GAME ON

Beer, food, and fun garden Bouldin Acres expands to far South Austin

Bouldin Acres South Austin opened its doors in time for the holidays

Photo courtesy of Bouldin Acres

Bouldin Acres officially opened its third Austin location on December 6, taking over the former Lustre Pearl South space at 10400 Menchaca Rd. and adding another anchor to the growing entertainment district along far South Menchaca.

The new outpost brings the same family-friendly food-and-fun formula found at the brand’s South Lamar and Braker Lane locations. The Menchaca venue features two bars, an outdoor pickleball court, two outdoor shuffleboard courts, an indoor pool table, and arcade games, along with plenty of indoor-outdoor seating.

Bouldin Acres South Austin Bouldin Acres adds plenty of screens and a bingo night for football Photo courtesy of Bouldin Acres

Friends Matt Carter and Matt Davis opened the first Bouldin Acres on South Lamar in early 2020 just ahead of the pandemic, when the team transformed a former auto sales lot into an expansive indoor-outdoor bar and gathering space. The space takes its name from the nearby Bouldin Creek neighborhood. The Menchaca opening reflects how the concept has grown since then, joining nearby destinations like Moontower Saloon and Armadillo Den as part of far South Austin’s evolving entertainment corridor.

Like its other locations, Bouldin Acres Menchaca is designed as a casual, all-day hangout with food trucks, a full-service bar, free WiFi, and TVs for watching sporting events. CM Smokehouse, led by pitmaster Cade Mercer and an old friend at Bouldin Acres, will be on site. It will also offer to-go orders. The dog-friendly patio, lawn games, and playground make it welcoming for groups and families, with the space remaining kid-friendly until 8 pm.

Selena Silvas, the event and marketing manager for the South Austin location, says the community response has been good and growing. The Menchaca location has already hit the ground running since opening, Monday Night Football bingo, a bike night, and holiday vendor fairs on Saturday. Upcoming social events are posted on the South Austin Bouldin Acres calendar.

openings food trucks beer pickleball lawn games families kids

Hard Work? De Nada

Popular taqueria to take over 40-year Tex-Mex eatery in South Austin

Photo courtesy of De Nada

The De Nada team: assistant managers Rockie Mendoza and Jon Grant, bar manager Kyle Coffman, executive chef Jorge Cavazos, general manager Sean Maguire, lead host Erika Casillas, and president and managing partner Stephen Shallcross.

One longtime Mexican restaurant is closing in Austin and a trusted younger taco joint is taking over. El Mercado Restaurant & Cantina South, known for live music and classic Tex-Mex dishes with some barbecue twists, is closing after 40 years this month, and De Nada Cantina, known for both traditional and slightly dressed-up tacos, will open a second location that keeps some of El Mercado's dishes

An exclusive story in the Austin American-Statesman shares that El Mercado will close after service December 17. A representative for 2 Dine 4 Hospitality Group (which includes De Nada, Sawyer and Co., Lil' Easy Cajun Food & Bar, and more) confirmed to CultureMap that the new De Nada Cantina will open in mid-January.

The representative calls it a "rebrand" rather than a hard break between concepts. Although some menu items will remain, decor at 1302 S. 1st St. will be upgraded and necessary maintenance will be done while the restaurant is closed to keep it running smoothly. Additions to the space will include new tables and chairs, Mexican decor, and "a De Nada-sized number of plants."

"We look forward to honoring [El Mercado's] 40-year commitment of keeping it weird and serving up good food & Austin hospitality," said 2 Dine 4 president and managing partner Stephen Shallcross. "We'll continue our tradition of thoughtfully preserving Austin icons that began with Arkie's Grill being transformed into Sawyer & Co. more than twelve years ago."

De Nada's whimsical approach continues in the new location. COO Eric de Valpine says the opening will happen when the team can "get enough new pink cups to serve the South Side of Austin."

According to the Statesman article, El Mercado partner Tony Villegas will continue to operate the restaurant's north location on Burnet Road. De Nada's one existing location will also continue to operate normally.

tex-mex tacos openings closings rebrand south austin

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Hard Work? De Nada

Popular taqueria to take over 40-year Tex-Mex eatery in South Austin