Shutter report

Iconic Austin restaurant may soon serve its last brunch

Unless help comes form a future developer, Threadgill's World Headquarters will close in March 2018.

Threadgill's/Facebook

UPDATE: Since this story was originally published, Threadgill's owner Eddie Wilson confirmed to the Chronicle that he was able to negotiate a new short-term lease with land owner Moton Crockett, allowing the restaurant and music venue to stay open in its current Riverside location for a few more years.

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An Austin icon is likely to close after SXSW 2018. According to a story from the Austin Chronicle’s Kevin Curtin, Threadgill’s World Headquarters’ owner Eddie Wilson has been unable to come to a lease agreement with owner Moton Crockett for the prime Riverside property, and the lot is now for sale. Threadgill's North Lamar location is secure.

It’s a bit of an understatement to say that Threadgill’s — and Wilson’s previous business, Armadillo World Headquarters — is a part of Austin’s DNA. Bootlegger Kenneth Threadgill’s Gulf filling station on North Lamar was one of the original joints to bridge the divide between the good ol' boys and the fledgling Austin counter culture. That mantle was assumed by Armadillo, arguably the birthplace of today’s Austin music scene and the epicenter of the cosmic cowboy movement.

Wilson converted the gas station location to a Southern restaurant serving meatloaf, chicken fried steak, and catfish in 1981 after closing Armadillo World Headquarters in 1980. In 1996, he opened a second location on Riverside Drive — Threadgill’s World Headquarters — decorated with memorabilia from Armadillo’s halcyon days. It has remained a popular Austin institution ever since, packing customers in for the Sunday gospel brunch.

But, of course, Austin is a different town now. The explosive growth in Austin has made the corner of Riverside and Barton Springs a very desirable location for redevelopment in Austin's increasingly crowded city core. Wilson told the Chronicle that he understands why his landlord would want to sell and harbors no ill will, but he was hoping to keep that location open for a few more years. Now the future of Threadgill's remains cloudy unless a deal can be made to include the restaurant in any future development project.

closings

Refill, revere, rejoice

Austin distiller refills Kentucky Bourbon bottles for $1 in UT gameday stunt

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin is filling up empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles and adding its own label in a display of Texas dominance.

Cheap bourbon isn't usually something people line up for, but in this case they know it's good. Still Austin Whiskey Co., a favorite Austin distiller, is offering $1 refills of its own Cask Strength Bourbon on empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles on November 23.

The promotion celebrates the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats football match the same day. This is a highly anticipated game because the two teams have only been matched up once, back in 1951. Kentucky coach Mike Stoops reportedly also upped the ante by saying the Longhorns have "no weaknesses."

Essentially, this is a parallel challenge by Still Austin: Replace your Kentucky Bourbon with our Texas spirit and watch the Lone Star State win again.

"Why would I ever taint your bourbon with dried up Kentucky juice[?]" asked a (frankly, terrifying) customer on Instagram.

There is a misconception that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association itself points out that, "According to the 1964 Congressional Resolution, in order to have “Bourbon” on the label it must be made in the United States of America and meet all other federal “standards of identity” for Bourbon."

Still Austin CEO and co-founder Chris Seals is setting the record straight with a little snark, inviting both fans and "skeptics" to stop by to take advantage of the deal.

“We’re deeply grateful to Kentucky for inventing the stuff, but after 200 years of the same old bourbon, people want something new,” said Seals in a press release.“The idea that great bourbon can only come from Kentucky is a myth based on decades of misinformation. We’re inviting everyone still holding onto this old guard notion to ‘Kentucky Fill Up’ to experience the difference for themselves.”

The product he's chosen to represent the brand, the Cask Strength Bourbon, is described as "a deeper more 'metal' version of our beloved straight bourbon." It's 116 proof (58 percent ABV) and has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition twice, in 2022 and 2023.

Still Austin will only refill 500 bottles. Here are the rules: The bottles have to be 750 milliliters, clean, intact (with the original cap on hand), and they must have originally contained bourbon from a Kentucky Distillery. There are two time slots for refilling at 9 am and 11:30 am. Patrons can get tickets ahead of time at stillaustin.com.

In addition to the fill-ups, Still Austin will host a watch party starting at 2:30 pm. More Texas-Kentucky crossover will include Frozen Texas Julep cocktails, Texas fried chicken, and an armadillo derby race. There will also be exclusive merch and giveaways. Still Austin is the official corporate partner of Texas Athletics.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food and drinks can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

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