so long to a local favorite

Influential East Austin restaurant that defined local dining closes permanently

The last day to get your mouth around some delicious Contigo fare is December 30.

Photo courtesy of Contigo

A longtime sweetheart of the Austin dining scene is the latest influential eatery to fall. Contigo, the chef-driven east side restaurant known for its ranch-style cuisine and enchanting patio space, will close permanently at the end of this month.

Co-owner Ben Edgerton announced just days before the Christmas holiday that he, chef Andrew Wiseheart, and managing partner Dana Curley had decided to close Contigo for good.

“After 10 years of serving our community, Andrew, Dana, and I feel it is time for us to let Contigo rest,” Edgerton noted in a social media post from December 18. “December 30 will mark our final service. It has been an incredible ride, and we are overwhelmingly thankful for the support we have received over the years.”

Though the owners gave no specific reason for the closure (and indeed, the restaurant’s parking lot has remained packed with diners in recent days and months), what is clear is that Austin is losing a unique culinary gem in Contigo.

The eatery, which opened in 2011 (before the adjacent Mueller neighborhood was overflowing with potential customers), emphasized supporting the local community as much as highlighting its rotating menu of homey, Texas-inspired game fare. In fact, Contigo often challenged the palates of Austinites during a time when many were still awakening to atypical dining experiences.

From rabbit and an array of sausages to house-cured meats, unforgettable Brussels sprouts and other roasted veggies, one heck of a tasty signature burger, and expertly crafted cocktails, Contigo never failed to impress. Even odd-sounding appetizers like the chicken-skin peanut butter and jelly slider with togarashi became stunning hits in the deft chef-y hands of Contigo's culinary artists.

This isn’t the first closure the Contigo team has experienced. Edgerton and Wiseheart’s garden-focused eatery Gardner, which opened in 2014 on East Sixth Street, closed soon thereafter, giving way to their neighborhood eatery Chicon in 2016, which itself shuttered within two years.

The sister business, Contigo Ranch, a Hill Country lodging and events destination located in Fredericksburg, will remain open.

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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.

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