18 replies to this topic

[Austin55]

The front half of Lola's is for sale. The Trailer Park in the North half of the property is not included and under different ownership.

https://www.crexi.co...exas-2736-w-6th



 

[Doohickie]

First Fred's, now Lola's.  All the old stalwarts are succumbing to development.

[Austin55]

Lolas will relocate to the old Americado/The Moon space on Berry.

https://www.fwweekly...Prr5FLXhMqhNThk

[panthercity]

Lolas will relocate to the old Americado/The Moon space on Berry.

https://www.fwweekly...Prr5FLXhMqhNThk

Man that is a real bummer, that location is so cool. Just as we were moving a stones throw in 2 weeks.

[BlueMound]

Quote from the FWweekly article
We dont really fit anymore, he said, mentioning that Lolas departure from West 7th follows similar trajectories for two other long-time, some would say hip or anti-clubby West 7th spots, Freds Texas Cafe and Magnolia Motor Lounge

Is Magnolia Motor Lounge closing or moving ?

[JBB]

This will be a test.  Their new location is an absolute black hole of death.

[Jeriat]

This will be a test.  Their new location is an absolute black hole of death.

You feel like it wouldn't be... it's not exactly hidden and it's right down the street from a college... 

I don't get it.

[elpingüino]

Is the location to blame for the previous tenants' closures, or other factors? Americado was very poorly executed as discussed here and Berry Street Icehouse opened only a few months into the pandemic if I recall correctly, a difficult time for new restaurants regardless of location.

[JBB]

Access to the location isn't wonderful, especially when approaching from the west.

[Stadtplan]

I wonder if that 2000 W Berry location is just too big to turn a reasonable profit? TAD lists it as over 7,000 SQFT.

https://www.tad.org/property/42793902/

May have been previously mentioned, coincidentally, Daynes Craft BBQ started there at 2000 W Berry as a pop-up too, is also facing an uncertain future after announcing moving from the trailer park location.

https://amp.star-tel...e260047435.html

[gdvanc]

Has that second floor always been there? I don't remember it having that when went to Berry Street Ice House for a party but then I've forgotten a lot of pre-covid things. The food and service was really good. (I enjoyed Rishel's food at Wishbone & Flynt the times I went forever ago, so that was no surprise.) I do remember being confused about where to park and it didn't seem like very many places for the size of venue. But from what I remember, the problem at the end of the day was in agreeing on a lease - so it makes me at least wonder about the property owner's role in the success and failure of the businesses there.

[Doohickie]

 

This will be a test.  Their new location is an absolute black hole of death.

You feel like it wouldn't be... it's not exactly hidden and it's right down the street from a college... 

I don't get it.

 

I think Lola's will do okay there.  Americado had a confusing service model which doomed them.  The Moon and Berry Street Ice House both were during the peak of the pandemic.  I think you can look at all the previous tenants and see that the location isn't what did them in.

 

Lola's is long established and know what they're doing.  I think they will do well in that location.

[Doohickie]

Has that second floor always been there?

Yes.

[JBB]

When I said it's a test, I meant that, if something with a loyal following like Lola's can't make it there, I'm not sure anything can.

[Urbndwlr]

Is the location to blame for the previous tenants' closures, or other factors? Americado was very poorly executed as discussed here and Berry Street Icehouse opened only a few months into the pandemic if I recall correctly, a difficult time for new restaurants regardless of location.

You said it perfectly.  Americado died of self-inflicted wounds.  Moon & Berry Street were during the peak parts of the pandemic - incrediblly hard time to be operating a place that relies on strong volumes of people to gather (not to mention to source staff to come to in-person work).

 

Lola's strength has always been its music booking.  People who are in the know are used to traveling to where the shows are.  I'd bet Lola's depended least on walking-distance patrons of any bar in the W 7th corridor. 

 

Freds?  Guessing was a case of too many patrons were basically "convenience-oriented" people.  Those not accustomed to walking a block or two b/c are accustomed to suburban or semi-rural environments where they don't ever experience inconvenience when parking their cars.  The neighborhood evolved beyond that stage a few years ago.   Places that thrive in that neighborhood seem to rely on patrons who do not put convenient parking as their #1 or #2 topics.  20 years ago this would have been unthinkable here.  Still, some customer segments are more convenience oriented vs others.   

[gdvanc]

Freds?  Guessing was a case of too many patrons were basically "convenience-oriented" people.  Those not accustomed to walking a block or two b/c are accustomed to suburban or semi-rural environments where they don't ever experience inconvenience when parking their cars.  The neighborhood evolved beyond that stage a few years ago.   Places that thrive in that neighborhood seem to rely on patrons who do not put convenient parking as their #1 or #2 topics.  20 years ago this would have been unthinkable here.  Still, some customer segments are more convenience oriented vs others.

I know it's fun for some to blame our car culture for everything, but this has nothing to do with Fred's moving. The original owners of Fred's (JD & Gari Chandler) still own the building and have decided to sell. Simple as that.

[JBB]

Yeah, car culture wasn't hurting Fred's on my last few visits, even before they announced their move.  That building sits on land that is worth a fortune and I wouldn't take their new location as a means of trying to satisfy the parking needs of their loyal crowd.  People that wanted to go there went.  I'm assuming their new location was a bargain and won't require a lot of modification.

[Stadtplan]

Yeah, car culture wasn't hurting Fred's on my last few visits, even before they announced their move.  That building sits on land that is worth a fortune and I wouldn't take their new location as a means of trying to satisfy the parking needs of their loyal crowd.  People that wanted to go there went.  I'm assuming their new location was a bargain and won't require a lot of modification.

 

Fred's new location was probably a heck-of-a-deal but has sort of a dark past looming over it. 

https://www.mrt.com/...for-7523990.php

[John T Roberts]

Yes, it has that dark past and I remember the robbery.  The interior looks the same as it did in 1989, or in the 1970s, when the Steak and Ale was built.