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Openings, Closings
July 8, 2010
Jaime's Spanish Village to close July 30
Jaime’s Spanish Village, the Tex-Mex restaurant at 802 Red River St. known for its low-slung ceilings and margaritas, is closing after losing its lease.
John Kelso will write about the closing in tomorrow’s Statesman and on statesman.com.
Here’s an excerpt:
Jaime’s, which opened 79 years ago when Hoover was president, shut down temporarily on June 30 at the landlord’s order, said Charlie Tames, the current owner.
But Tames has reopened the place for most of the rest of this month so he can give the proceeds made at the restaurant during those weeks to his employees. The place was back open Thursday, but the last chips and salsa will be served on July 30. Tames has to be out by the next day.
“I have a day job,” said Tames, who runs the international department for Merrill Lynch here in Austin. “The easiest thing for me would be to turn off the lights and go back to my day job. But that’s just not right.” They’ll also take donations for the workers.
“If somebody donates, say, $15, to the employee fund, we’ll give ‘em a free jar of hot sauce,” Tames said.
Jaime’s is known for its hot sauce and queso, and for decades was a hangout for University of Texas students, and politicians wandering over from the Capitol.
- From the archives: The Spanish Village dinner at Jaime’s, a One-Dish Wonder
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June 10, 2010
Now Open: #19, a double-decker bus serving Philly cheesesteaks
When Tim Lasater booked tours around the northeast for his old band Pop Unknown, he always made sure to find a club to play in Philadelphia just so he could have an excuse to eat an authentic cheesesteak.
Lasater’s band days are over, but his love of cheesesteaks hasn’t faded. After an East Austin burger joint venture he was involved with called Fork ‘n’ Icehole fell through last year, he found a red double-decker bus on Craigslist that he’s turned into #19, a trailer located at Sixth and Waller streets in East Austin that specializes in the Philadelphia specialty sub.
#19 also sells burgers and hot dogs, but the cheesesteaks are the big draw. Lasater says he only uses Philly beef and rolls from Amoroso’s Baking Company in Philadelphia for the sandwiches, which come with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and white American cheese.
Unlike the Philly restaurants, you can’t get fries swimming in cheese at #19, but you can sip on the Austin-made Maine Root sodas or a Mexican Coke while snacking on chips or an all-beef hot dog.
But what about the Whiz? For many fans of Pat’s cheesesteaks, a cheesesteak isn’t a cheesesteak without bright orange Cheese Whiz slathered over the thinly sliced meat. Inspired to make an Austin version of the Whiz, Lasater says he’s developing a queso-like cheese topping that should debut in the next few weeks, hopefully in time for the grand opening party on Saturday, June 19.
Lasater says he’s also hoping to have the upper deck finished by the opening party so customers can enjoy their food from the second story of the bus.
#19, 1112 E. Sixth St., www.number19bus.com. Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight.
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February 5, 2010
Opening/Closing report: Thai Tara to be replaced with new concept from Mulberry owners
- Closing and Coming soon: Thai Tara restaurant at 601 W. Sixth St. Replacing the longtime Thai restaurant will be a new project from Mulberry owners Michael Polombo and Zack Northcutt. Northcutt, who will be in charge of the kitchens at both locations, says they will be starting almost from scratch to create an as-yet-unnamed “modern American tavern with British influences.” They are hoping to open the new restaurant by September.
- Open: Kung Fu Saloon, a ‘barcade’ with vintage arcade games, skee-ball and a full bar at 510 Rio Grande St. 469-0901.
- Opening Monday: Quattro Gatti, an Italian restaurant at 908 Congress Ave. 476-3131.
- Closed: Geaux Burger, a sports bar at 9070 Research Blvd., Suite 303.
- Closing: The Cafe Mundi location at 1704 E. Fifth St. On Facebook, Mundi says, ‘It is our deepest regret to announce the closing of Café Mundi.The final day will be Sunday, March 21 … at this location. We do not see this as an end, but as a new beginning.’ Stay tuned.
- Opening Thursday: Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, slated to open Thursday at 4220 Duval St. www.antonellischeese.com.
Thai Tara photo by Ha Lam for the Austin American-Statesman.
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January 10, 2010
'Yes, We're Open' report: Lucky J's moves, Wahoo's coming to S. Congress
• On the way: Another location of Wahoo’s Fish Taco is going in at the former Texas French Bread site (at right) at 1722 S. Congress Ave. www.wahoos.com.
• Open: Sprouts Farmers Market, a grocery store specializing in natural foods at 10225 Research Blvd. 225-9101, www.sprouts.com.
• Open: Orange Cup, a frozen yogurt store at 3400 Esperanza Crossing. 973-3819, www.myorangecup.com.
• Open, closed and relocating: Lucky J’s Chicken and Waffles, a food trailer serving fried chicken and fresh waffles, has begun serving at Sixth and Waller streets. It’s open from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. The trailer’s original location on Burnet Road has closed in preparation for a scheduled move in February to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Rio Grande St.
• Coming soon: Torchy’s Tacos, the fifth location of the restaurant. 4211 Spicewood Springs Road. www.torchystacos.com.
• Closed: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant at 301 San Jacinto Blvd.
• Closed: Yu Sushi Izagaya, a sushi bar and robata grill at 206 Colorado St.
(American-Statesman photo by Mike Sutter)
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