Another One Bites the Dust

We recently discovered that the Texadelphia at 619 Congress Ave. has closed its doors. After serving up cheese steaks to downtown workers for 18 months or so (the days all run together for us these, um, days), the purveyors of the grease-bombs apparently couldn't make the rent (pure speculation on our part). Now where are we going to go during our lunch hour to soak up last night's Guinness and watch the Astros' day games?

From 1996-1999 (or thereabouts) McGillicutty's pub served cold beer and offered pool and darts to thirsty downtowners. It closed after (allegedly) a bartender over-served a customer who then went back to his hotel and died. They were served a hefty fine, which led to a Wendy's 'restaurant' moving in at the 619 Congress location. After the Great Frosty/Spork Tragedy of 2003, it gave way to Texadelphia in 2004 (or thereabouts). The Personnel Store upstairs from Texadelphia also closed its doors last week and moved over to 603 Brazos. So expect a two-story establishment of some sort to take over shortly. Maybe a bar or a club. Or some serious renovations for condos. Also, expect Wiki Wiki Teriyaki to be gone by the end of the year (again, pure speculation). We assume the rent has to be in the neighborhood of $7,000-$10,000 a month. That's a lot of cheese steaks and curly fries.

We saw the writing on the wall as soon as they started selling breakfast tacos last year. Chumps. (And when they started closing at 4pm. And the fact that lunches were costing close to $10 didn't help.)

If you have any news on what is coming next or why they closed, please let us know in the comments.

Might we suggest a Potbelly's or a Cosi?

*Image (c) jspatchwork on Flickr*

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By matthewodam in Food on June 9, 2006 12:29 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

whichwichbeenposin'

potbelly's - yes!

which wich is good, but they got schooled at potbelly.

italian on wheat...drooooool.

Christine

oh PLEASE someone bring a Cosi to Austin! I miss the bread so much, and the sig salad with sherry dressing... what can we do to make this happen?!?

Christine

oh PLEASE someone bring a Cosi to Austin! I miss the bread so much, and the sig salad with sherry dressing... what can we do to make this happen?!?

holly

the pilly cheesesteak calzone was better when double daves made it.

i used to work at texadelphia and their salsa is store bought pace-like brand mixed a small bit of their own green gunk they concoct. that's why it's shit.

lauri

yeah, what DID happen to World Beat? The owner was so awesome & the veggie burgers were the best in town.

Jooley Ann

I'm sure I'll get blasted for this (haters!), but the Philly Cheesesteak Calzone at Rockin' Tomato...it is TO DIE FOR.

http://www.rockintomato.com/

cheezygoodness

Hog Island, hands down. Get there.

sean

oh and hog island cheesesteaks are really good. it's just too far to walk from where I work.

sean

I miss that particular texadelphia already. Used to eat there at least once a week.

Wiki Wiki Teriyaki is utter shite. There's NEVER a line. So I only eat there when I'm in a hurry. This makes my coworkers think I'm sick.

odam

hog island is quite good. especially when a certain young lady is working the register. ok

try the italian grinder.

the. sandwich.

adamr

We must get along. Do go to Hog Island though. More reasons to go: cherry-cola on tap; extra hots for your sammie; double meat if you axe for it; prosciutto, provolone-stuffed cherry peppers. This is the trill cheesesteak joint in Austin. Eagles still suck though.

ttrentham

I don't think anyone ever claimed that Texadelphia made authentic cheesesteaks. Aren't they purposely doing their own variation? I dig both theirs and the Delaware Subs version (no goddamn ketchup, though). I've yet to try Hog Island Deli, but I'm guessing there's room for a third interpretation.

Can't we all just get along?

rob

Second that Hog Island Deli. You'll wonder how Texadelphia can even claim to use the word cheesesteak.

huh

I'm pretty amazed that anyone could care so much about a Texadelphia location closing. Life will go on. If the whole chain was closing then THAT may be newsworthy, er blogworthy. And I think their breakfast tacos are at least decent, though the salsa sucks. They've saved me on a few mornings.

When did Worldbeat Cafe close? Now that's worth getting upset over.

truecraig

Occured, occurred, okerrrrrrrd. Whutaver.

truecraig

I thought the McGillicutty's death occured AT THE BAR. Literally: on a stool. Anyone able to find that out on the nets of inter?

ttrentham

Just got back from the Arboretum Tdelph. Mmm....Founder's Favorite.

It's Wiki Wiki Teriyaki. The original location is in the Arboretum across from Thundercloud. They're good stuff, but I agree they'll have a tough time keeping up the rent at the Congress location.

I'd love to see a Potbelly's in Austin. Too bad I don't work downtown.

adam r

Get your buns over to Hog Island Deli, 16th and Lavaca, for real quesosteaks. It's rilly philly up in that piece. The cheesesteaks are the best, but the Eagles still suck. Nuff said.

terryo

"18 monts or so"

I suspect he means an H is missing...

odam

we were just about to hire a copyeditor, kdawg, although i don't see the errors to which you refer. send on your resume and we will give you some serious consideration, my man. serious.