Gruene Hall

Legendary Gruene Hall nominated for coveted country music honor

Gruene Hall has been nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award

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One of Texas' most iconic dance halls is finally getting its due. For the first time in its 145-year-old history, Gruene Hall has been nominated as Best Club of the Year by the Academy of Country Music.

It's an honor that has been a long time coming. Built in 1878, the legendary venue bills itself as "the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas." Over the years, the honky tonk has hosted some of country music's most celebrated names, including Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Merle Haggard. It has also been an early testing ground for countless musicians. George Strait, Hal Ketchum, and Lyle Lovett are among the fresh-faced talent that kickstarted careers on Gruene's stage.

Throughout all those barn-burning performances, Gruene Hall has remained largely unchanged. Its original layout has been preserved, with side flaps for open-air dancing, a bar in the front, a small lighted stage in the back, and a huge outdoor garden. Today, visitors two-step under Gruene's tin roof seven days a week.

"We've been extremely fortunate to have so many cool things happen at the Hall, and being nominated for an ACM Award is another example of one of those unexpected things we get to be a part of," says Mary Jane Nalley, cofounder of Gruene Hall, via a release. "It's our first time being nominated, which is kind of crazy and super thrilling."

Other nominees for the award include Coyote Joe's in Charlotte, Grizzly Rose in Denver, Joe's on Weed Street in Chicago, and Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. Notably, no Nashville venues made it to the shortlist.

The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks on May 11 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Gruene Hall, however, will be kept on pins and needles a little longer. The Industry Award winners will be announced at the Academy of Country Music Honors, a special event held in August at the hallowed Ryman Auditorium.

Grocery news haul

Grocery service Farmhouse Delivery returns to Austin with fun surprise

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After suddenly halting its operations in May, grocery service Farmhouse Delivery is on its way back, with an extra surprise for Austin: a new storefront.

Known for offering locally prepared foods and produce from small Central Texas farms, the subscription-based service emailed its loyal customers on Monday, November 18, to share the relaunch news and outline its plans for the future.

“We’ve missed you and are beyond grateful for your patience as we’ve been hard at work planning the next chapter of Farmhouse Delivery,” the newsletter reads. “Soon, you’ll once again have fresh, local food delivered straight to your doorstep[.]”

Farmhouse Delivery is aiming for a December date to resume deliveries, they say. They've used the intervening six months to not only revamp their existing business model, but to expand their offerings.

The biggest surprise in the newsletter was a revelation of plans for a new storefront in Austin, blending a cozy farmer’s market vibe with what they call “the best parts of your favorite grocer — where you can discover fresh foods, refill on essentials, connect with other members on sustainable living, and, of course, [shop] our best local products — all in innovative, reusable packaging.”

The email did not divulge details for the location or timing of the storefront project.

The company also plans to introduce a new membership model with exclusive benefits such as sneak peeks of new products and promotions.

Underscoring its commitment to sustainability, Farmhouse also announced that it’s working toward a completely plastic-free delivery:

“Expect to see your favorite items in sustainable packaging, with rewards for returning and reusing Farmhouse materials. Together, let’s reduce waste and make sustainable choices the coolest thing to do.”

The newsletter invited customers to complete a survey to help shape the ongoing Farmhouse experience. There, customers can indicate their desired delivery day (or days) and the factors that influence that preference (meal planning, work schedule, etc.), as well as specific products they would like to see in future deliveries.

Survey participants can also designate their preferred price point for memberships and the most appealing benefits from a long list, including free deliveries, additional delivery days, free products, members-only cooking classes, exclusive content, and more.

Neither the newsletter nor the Farmhouse website announced a specific date for relaunching, but returning and new customers can keep an eye on the website and social media for further details.

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