Waterloo Moves On

Austin icon Waterloo Ice House eyes new location after closing 3 restaurants

Local restaurant chain Waterloo Ice House has shed a few locations in recent months but is gearing up to open another Central Texas restaurant in 2014.

Waterloo Ice House shut down its Avery Ranch location in August and its Bee Caves location in November. The chain’s owners closed the two restaurants after deciding not to renew the licensing agreements of the independent owner-operators, spokeswoman Jena Umstattd said.

Another location not owned by the company — the Waterloo Ice House at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport — also closed in 2013. Umstattd said the licensee’s contract with the airport expired.

“It is nearly impossible to keep the vision of a brand on track when you have split leadership between the core team and an outside owner.” — Waterloo Ice House President Ted Karam

Three fewer restaurants are open now in Central Texas, but “we plan to continue expanding,” Umstattd said, “although we will only be moving forward with our core team for Austin area locations.”

In other words, only company-owned restaurants will operate under the Waterloo Ice House umbrella.

The five remaining Waterloo Ice House restaurants in Austin are owned by a group of investors led by Ted Karam and Scott Hentschel. The ownership group is preparing to open a new location sometime in 2014; sites in Cedar Park and Kyle are among those under consideration, Umstattd said.

Also in the works are menu and website updates.

In a news release, Karam said the chain’s future rests with company-owned locations.

“We have learned a lot from our work with stores that were not operated by our team,” said Karam, president of Waterloo Ice House. “It is nearly impossible to keep the vision of a brand on track when you have split leadership between the core team and an outside owner.”

The first Waterloo Ice House opened four decades ago on Congress Avenue. Karam took over the chain in 1993.

“Although we have been open since 1976 and are an Austin icon, we have evolved from a traditional ice house and live music venue into an entertainment venue that is appealing to anyone and everyone,” Umstattd said.

“Our company philosophy is to treat people like souls, not dollars,” she added. “We take the treatment of our customers very seriously and strive to make everyone feel like a part of the Waterloo family the minute they walk through our doors.”

Waterloo Ice House on 38th Street

Waterloo Ice House

Waterloo Ice House on 38th Street

unspecified

Games on the Go

This outdoorsy mountain trolley is now a vintage arcade in Austin

Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley still bears most of the markings from its past life in Tennessee.

Some classic arcade games are now on the go in Austin with the launch of the Austin Arcade Trolley. Housed in a renovated trolley car, this new mobile arcade shows off eight vintage 80s and 90s games, while keeping some of the transportation nostalgia intact, too.

Austin Arcade Trolley owner and ex-corporate salesman Trey Tschoepe said in a press release that the idea came about after attending birthday parties with his 6-year-old daughter. The parties inspired a desire to "keep Austinites young at heart." It wasn't intended as a business, but Austinites can now book it for their own events.

The vintage games include:

NBA Jam
Golden Tee
Ms. Pacman
Atari
The Simpsons
NFL Blitz
Mortal Kombat
Street Fighter II

Austin Arcade Trolley interior Even though the aesthetics are different, both halves of this bus are very retro.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

It's not just limited to those classics, though; a 55-inch screen will let guests play more than 30,000 other games. Minecraft, Roblox, and Tetris are a few of those offerings.

“Not only are we delivering nostalgic fun that accessible to all ages, but we’re also doing it in style with a vintage trolley car converted into a mobile arcade," said Tschoepe. "There’s truly nothing else like this in Texas or anywhere else.”

There certainly are other mobile arcades, but the trolley is unique not just for its vintage selection but a delightfully outdoorsy look. The back of the vehicle looks like an arcade, but the front and exterior sidestep the expected design elements — neon colors, envisionings of cyberspace — by keeping everything as-is.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley basically looks like any other mobile arcade.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The wooden interior still has some passenger benches, and the outside even displays its original affiliation: the Tennessee town of Pigeon Forge, where it was designated a "Fun Time Trolley."

Tschoepe did put some work in, even though he kept the aesthetic intact. He purchased the decommissioned car in May 2024 and spent six months implementing custom woodwork and other design updates.

Now it can fit 15 guests in the arcade section, with space for 7 more in the seating section. There's also wifi and air-conditioning, and guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks onboard.

Austin Arcade Trolley interior This part of the trolley brings light to an airier side of gaming.Photo courtesy of the Austin Arcade Trolley

The trolley is available for hourly booking every day. The case price is $375 including delivery, setup, and unlimited play within the booking time, which happens in two-hour increments. It can travel around Austin as well as to Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, Buda, Kyle, and Lakeway.

Tschoepe welcomes kids and adults for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, weddings, corporate and team-building events, and anywhere else it's needed.

“We’re excited to spread the fun throughout Central Texas," he said.

kids games arcade parties weddings