Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2009 > July > 10 > Entry
R.I.P. Shuggie’s
Although its humorous, tongue-in-cheek press release credits a drive-by carried out by a rival chain as the reason for its “death,” the closing of Shuggie’s at the Trailer Park at 1311 S. First St. has a much more peaceful and natural cause.
After selling burgers, shakes, chicken sandwiches and other deliciously heart-stopping foods for the past 10-plus months, with a three-month winter hiatus mixed in, the owners of Shuggie’s, a spin-off of Torchy’s Tacos, have decided they want to focus on doing what they know and do best, which is serving tacos.
While Shuggie’s was doing a “nice business,” according to co-owner Bob Gentry, the ownership group decided they “can’t be all things to all people.”
Torchy’s will move its Trailer Park operation into the former Shuggie’s trailer, which has two service windows, allowing for better service to its legions of fans. The elimination of Shuggie’s will also afford more parking for Torchy’s, which can overflow with people during peak hours, Gentry said.
While Gentry says ownership has no interest in expanding into the world of franchising, despite regular inquiries from outsiders, Torchy’s does have its eye on expansion, with North Burnet Road and Southwest Austin being locations of specific interest, with a possible eastside expansion down the line.
In addition to its locations at 2801 Guadalupe St., the Trailer Park on South First Street and 2809 S. First St., Torchy’s has also remained busy with a booming catering operation, Gentry said, and has recently begun expanding into numerous coffee shops around town. (I noticed this morning that Torchy’s Tacos are now being served at Flipnotics on Barton Springs Road.)
While devotees of the burger trailer will likely miss the green chili cheese fries and chicken-fried, bacon-topped burgers they’ve come to love from Shuggie’s, Gentry notes there are other local businesses specializing in hamburgers and doing them well, and the company’s press released urges lovers of Shuggie’s to continue to support local burger shops such as P. Terry’s, Hat Creek Burger Co. and Sandy’s.
To celebrate the “life” of Shuggie’s, there will me a “memorial” at the Trailer Park this Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. Considering the tenor of the press release, expect some good humor in addition to specials on food as the sun sets on a burger stand that was gone too soon.
Photo by Mark Matson FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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By keith
July 10, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this
No one comes close to the burgs at Shuggies. Especially the 5th wheel. Sucks!
By SWATX
July 10, 2009 1:55 PM | Link to this
Yeah, y’all really know your customers. How difficult is it to maintain a burger stand and taco franchise? They are the money making Texas standards. The Bakehouse manages to serve cuisine from all over the world 24-7.
By FelizDia
July 10, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this
Torchy’s serves gentrified tacos…bleh. Can not believe all of y’all, expecially the local Texans, that made them popular.
By south austin girl
July 17, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this
I have to comment on the Bakehouse from SWATX. I worked briefly at the Bakehouse in 1995. The waitresses who worked there ‘trained’ me. During that training two waitresses in particular, who had worked there for YEARS got pissed at patrons and spit in the food to be served to these patrons. It was during Mothers Day no less. I walked out later that day in disgust with that and overflowing bathrooms that went into the dining area. I used to love that place and have never walked in since and always advise others not to - those waitresses were disgusting. And the manager did not want to hear what I had to say about it all. Nasty.