food & drink space.)

Boozy Austin Afternoons R Us

Burger Tex: A 50 odd year run in a city full of good burger options is no small feat, so there was a palpable sense of loss in 2020 when Asian-influenced, North Loop mainstay Burger Tex closed its final remaining location’s doors for good. It was called a “retirement,” but given the timing (March of 2020) it’s hard not to think COVID may lended a wicked hand in the decision. The iconic sign, beloved for its simplicity, is emblematic of the unique but zero frills life that this Austin institution lived. Seeing Austin’s recent influx of $17 burgers (with fries extra) only make this one hurt more.

Simple yet iconic

Dallas Nightclub: Long before Tinder or Steiner Ranch Swinging were things, a modest-looking Crestview nightclub served as Mecca for Austin’s hookup culture. Although very few admitted being sad when this meat market that would put Franklin BBQ to shame closed in 2016, the fact is that it was definitely of a thing for horny Austinites since it opened in 1981. Y’all know who you are.

More scoring than the Cowboys

Exposé: This church on the hill was to Austin strip clubs as Dallas Nightclub was to Austin hook ups, and some say it was also the best spot in town for a $6.69 steak and fries lunch. So when it abruptly closed down in 2019, it left many an Austin exotic dance/reasonable beer bucket price fan in search of a new lap dance flagship. It has since transformed into the reportedly substantially more upscale Red Rose. There is no word on drink minimums being enforced there.

Clutch accent use

Katz’s Deli: Yes, it had become a bit of a lightning rod for being, as the kids say now, “mid” near the end of its life, but it’s hard to deny that this West 6th Street icon didn’t provide a welcome bar time oasis for thousands of Austin folk looking to eat the next day’s hangover away. A startling lack of good delis in Austin made this one going away all the more glaring in 2016. "We rode so high for so many years. I just don't want to do it anymore," owner Marc Katz said at the end. Pour one out for Katz’s, y’all.

Iconic signage

Nau’s Enfield Drug: The concept of the soda fountain within a drug store has long ago moved on from the mainstream, relegated to the dustbin of American nostalgia, but this one in Clarksville kept it going (with some really decent, affordable food) until its bitter end in 2022. While most of y’all hadn’t visited it in decades if at all, in case anyone is worried about there being enough new Central Austin condos where erstwhile iconic local places had once been, you can rest easy (although the usual redevelopment battle lines are drawn).

There were enough cool signs here to do a part 2, and I might just do that. Hot the comments to tell me about the iconic Austin places of yore y’all miss most.