Iconic Drive-Thru Party Barn Reopens With Keg Deliveries

After shuttering in March because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the iconic campus-area drive-thru liquor store Party Barn is back reopened, thanks to a couple of local real estate professionals. Party Barn is opening on Thursday, August 20 at 3300 Guadalupe Street.

The revamped Party Barn will carry a much larger selection of beer, wine, coffee, and other drinks, because of renovations that doubled the interior cooler space. It also sells various snacks. Party Barn offers online ordering and delivery — including tailgate delivery on game days (since football is still happening). Otherwise, customers can visit the store for contactless drive-thru service.

Meador Hall and Robert Ellis are the new owners of Party Barn. Hall explains, “Like most people who have been in Austin, we have memories of buying kegs or driving through to pick up beer at Party Barn.”

“We believe that the Party Barn is an Austin icon,” continues Hall. Because of that, the pair opted to stay true to the original look of the big red barn, with a few sprucing-up changes like new landscaping.

Party Barn/Facebook

As expected, opening during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved difficult. Hall reports that the commercial accounts they need to survive as a business have dissipated, but he hopes deliveries to homes and businesses will keep them afloat in the meantime.

Party Barn originally opened in 1978, but closed in March of this year, reportedly due to the pandemic and health problems of the previous owner. CultureMap reported that the site was going to be sold to a condo developer, but that fell through.

Traditionally, Party Barn has catered to students at the nearby University of Texas at Austin. The university has more or less resumed on-campus operations, though some courses have moved online. Students are required to quarantine for 14 days after arriving on campus, wear masks in buildings, and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. Notre Dame recently moved all classes online after off-campus parties reportedly caused an outbreak of COVID-19.

• Party Barn [Official]
• Party Barn [Facebook]
• New owner gets party started again after iconic Austin beer drive-thru shutters [CultureMap Austin]
• Party Barn announces permanent closure after 42 years on Guadalupe Street [Community Impact]