Launderette Expands
Launderette team launches new neighborhood hangout in East Austin
If the lines at Launderette have you down, never fear: The culinary team's newest project, Mr. Mc's Grocery Market, is conveniently located just next door.
The concept is a unique one — Cajun-inspired food from a decades-old convenience store — but creativity is to be expected from this team.
"Why not develop something really, really good and bring it to the city? I think that's what we've always done, building La Condesa, building Sway, providing a niche for people," Chef/owner Rene Ortiz tells CultureMap. "It's our cornerstone to be a bit different."
The revamped Mr. Mc's is envisioned as a go-to spot for a quick bite or a place to hang out and chill. The Ortiz-designed menu includes all of your New Orleans favorites — expect plenty of muffalettas and boudin. And because we're in Austin, breakfast service comes in the form of tacos.
Renovations build off an old bodega vibe, with a playable piano, plenty of records to spin, and "lots of Formica," jokes Ortiz. The team is in the process of adding indoor booths and outdoor seating along with a brand-new awning for patio hangs.
The Launderette team — Ortiz, Laura Sawicki, and restaurateur Margaret Vera — quietly assumed operation of Mr. Mc's last year. While Ortiz and the team will add a new layer to the space with food service and upgrades, they plan to maintain Mr. Mc's convenience store status and continue serving the East Austin community.
"We're not trying to change the neighborhood," says Ortiz. "We're trying to be us and have a good time."
Mr. Mc's is slated to launch food service Monday, April 4, featuring breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings.
