87-Year-Old Austin Restaurant and Live Music Threadgill’s Is Closed Forever

Historic Austin comfort food restaurant, bar, and music venue Threadgill’s is now closed permanently, as reported by the Chronicle and confirmed by its Facebook page. The Brentwood restaurant had stayed open for takeout and delivery service during the novel coronavirus pandemic in March, but then decided to stop three days later.

Owner Eddie Wilson is looking to sell the 6416 North Lamar Boulevard building, as reported by the Chronicle. He’s also going hold an auction to sell music memorabilia from the restaurant, much like he did with the South Austin location’s items when it closed two years ago.

Wilson also told the Chronicle that “there had been interest in ‘replicating’ his business,” but he didn’t want to do that.

This original location of Threadgill’s opened in 1933 as a gas station and beer bar by Kenneth Threadgill. The live music portion was added in the 1970s. Wilson took over in 1981, during which he opened the restaurant. He expanded with the South Austin location in 1996. That restaurant closed 22 years later because of low revenue, slim margins, and high property taxes and rent.

This is the latest permanent Austin restaurant shutter related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, during which dining rooms have been ordered to close in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. This includes Tex-Mex restaurant Enchiladas Y Mas (though it might come back under other family members), all-hours diner Magnolia Cafe’s West Austin location (the South Congress location is aiming to reopen), and North Austin brewpub North by Northwest.

• Threadgill’s Old No. 1 Closes Permanently [Chronicle]
• All Coverage of Threadgill’s [EATX]