Inspired by the new Sign Bar in East Austin, we went on the hunt for some old Austin signs that are still standing. Of course, we couldn’t include them all, but we have listed many of our faves. Feeling nostalgic? Head out to one of these old Austin locales and support a local business!
Here Are Our Favorite Old Austin Signs That Are Still Standing
South Austin
Sandy’s – Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Sandy’s first opened in May of 1946.
Location: 603 Barton Springs Road
Chuy’s
Chuy’s opened on April 16, 1982 in an old, abandoned barbeque joint on iconic Barton Springs Road.
Location: 1728 Barton Springs Road
Baby A’s
Baby A’s has been proudly serving Austin for over 40 years!
Location: 1628 Barton Springs Road
Matt’s El Rancho
Matt’s El Rancho first opened on East First Street (now Cesar Chavez) in 1952, and moved to South Lamar Boulevard in 1986.
Location: 2613 South Lamar Boulevard
Broken Spoke
James and Annetta White opened the Broken Spoke in 1964, then a mile south of the Austin city limits, under a massive live oak, and beside what would eventually become South Lamar Boulevard.
Location: 3201 South Lamar Boulevard
Continental Club
The legendary Continental Club opened its doors in 1955 and is one the oldest continuously running clubs in all of Austin.
Location: 1315 South Congress Avenue
Austin Motel
Since 1938, the Austin Motel and its landmark neon sign has been a fixture of South Congress Avenue.
Location: 1220 South Congress Avenue
Magnolia Cafe
The original Magnolia Cafe’s Lake Austin Boulevard location closed in 2020. The South Congress restaurant has been operating since 1988.
Location: 1920 South Congress Avenue
Home Slice
Home Slice was founded in 2005.
Location: 1415 South Congress Avenue (You can also find the same sign at the North Austin location: 501 East 53rd Street)
El Mercado
The South First El Mercado location opened in 1985, serving breakfast tacos at a Mexican food market.
Location: 1302 South 1st Street
Flashback Vintage
Location: 1805 South First Street
Polvo’s
The first Polvos opened on South First in 1997.
Location: 2004 South 1st Street
Classic Inn/ Hill’s Cafe
Though no longer in operation, the Hill’s Cafe still stands in South Austin.While visiting Hill’s Cafe, you can also snap this sign next door.
Location: 4702 South Congress Avenue
Central Austin
Deep Eddy Cabaret
Deep Eddy Cabaret was founded in 1951.
Location: 2315 Lake Austin Boulevard
El Arroyo
Having arguably the most famous sign in Austin, El Arroyo has been serving up Tex-Mex with a side of laughs on their famous marquee sign since 1975.
Location: 1624 West 5th Street
Star Bar
Established in 1995, Star Bar is the original west 6th street bar.
Location: 600 West 6th Street
Key Bar
West 6th Street Key Bar opened in 2006.
Location: 617 West 6th Street
Paramount Theatre
First established in 1915, the art deco sign was installed in the 30s.
Location: 713 Congress Avenue
Stubb’s
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q was started in Lubbock in 1968 and moved to Austin in 1986.
Location: 801 Red River Street
The Tavern
Since 1933 The Tavern has been serving cold beer, hearty burgers, and air conditioning. It is one of the first establishments in Austin to introduce this modern amenity.
Location: 922 West 12th Street
Texas Chili Parlor
The Chili Parlor first opened that door to the public in 1976. It was featured in the 2007 film Death Proof.
Location: 1409 Lavaca Street
Hole In The Wall
Hole in the Wall was founded in 1974.
Location: 2538 Guadalupe Street
El Patio
El Patio first opened its doors in 1954. Photo via El Patio’s official Instagram account.
Location: 2938 Guadalupe Street
Shangri-La
An original East Side 6th Street Bar, Shangri-La, a was established in 2008.
Location: 1016 East 6th Street
North Austin
Top Notch
In 1971, Ray and Frances Stanish purchased Burkhart’s Motor Dining on Burnett and reopened as Top Notch Hamburgers
Location: 7525 Burnet Road
Lala’s Little Nugget
The Christmas themed bar Lala’s Little Nugget opened in North Austin in 1972.
Location: 2207 Justin Lane
Texan Motel
Location: 6702 North Lamar Boulevard
Americana
The Americana was once a 1960s roadside theater. It’s now a branch of the Austin Public Library. You can see the iconic sign in a scene in Dazed and Confused.
Around 1950, one of the first neighborhoods in North Austin was developed and called Violet Crown Heights. The neighborhood stretched north of Koenig Lane to Ruth Avenue and a shopping center was built on what is now North Lamar. The shopping center sign was lovingly restored by Neon Jungle, according to thesignsofaustin.com
Location: 6610 North Lamar Boulevard
Dan’s Hamburgers
Dan’s Hamburgers first opened in 1973. A second location was opened at South Lamar and Barton Skyway in 1975 and an Airport location in 1977.
Location: 5602 North Lamar Boulevard (There are also locations on Menchaca and Airport Boulevard)
Lammes Candies
The Lammes candy store was originally located on Congress Avenue, but has been operating on Airport Boulevard since 1957.
Location: 5330 Airport Boulevard
Room Service Vintage
Room Service Vintage first opened in 1981.
Location: 117 North Loop Boulevard E
Forbidden Fruit
Forbidden Fruit was established in 1981, and has been a woman-owned and operated organization since 1987.
Location: 108 North Loop Boulevard E
Mrs. Johnson’s Bakery
Austin’s longstanding Mrs. Johnson’s Bakery has been making magic out of flour and sugar since first opening its doors in 1948.
Driving around to see Christmas lights can be so much fun - especially when you know exactly where to go. Here are the best free Christmas lights displays around Austin!
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