Joe's Crab Shack At Lady Bird Lake Reportedly Closing

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Those who enjoyed eating cracking crabs while looking across Lady Bird Lake won't have the option anymore: The Joe's Crab Shack that's long been located there has been closed, reportedly for an inability to pay back rent.

As KVUE reported, Joe's Crab Shack appears to be ending its 16-year run at a site that is one of the city's prime pieces of real estate overlooking Lady Bird Lake. The news station reported the presence of signs at the restaurant's entry at 600 E. Riverside Dr. alerting to the closure.

But the reason for the shuttering depends on who one talks to. The restaurant's Facebook page suggests the place is closed for repairs. But the signs posted by the landlord indicate the lease was terminated over $10,000 in unpaid rent and another $100,000 in unpaid property taxes, KVUE reported.

The site's property managers, Endeavor Real Estate Group, told the news station in a statement: “Endeavor recently began marketing 600 East Riverside Dr. for lease. It’s a prime site with incredible views of Lady Bird Lake and immediate access to established parts of central Austin. We’re less than two weeks into our efforts and already have several prospects – all of which would continue to use the property as a commercial use.”

It's not the first time the Joe's Crab Shack chain has closed restaurants abruptly. In 2017, the company operating the chain shuttered 41 restaurants across the country with little to no notice. As The Daily Mail reported, Joe's Crab Shack employees showed up for work to find the doors locked and signs in the windows indicating permanent closure for the sites.

At its 2014 peak, Joe’s Crab Shack had 139 locations. Today, there are 56 restaurants throughout the country. In Texas, there are 11 Joe's Crab Shackstores, including a Round Rock location at 2401 S. IH 35.