Update: Forever-Christmas Dive Bar Lala’s Reopens Under New Owners

Word on the street is that Christmas-forever iconic dive bar Lala’s Little Nugget is closed indefinitely, temporarily and there might be is a new owner on the way. Recently, inquiries over the status of the bar—which has been open since 1972—surfaced over the tipline and popped up on Reddit and Yelp.

Over the past ten days, several of Eater operatives’ attempts to visit the bar during regular business hours were fruitless. A staffer from nearby convenience store Bread Basket told Eater that owner Frances Lala sold it to someone who wants to remodel the space and intends to keep the name. Nothing on the exterior of the building indicates any sign of construction, and there aren't any new building or construction permits currently on file with the city.

Lala’s last week. [Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/EATX]

The phone number currently attached to Lala’s isn’t functioning. A recording states the number has changed, but no forwarding number is included. A recent call from Eater HQ to another phone number attached to the bar went straight to voicemail. The tipster told Eater that a neighbor said the dive bar held a closing party on Saturday, August 29. The current TABC permit on file will expire on October 15, 2015. If anyone has any information, hit the tipline. Watch this space for updates.

Update, September 9, 11:20 a.m.: The Austin Business Journal reports that FBR Management is taking over ownership of Lala’s. Partnering with nearby residents, it plans reopen the bar. Owned by Matt Luckie and Jeff Waughtal, the entity manages restaurants and bars like Stubb’s, Star Bar, and Rattle Inn. It also oversees beer and liquor at ACL and Lollapalooza. Liquid Austin also reports that the bar will be expanded a little. Eater has reached out to FBR for more details. Update, 11:37 a.m.: Lala's will reopen on Friday, September 11 according to a press release. Neighbor Kelly Chappell said of FBR Management:

"We saw the way the team updated Mean Eyed Cat, it still reflects the best of the place but is better, and we hoped to maintain the flavor of Lala’s in a similar way. So regulars note: The Bloody Mary will not be changing."

Update, September 11: Lala's reopening is being pushed back to next week, according to press release, because of permitting issues.