Austin Restaurant Closings

A Running List of Austin Restaurant Closures in 2022

Vegan restaurant Counter Culture, vegan bakery Skull & Cakebones, sandwich bar Gourmands, and others

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated Dec 12, 2022, 1:12pm CST

A restaurant dining room. — Counter Culture.

This is a running roundup of every permanent restaurant, food truck, and bar closure throughout the Austin area in 2022 so far. See a closing that Eater Austin missed? Let us know over at austin@eater.com

December 2022

Counter Culture: The 10-plus-year-old vegan restaurant is closing at the very end of the year on December 31. Owner Sue Davis decided to not renew the lease. She had wanted to buy her own space but decided to pause that plan for now. (2337 East Cesar Chavez Street, Holly)

Gourmands Neighborhood Pub: The sandwich institution is closing down sometime around Christmas time after over 11 years of business. The address is being taken over by an unnamed restaurant group. (2316 Webberville Road, East Austin)

Skull & Cakebones: The vegan bakery is shutting down its physical location in the Hill Country on Sunday, December 18. Co-owner Yauss Berenji writes to Eater that the closure is due to high rents and a lack of staffing in the area. (3991 Highway 290, Suite A, Dripping Springs)

Le Politique: Technically, the French restaurant temporarily closed at the very beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, but its shutter is now confirmed to be permanent by its parent company New Waterloo. The downtown space will make way for a new restaurant from celebrity chef Michael Mina sometime in 2023. (110 San Antonio Street, Downtown)

November 2022

Gourdough’s Public House’s: The physical location of the doughnut shop closed up on November 6. A press release cites nearby construction, staffing shortages, high food costs, and more as the reasons behind the shutter. The South First truck remains open. (2700 South Lamar Boulevard, Zilker)

Three cups of gelato scoops, one pale, one pink, and another pale, in front of a tiled wall. — Gelateria Gemelli’s gelatos.

Gelateria Gemelli: The gelato and amaro cafe closed on November 1. Owner Andrew Sabola writes that the “business has not come roaring back substantially enough or us to climb out from our COVID hole.” He opened the shop in 2015. (1009 East Sixth Street, East Austin)

October 2022

Adelbert’s Brewery: The 11-year-old Belgian-style microbrewery announced in April that it would be permanently closing in October. Its last day of service was on Halloween, October 31. The building will be demolished for an eventual office building, and the team doesn’t plan on relocating the brewery operations at this time. (2314 Rutland Drive, Suite 100, North Burnet).

Hot Tacos: Veracruz All Natural’s Los Angeles-born truck spinoff closed its downtown residency on October 31. (75 Rainey Street, Downtown)

Indian Roller: The South Austin bar closed officially on October 22. (10006 Menchaca Road, South Austin)

Sushi Zushi: The Domain location of the Japanese Texas mini-chain restaurant closed in mid-October. The West Fifth street location remains open. (3221 Feathergrass Court, Domain)

Greenhouse Craft Food: Owner Rob Snow closed his Round Rock restaurant on October 16, as reported by Community Impact. (1400 East Old Settlers Boulevard, Suite 110, Round Rock)

Rosedale Kitchen and Bar: The New American restaurant from Chameleon Companies closed suddenly on October 15. Its parent company will turn the space into a new restaurant sometime in early 2023. (3800 North Lamar Boulevard, Rosedale)

40 North: The casual Neapolitan restaurant closed on October 9 at the end of its lease. Co-owners Taslim Jamal and chef Clint Elmore want to reopen somewhere eventually, but, at this point, “We feel the business has outgrown the building,” explains Jamal in a statement. (900 West 10th Street, Downtown)

La Barbecue and 40 North’s two sausage pizza — A pizza from 40 North.

Swift Pizza Co.: The pizzeria from Jacoby’s closed on October 9 because of a rash of break-ins. The owners turned the space into a new bar, Bosses Office, in early December with more security measures. (3223 East Seventh Street, Govalle)

Baby Greens: The salad drive-thru had to close on October 7 because owner Sharon Mays didn’t have enough staffers to keep the business open. (10611 Research Boulevard, Gateway)

September 2022

Vincent’s on the Lake: The lakeside restaurant closed on September 30 because of “economic conditions and low water levels,” according to the Facebook post announcement. (5973 Hiline Road, Emerald Point)

Visconti: The hotel Italian restaurant turned into a new hotel Italian restaurant, Laurel, in late September when Hotel Graduca became Hotel Viata. (320 Capital Of Texas Highway, West Austin)

The Steeping Room: The tea cafe closed on September 24. Co-owners Emily Morrison and Amy March declined to renew their lease in favor of growing their retail tea operation and eventually opening a tea tasting room. (4400 North Lamar Boulevard, Rosedale)

Cenote Windsor Park: The more-northern location of the East Austin cafe closed on September 18, because of high prices and low business. The East Cesar Chavez location remains open. (6214 Cameron Road, Windsor Park)

Crema Bakery & Cafe: The bakery and cafe closed on September 17 because founder Jessica Forkner Tomberlin couldn’t renew her five-year lease because of the money it would entail amid high supply/ingredient costs and staffing shortages. (9001 Brodie Lane, Suite B3, Far South Austin)

Three cookies in the shape of Texas with pink frosting and red text reading “Austin” on a white plate next to a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses on a wooden table. — Cookies from Crema.

East Austin Hotel’s Sixth and Waller, the Upside, and Pool Bar: The hotel’s parent company La Corsha Hospitality Group decide to shutter the restaurant, rooftop bar, and poolside bar in mid-September in favor of allowing one of its other restaurants, Second Bar + Kitchen to take over all food and drink operations and spaces as of September 15. (1108 East Sixth Street, East Austin)

Word of Mouth Bakery: The catering company of the same name decided to shutter its South First bakery on September 11. Owner Leslie Moore cited issues with balancing the two bakeries amid staffing shortages. He’s looking for a new tenant to take over the space. In the meanwhile, the catering company and the 12th Street bakery both remain open. (1506 South First Street, Bouldin Creek)

Reina: The bar and club closed on September 11 because its address will make way for a new residential building development (78 Rainey Street, Downtown)

Kerlin BBQ: Co-owners Bill and Amelis Kerlin permanently closed their barbecue truck on September 10. Their landlord said there was a planned development for the address, and the co-owners have no plans to reopen the truck elsewhere, but they still plan on offering barbecue catering and larger preorders. Their kolache truck remains open. (2207 East Cesar Chavez Street, East Austin)

August 2022

Dream Bakery: The gluten-free bakery closed on August 26 because of a “combination of skyrocketing costs, supply issues, and labor shortages,” as owner Karen Fry wrote on Instagram. The bakery was originally opened in Anderson Mill by Azar Owlia, Fry took over in 2016, opened the Well Branch location in 2018, and closed Anderson Mill in 2019. (14735 Bratton Lane, Suite 210, Wells Branch)

Plow Burger: The Hyde park location of the vegan truck closed on August 25. Its East Riverside truck is still open, and it took over the food operations of Buzz Mill’s East Seventh location. (4433 Duval Street, Hyde Park)

Plow Bao: The vegan Chinese food truck shuttered permanently as of August 20 because owner Joyce Ni is moving out of the state. (1505 Town Creek Drive, Riverside)

Rio Grande Tex-Mex Restaurant: The Tex-Mex restaurant’s Pflugerville address has closed as of August 7, according to its Facebook page, after 12 years of service. Its Hutto location remains open. (15821 Central Commerce Drive, Pflugerville)

July 2022

Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls: The roll-based bakery closed on July 31 because owner/founder Sianni Dean explained that she “received our notice that we will be closing our store,” on Instagram. She had opened Cranky as an at-home bakery service in New Jersey, moved to Austin, and opened the physical bakery in 2021. (10910 Domain Drive, Suite 106, Domain)

Sala & Betty: The casual New American restaurant closed up shop on July 30 — although the physical space will be available for private events in the month of August. Chef and owner Teresa Wilson is retiring. A new business — probably a restaurant — will open in the space, though it won’t come from the Sala team. (5201 Airport Boulevard, North Loop)

4th Tap Brewing Co-op: The cooperative brewery filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and has suddenly closed as of July 26. Co-owner John Stecker attributes it to increasing rent and lack of increasing sales. At this point, it’s unclear if the brewery will reopen (hence its inclusion on this list). (10615 Metric Boulevard, North Austin)

A wooden plate with halved roasted chicken, broccoli and cauliflower, and pieces of corn. — Chicken from Tio Pepe.

Tio Pepe Chicken: The Portuguese-style fast-casual restaurant shuttered sometime in July because, as owner Pepe Garcia explained in a newsletter, it was too difficult to run a restaurant, work, and maintain a family. (6406 North I-35, Linc)

Beluga: The Japanese restaurant closed on July 13, as reported by Community Impact. It opened in 2005. (661 Louis Henna Boulevard. Suite 300, Round Rock,)

Enoteca Vespaio: One-half of the twinned Italian restaurants on South Congress closed up permanently as of July 9. The owners (one of whom owns East Austin Mexican restaurant Licha’s) turned the space into a new Oaxacan restaurant, which opened on July 21. Vespaio remains open. (1610 South Congress Avenue, Bouldin Creek)

Long Island Deli: The short-lived delicatessen closed less than a month after it opened in late May, as reported by Community Impact. Its last day was July 5. (1207 East Palm Valley Boulevard., Round Rock)

Fluff Meringues & More: The meringue-filled bakery and cafe closed on July 3 because of the economy, supply chain issues, and, what the owner and founder Kristin Collins explained in an email: “the sheer insanity of operating a restaurant even in ‘normal’ or the ‘before’ times.” (4800 Burnet Road, Rosedale)

June 2022

The House: The former Russian House restaurant closed down permanently as of June 5. It seemed like the restaurant wanted to close down temporarily, but it became a permanent one officially in August. The address is slated for a potential development, which would involve the demolition of the space. (307 East Fifth Street, Downtown)

Sassy’s Vegetarian Soul Food: Owner Andrea Dawson decided to shutter her Austin vegetarian Southern African American food truck on June 4 to focus on the Dallas location. (2906 Fruth Street, North Campus)

Sweet Ritual: The vegan ice cream shop went on a long pause earlier this year, reopened in March, and then permanently closed down on June 1. Owner Amelia Raley cited higher food and ingredient costs and shortages, the pandemic, and the 2021 winter freeze. (4631 Airport Boulevard, North Loop)

May 2022

Poke Bay: The poke spot closed in late May because the University of Texas at Austin bought the physical building. The owners’ daughter Angelica Song posted a TikTok video asking people to visit the restaurant during its last days of service, which became viral. The building’s other tenant Kung Fu Tea will close later in October. (2001 Guadalupe Street, West Campus)

Dough Boys: The beloved Neapolitan pizza truck shuttered on May 29, so that co-owner Max Tilka can move on. Other co-owner Tony Curet actually just opened his own pizza truck in the same location at brewery Meanwhile a month later. (3901 Promontory Point Drive, McKinney)

Taqueria Mi Trailita: The loved taco trailer closed permanent on May 26 so that co-founders, co-owners, and mother-and-son-duo Maria Santos Rodriguez and David Salinas could focus on their physical restaurant Mi Trailita Y Mas in the same neighborhood. (5301 Manor Road, Windsor Park)

Gloria’s Latin Cuisine: The downtown Austin location of the Texas chain closed on May 23 because the lease wasn’t renewed. The Domain location remains open. (300 West Sixth Street, Downtown)

April 2022

Way South Philly: The sandwich shop — known for its Philly cheesesteaks since it opened originally has a food truck in 2011 — closed on April 30. Owner William Pearce pointed to the restaurant being constantly short-staffed and the rising costs of items as to why he decided it was “just time for WSP to close its doors,” as he tells Eater. (5222 Burnet Road, Allandale)

A half-sandwich. — Sandwich from Way South Philly.

The Brass Tap: The sole Austin location of the national beer bar chain closed on April 17 because its lease was ended. There are plans to reopen somewhere else in Austin eventually. (10910 Domain Drive, Domain)

Tropical Dreams: The Hawai’i-based ice cream shop closed its only mainland location in Austin on April 12. In hindsight, the shutter is related to the same University of Texas at Austin purchase that closed Poke Bay (see above). (2001 Guadalupe Street, West Campus)

Central Standard: One of the South Congress Hotel’s original restaurants, which focused on New American fare since it opened in late 2015, closed on April 2. But the space is being put to good use: it’s now home to a new restaurant courtesy of the hotel’s operating company New Waterloo and the group behind Southern restaurant Olamaie: American restaurant Maie Day, which opened on May 1. (1603 South Congress Avenue, Travis Heights)

March 2022

Machine Head Coffee: The coffee shop closed on March 31 since owner Nolan Green is moving to the East Coast. (1701 East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Blackland)

The Container Bar: Due to the construction of a high-rise development, Bridget Dunlap’s quirky bar made up of shipping containers closed after South by Southwest on March 27. However, Dunlap is set to operate a basement bar in the forthcoming project when it opens in 2024. (90 Rainey Street, Downtown)

Bungalow: Because of the same impending development as the Container Bar (see above), Jason Steward’s bar also closed on March 27, and there are no relocation plans. (92 Rainey Street, Downtown)

Scallops from Simi Estiatorio — A dish from Simi.

Simi Estiatorio: The less-than-a-year-old downtown Greek restaurant closed suddenly on March 22 after a whole lot of issues involving allegedly bounced paychecks for staffers, problems paying vendors, and an eviction. (601 Congress Avenue, Downtown)

B.B. Rover’s Cafe and Pub: The nearly-35-year-old bar and restaurant finally did shutter in mid-March, after it had been in danger of closing for a bit. (12636 Research Boulevard, North Austin)

El Mercado: The downtown location of the Austin Tex-Mex mini-chain, which had opened in 1993, closed in mid-March because of pandemic-related impacts. (1702 Lavaca Street, Downtown)

Luke’s Inside Out: The important Austin food truck known for its sandwiches and stellar burger closed on March 6, after 10 years of service. (1109 South Lamar Boulevard, Zilker)

Lucy’s Fried Chicken: The fried chicken Austin mini-chain shuttered its Burnet Road location, which opened in 2013, on March 6. The off-South Congress and Cedar Park restaurants are still open. (5408 Burnet Road, Allandale)

Bonchon: The only Austin-area location of the popular international Korean fried chicken chain closed on March 10. (2800 South I-35, Round Rock)

February 2022

La Mexicana: The longtime Mexican bakery closed on February 16, after 32 years of service because founder and owner Jesus Martinez Becerra Sr. retired. La Mexicana had dished up all sorts of baked goods and desserts, from tortillas to tres leches cakes, alongside tacos and tortas. In the Before Times, it had operated 24/7, but shortened those hours due to the pandemic. (1924 South First Street, Bouldin Creek)

A bakery counter with baked goods in display cases. — La Mexicana.

Tom’s: The shoe company’s Austin cafe and store closed on February 14. It had been the brand’s only location with the whole coffee shop aspect. (1401 South Congress Avenue, Travis Heights)

Castro’s Bar & BBQ: The bar and barbecue restaurant closed on February 13. Taking over its address will be a location of Austin mini-chain Taco Flats sometime in September. (900 Ranch Road 620 South, Suite C104, Lakeway)

Growler USA: The Austin location of the Colorado-based beer bar chain shuttered on February 11, as reported by Craft Beer Austin. (609 West 29th Street, West Campus)

January 2022

Winebelly: The South Austin wine bar closed in January, but no specific reason was given as to why. It opened in 2013 and had been serving a menu from chef and business partner Camden Stuerzenberger. (519 West Oltorf Street, Dawson)

Spider House Cafe: Though longtime campus hang technically closed down its doors in March 2020, the permanence of that shutter was confirmed in January by Austin 360. The space opened in 1995, featuring a cafe, bar, and a bunch of food trucks. The now-vacant space will turn into a new bar-ish space run by people from Hotel Vegas, Yellow Jacket Social Club, and Kinda Tropical. (2908 Fruth Street, North Campus)

Italic: Another one of those potentially-temporary-shutters-from-the-beginning-of-the-pandemic-turned-permanent, the Italian restaurant confirmed its forever-closure this January. The space will become the new home for Fort Worth import Lonesome Dove, which left its original location on Colorado Street. (123 West Sixth Street, Downtown)

Cho Sushi Fusion: The Japanese restaurant shuttered its Lakeway location in January, as reported by Community Impact. According to the website, it was because of “some disagreements with our landlord.” The Steiner Ranch restaurant is still open. (2422 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway)

Louisiana Crab Shack: The Texas Cajun mini-chain restaurant closed its Domain location in January, as reported by Community Impact. Its West Anderson Lane and Georgetown locations remain open. (11501 Rock Rose Avenue, Suite 124, Domain Northside)

Mission Dogs: The restaurant — known for its hot dogs wrapped in bacon — closed down on January 6. On Instagram, owner Mike Farley cited higher costs and shortages of ingredients and supplies, coupled with increasing rent and operating with a very small staff. There are still plans to keep the mobile cart open for roaming/events/catering purposes. (1701 East Cesar Chavez Street, East Austin)

Update, December 12, 2022: This article, originally published on February 17, 2022, has been updated to include additional restaurant and food truck closures.

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A Running List of Austin Restaurant Closures in 2022

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