Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2009 > April > 01 > Entry
The Last Hours of El Rey
A victim of timing, the El Rey Barber, Spa & Executive Club closed last night. Not with a whimper, but with a slam bang. A loud crowd — back-slapping, joking and sighing — crammed into the leather-clad lounge to say goodbye.
Although management reported a rise in demand for haircuts, mani-pedis, etc., it was too late. The overhead for its ground-floor spaces in the Plaza Lofts proved too high to sustain the traffic.
We spoke at length with Donaji Lira, who always brightened up El Rey, and to several regulars, like Mitch Jacobson, whose board services have included time with Austin Musical Theatre, One World Theatre and the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
I had planned to meet there with Bernie Siben, Austin’s former piano-bar star, who moved back to town a few months ago. El Rey proved too loud for our conversation, so we strolled down to La Condesa and tarried at the sidewalk seating.
Siben, originally from Brooklyn, tinkled the ivories during the 1970s and ’80s at clubs such as Casablana on 15th Street. He then spent 18 years in Dallas, where his day job allowed performances in that city’s several piano bars. He recently moved back here from Vidalia, Ca.
Now he’s looking for a piano bar to pursue his avocation. Good luck. We talked about the history of local cabaret during the last 20 years and how traditional piano bars — not counting novelty fun like Pete’s or hotel-lobby spots — never seem to take root. We’ll watch Siben to see if he can help make it happen here.
Comments
Click here to report comment abuse.