El Patio, Shuttered Austin Restaurant, Is Reopening

AUSTIN, TX — Patch knew three weeks ago that something was afoot at the dormant El Patio restaurant — the popular Tex-Mex eatery that closed its doors weeks ago after 65 years of continuous business there. A man on a ladder wasn't taking down the familiar neon sign featuring a sombrero but polishing it.

Patch asked: "What gives?" in so many words. The man atop the ladder said he wasn't able to speak about it, but that Austin Patch — which frequented the place for weekend breakfast from time to time — would find an announcement in about three weeks' time gratifying. "I can't talk about it," the man, identifying himself as a family friend, said amid a barrage of questions. "But I think you'll be pleased," he added with a smile.

The news broke on Tuesday: El Patio at 2938 Guadalupe St. is now scheduled to be re-opened by the end of September, Austin 360 reported — likely tipped off by the large print with a font size normally reserved for war headlines that reads "Re-opening soon!" on the El Patio website. The restaurant's operators posted a similar missive on Facebook, giving investigative reporters another clue to follow in their "exclusive" report:

The re-opening will be aided by a partnership with Stubbs BBQ, according to the report, but the familiar menu is expected to remain. The re-opening is something of a summer miracle given the way restaurants fade away forever after shutting down in gentrifying Austin.

Working feverishly to accommodate a throng of customers in the days leading up to the eatery's closure, the daughter of the original husband-and-wife founders said she and her siblings had just decided to retire in deciding to close the place down. She stressed the move had nothing to do with rising rent or a sale of the property on which the restaurant sits — on a site directly across from another longtime business, the liquor store Centennial.

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In the days leading up to the initial closure, people came from far and wide to get a last meal at their favorite restaurant before the place went away forever. A tent was set up to protect patrons from the elements as they waited up to an hour to get into the place in the final days. Some of those descending to the place had first eaten there as children when their parents would take the family for some good old Tex-Mex grub.

The man on the ladder didn't tell Patch the place would be re-opened, and was careful with his language. But Patch got the gist, and subsequently reached out to the owners for comment via their website. No response. Then, Patch reached the city's development services department to learn if any new construction permits had been issued. Again, no dice. But this provides a clue into El Patio 2.0: A city official told Patch the lack of any permitting suggests the eatery will remain the same without the need for substantive alterations or the addition of a new bathroom or expanded kitchen.

Patch then saw people inside the building about a week ago, and tentatively entered the building as had done so many times before for some stick-to-your ribs cheese enchiladas. The reception was not as warm this time when Patch asked a young man there (perhaps one of the younger-generation members of the restaurateur family) for details on the scheduled re-opening. "Well, we're closed now," the tall and vaguely intimidating young man said frostily without further comment, giving Patch its cue to exit the dormant establishment ever so sheepishly and with apologies for having intruded.

Yet Patch knew, but opted to hold on the story out of respect for the family and losing out on a significant scoop in the process. Plus, unconsciously Patch didn't want to be barred from having some of the tasty Tex-Mex comfort food in the re-opened eatery in retaliation for a premature news story. Maybe just put some extra onions on the enchiladas when we return, El Patio, and keep the coffee pouring.

But more importantly, welcome back. Or, better yet: Bienvenidos.