Snack Bar Is Closing, Marking More Change for South Congress

Snack Bar is closing after seven years of serving South Congress. The last day will be on its anniversary, Sunday, October 30. Owners Bethany Andrée and Karl Gilkey had the opportunity to finish out the remaining lease, but decided to just close instead, according to the letter posted on its website.

Andrée and Gilkey explained the shutter:

Do we close now, knowing we can take care of our whole team OR do we hang on two more years in a growing city where the restaurant scene is tumultuous at best? In the last year alone, five new restaurants are on South Congress and dozens have opened within a mile's radius. We chose the right thing to do for us personally and our Snack Bar family.

The closure comes on the heels of impending renovations for Austin Motel, where Snack Bar is located. Greenfield Partners purchased the hotel this past spring, and Bunkhouse overtook its management. While Standard International partnered with Bunkhouse, it is not involved with its Austin properties.

Snack Bar’s final day, which also happens to be its anniversary, will be marked with a party. It also looks like a new restaurant will come about with the changes: Fine Foods Diner.

Just across the street, a portion of the block from Academy Drive will be razed for a new mixed-use development, which means Doc's Motorworks Bar & Grill and the other businesses will close by the end of the year. Just behind that proposed project will be Lambert’s other hotel, Magdalena.

This article was updated to clarify what entity is operating Austin Motel.

All Coverage of Snack Bar [EATX]