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Downtown Austin juice bar squeezed out of business for new bar and restaurant

The Squeezery is closing to make way for a new concept from the Here Nor There team.

Juice bars may be growing faster than kudzu vines in wellness-obsessed Austin, but one concept is bucking the trend. A rep has confirmed that downtown’s The Squeezery will be closing to make way for In Plain Sight, a stylish new bar and eatery from the team behind Here Nor There.

The winking name of In Plain Sight is a nod to the hidden nature of Here Nor There, which features no signage and does not advertise its exact location. The rep says that In Plain Sight is intended to be a sister project, with a similar focus on creating an intimate setting in its indoor and outdoor spaces.

During the nighttime hours, In Plain Sight will transition into a bar focusing on aperitivos, spritzes, and wine. The rep says a particular focus will be placed on natural wine — a rapidly growing, if nebulous, category focused on minimal technological intervention at the winery and sustainable grape growing.

The team has drafted chef Tom Anglesea to create a few simple dishes for breakfast at lunch. Anglesea is relatively unknown in the United States, but has become a celebrity in his native England for his East London hot spot The Laughing Heart and as a winner of BBC cooking competition Great British Menu.

According to the rep, the team wants to keep the timing of the changeover hush-hush for now. However, a mixed beverage permit has been filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, meaning In Plain Sight will most likely arrive by the end of 2019.

The Squeezery opened in March 2018 at 612 Brazos St. inside coworking space The Refinery. Although that business shuttered in March 2019, The Squeezery has continued to serve coconut gelato bowls, juices, smoothies, and other health-conscious fare. As of press time, the juice bar is still open, but the team wouldn't reveal exactly when it will permanently shutter.

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By Car or By Stagecoach

Historic inn near Austin reopens 78-year-old eatery after renovations

Photo courtesy of Stagecoach Inn

The Stagecoach Restaurant is open again after two years of renovations.

Out in Salado, the restaurant at the historic Stagecoach Inn has been serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 1947 — minus a two year break for renovations beginning in June 2023. Now, the team has opened their doors once again, welcoming diners back from Central Texas and beyond.

According to a press release, Stagecoach has partnered with Monument Group in Georgetown (owners of Monument Cafe and El Monumento) to "breathe new life into the celebrated restaurant."

With the reopening, guests can expect reimagined versions of old favorites — and that does mean old. Some of the classic dishes, like the famous hushpuppies, were on the menu when the restaurant first opened nearly 80 years ago.

"The infamous hushpuppies came into existence because of the need to buy time for [co-owner Dion Van Bibber] to run to the grocer and get the ingredients needed for each ticket as there was no menu, and guests ordered whatever dish they fancied at that moment," says a timeline on the inn's website.

Historical Stagecoach Inn restaurant The Stagecoach Inn's restaurant first opened its doors in 1947. Photo courtesy of Stagecoach Inn

Other items include a creamy goat cheese dip, a fried chicken salad, grilled bone-in pork chop with peach chutney, and seasonally-inspired and weekend-only dishes like prime rib. The Stagecoach Restaurant also features a bar with a wine, cocktail, and beer menu.

Dining at the Stagecoach Restaurant is a unique experience, not just for the food, but the history.

The Stagecoach Inn itself was established back in 1860 as a hotel, welcoming wagon pioneers and folks pulling up in horse-drawn carriages. More than 160 years later, the Stagecoach Inn is the second-oldest continuously-operating hotel in Texas, and though the rooms have certainly been modernized and amenities like a pool and gift shop have been added in over the years, the bones of the building remain the same.

Stagecoach Inn pool Even the newer amenities have a retro feel.Photo courtesy of Stagecoach Inn

“The Stagecoach established itself as a welcoming rest stop on the Chisholm Trail for weary travelers over 160 years ago and that southern hospitality continues today,” said Monument Group's Rusty Winkstern in the release. “We want to honor that legacy with genuine hospitality and crave-worthy food and drink, continuing thetradition as a community hub for visitors old and new.”

The Stagecoach Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Wednesdays through Sundays from 11:30 am to 8 pm.

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