Austin Honky Tonk Landmark Broken Spoke Damaged in Robbery

Legendary South Lamar honky tonk bar Broken Spoke was damaged during a robbery in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday, July 30. There is a GoFundMe set up for the bar.

Per a social media post and video of the robbery, three men in sweatshirts rammed a truck into Broken Spoke in an attempt to get to an ATM on the porch, which they loaded into the truck and drove away with. Owner James White estimated they caused about $3,000 worth of damage to the dance hall, and another $3,000 in damages to the ATM.

In an interview with Fox 7, White called the robbery “kicking me when I’m down,” as the Broken Spoke closed between March 16 and May 21 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and just had to close again per the governor’s orders last week. However, after the robbery, a crowd of volunteers showed up to help repair damages.

Broken Spoke, a bar, restaurant, and dance hall, opened in 1964, and is considered a bastion of old Austin and classic Texas country music on the developing South Lamar area.