Longtime Coffee Shop Austin Java Is Leaving Barton Springs

Austin Java, the local cafe mini-chain, is closing on 1608 Barton Springs Road. Its last day will be on Sunday, July 1. And there’s more: taking its place appears to be an Irish pub and restaurant. And then Austin Java is opening its next cafe down in far South Austin on 5404 Manchaca Road.

The reason for the shutter for this particular Austin Java, which opened in 1995, is because of increased property tax, according to a letter posted by Austin Java on its Facebook page. It’s hosting a farewell party on Saturday, June 30. Read the full note below.

Not much is known about the new Irish restaurant that will take over Austin Java’s Barton Springs home, aside from what collected from various job postings. The Irish pub’s menu will focus on fries and meat pies. It’s currently looking for a head chef, and it’s aiming to open in early September.

After Austin Java shuttered its original location up near North Lamar Boulevard, it revealed that it was expanding with these four new locations, though exact addresses weren’t given at the time.

That Manchaca address was originally longtime South Austin restaurant Bakehouse before it shuttered in 2014. Then-next-door neighbor Strange Brew wanted to turn the space into a 24-hour restaurant, but that never happened. (Strange Brew closed in 2017, and Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery is turning it into a new bakery and coffee shop, Captain Quackenbush’s Coffeehouse and Bakery, which is under construction.)

Along with the Manchaca location, Austin Java is also opening in San Marcos, near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and on far east Austin as part of the MetCenter.

Austin Java opened its Dripping Springs location in March 2018, but it is slated to include the coffee shop’s first-time brewery and taproom Distant State Beer Co., with head brewer Cody Rea.

Austin Java’s Shutter Notice

A Message to Our Beloved City:

As a long-standing contributor to the filling souls and wiring of weird, Austin Java Barton Springs, an Austin staple, will be opening its doors for the last time on July 1st. We will be relocating to 5404 Manchaca Road, which is slated to be open in early September!

The first Austin Java opened in 1995 as an eclectic, laidback, Austin-spot infused with great food, craft cocktails, and our house roasted coffee. We keep a strong focus on putting our guests first, and it has been an honor to serve our community for 20 years in such a special location. Austin Java Barton Springs has been a place for first dates, patio people-watching, comedy nights, family reunions, business luncheons, and pet adoption days, to name a few.

As a company, we are dedicated to providing quality food and exemplary service at an affordable price. As Austin continues to grow at an insane rate, so too does the cost of property tax. To stay in this location would mean a dramatic increase in menu prices in order to stay afloat and we don’t want our loyal, long-time patrons to suffer as a result. So, in order to maintain an affordable, family friendly, engaging, and comfortable atmosphere for all, we decided to move!

While we must say goodbye to this particular building that holds so many fond memories, we are ecstatic for what the future holds. Austin Java is excited to announce the opening of 3 new locations. Our Met Center location will be opening in early August, and our Landing location, near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, will be opening in late September. Finally, we will be opening an Austin Java coffee shop concept in San Marcos in just a couple of weeks on July 10th.

We could go on for hours about the love we have felt and the lessons we have learned without ever coming close to scratching the surface on the impression you as the community have left upon us. What better way to show you our appreciation than with a party! Join us June 30th as we take the time to reminisce all of the fond memories created throughout the years at this cherished location. We will have specials, live music, and tons of fun.

The spirit of Austin Java Barton Springs is something we all can keep alive by maintaining the connections of the people we met and grew to love there. We hope to see your familiar faces at our new locations, and if you can’t wait that long, stop by our location in City Hall or in Dripping Springs, where we will soon be opening a beer garden featuring beers from our very own Distant State Beer Co.

Cheers,
Austin Java Management Team

• Austin Java [Facebook]
• Wanted: Head Chef for Restaurant Startup [Craigslist]
• Head Chef/Kitchen Manager [Poached]
• Austin Java Is Closing North Lamar Cafe [EATX]