Eater Austin’s Top 11 Saddest Restaurant Shutters

For Classics Week, here's a look back at the biggest restaurant and bar shutters Eater Austin has covered in the past.

Spaghetti Warehouse
Closed: April 2011
The giant Spaghetti Warehouse closed after 40 years of operation in downtown. The landmarked building is now home to Capital Grille.

Aquarelle
Closed: September 2011
The 11-year-old French restaurant on West 6th Street closed in the fall of 2011. The building’s replacement was going to be a Latin concept, Chonita's, by owner and chef Theresa Wilson, but that never happened. Instead, she will open Sala and Betty, a new casual restaurant, on Airport Boulevard, this month.

Mike’s Pub
Closed: October 2011
The half-century-old hole-in-the-wall downtown bar was passed along for three generations before it closed. The landlord declined to renew their lease. Small Victory, a new cocktail bar opening this year, is taking over the space.

Nuevo Leon
Closed: March 2013
After failed attempts to save the Tex-Mex restaurant, Nuevo Leon finally closed after 31 years. The owner, Rachel Davila, took that as a sign to retire as well.

Fran’s Hamburgers South Congress
Closed: April 2013
After transforming from Dan's Hamburgers to Fran's Hamburgers in 1990, the South Congress burger joint closed after 40 years. The space was demolished this month to make way for the Torchy’s Taco new flagship.

SPIN Modern Thai
Closed: July 2013
The sudden shuttering of this critically acclaimed Thai restaurant was a surprise to all. Spin had a short-lived stint on the Eater 38 list. Some credit the closure on the rising costs of repairs, as well as the far north location.

Tamale House
Closed: May 2014
The long time Austin institution the Tamale House shuttered in the spring after the death of owner Robert "Bobby" Vasquez. His relatives carry on his tradition with Tamale House East.

Paggi House
Closed: May 2014
The historic Paggi House, housed in a plantation home that was over 200 years old, gave way to condo development in Town Lake. Rather than give up the restaurant's patio and parking lot, the owners opted to close instead.

Pour House Pub
Closed: June 2014
The longtime Burnet Road watering hole finally closed down last summer after hinting at shuttering for a year. Don’t worry, though: according to their website, there are plans to reopen within the Burnet Marketplace.

Players
Closed: November 2014
The former UT campus spot provided late-night burgers to students and more for 33 years. The university opted to not renew Players lease, and the space will most likely turn into a school facility or parking lot.

Update! Can't forget another sad campus shutter from 2014:

Dog & Duck Pub
Closed: October 2014

This beloved campus institution shuttered after months of rumors to make way for - sigh - new construction. A new East Austin location is in the works, which is great news, though the neighborhood and space will undoubtedly be a change for the UT regulars.