East Austin Dive Bar Hard Luck Lounge Is Closing

Hard Luck Lounge, the dive bar and music venue out in East Austin, is closing, as reported by the Chronicle. Its last day on 3526 East 7th Street in the Govalle neighborhood will be on Saturday, November 23.

Co-owners Denis O’Donnell and Marshall weren’t able to “secure a long-term lease,” as they told Chronicle. It was tricky keeping the bar busy during bad/cold weather days, since it consists mostly of the large patio area with a tiny indoor space.

It was also difficult to keep up with the changing neighborhood, but “I’m not going to sell you $10 cocktails,” as O’Donnell said to Chronicle. “I don’t know how to do that, and I don’t want to do that.”

O’Donnell and Mchone opened Hard Luck in 2015. The bar became one of the city’s go-to places for people in the bar industry to relax. O’Donnell and Mchone, along with Nathan Hill, opened East Sixth honky tonk bar White Horse in 2011.

• Hard Luck Lounge Is Closing [Chronicle]
• All Coverage of Hard Luck Lounge [EATX]