Austinist: P. Terry's Opening Second Store in Central Austin

Welshdog

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:52:07 -0600

I'll reply to myself: Yes there is going to be a William Cannon location. I spoke with P. Terry and manager of the Barton Springs location on Saturday. He said expect it to open this summer.

Welshdog

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:51:11 -0600

Any confirmation on the William Cannon location? That would be very convenient.

gary

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:33:15 -0600

Someone mentioned to me that they thought this location had a problem with soil contamination, from the dry cleaners that has operated for many years, up the hill, and that another prospective buyer had backed out of a purchase, when soil test results came back indicating problems.

Maximillian24

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:24:49 -0600

The price is reflective of their ingredients. No added hormones or antibiotics, 100% vegetarian diet. I think they have good burgers. I know quite a few people that think they are passable. Thinking they do not live up to expectations. A huge part of what makes P. Terry's good is their quality. Most great burger places are not using natural beef, organic tomatoes etc...

MH

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:00:05 -0600

After driving by P. Terry's on Lamar for months and seeing the line, the GF and I stopped one evening to order up a couple of burgers and shakes. We found the burgers to be small and not at all remarkable, especially given the price. The shakes were passable, but nothing to write home about. In short, what's all the hype about?

jrheat

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:47:16 -0600

I don't really see the problem here. Hill Bert's moves a few blocks away (it's longtime customer base will follow) and a local business builds an attractive, well designed burger shop in place of a building that most likely barely passed health inspection. If that sort of thing pisses you off, I imagine a trip downtown leaves you foaming at the mouth.

LoudMouth

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:30:23 -0600

I would like to know how P. Terry's can get such a large flavor of ass inside a burger the size of a quarter. Who is eating this shit and enjoying it?

turtledragon

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:09:46 -0600

ok. i do stand somewhat corrected in overlooking that p. terry's had actually bought the property. in that respect i suppose it's better they bought it than starbucks or some other lame out-of-town chain. still, it would've been nice to see hill-berts buy the property or to at least be given the long term lease they deserved by the new ownership. as for kenneth...you simply have no idea what you're talking about. the fact that hill-bert's has been in that location for 35 years (my math was off when i said 25) is easily verifiable. it's quite foolish to call someone out for making assumptions and then back it up with ideas you pulled out of your ass.

Aaron Haley

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:37:27 -0600

I'm not making any assumptions, I've talked to both sides about this issue. Hill-Berts was forced out of the location because of the rent and then it was put on the market and then P. Terry's put an offer on it. They weren't forced out for P. Terry's it was just a market price issue. I see what you are saying about local business' banding together but at the same time it simply comes down to economic decisions.

Tarvin

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:50:09 -0600

I think the emissions from the idling cars at the Barton Springs location cause 50% of global warming. Drive ins should be banned.

kenneth1

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:43:19 -0600

you're just making false assumptions here. I believe you're the one making false assumptions, turtledragon. Hill-Berts had only been at that location for a couple of years. It's not like Dirty Martin's or something. And landlords don't say, "Let me see if I can find someone to pay double your rent. If I can't you can stay there at your current rent." Once Hill-Berts made the decision to move out, P.Terry's picked up the option. As a N. Austinite, I'm glad to see another local business there instead of yet another Subway, Pizza Hut, etc.

turtledragon

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:57:07 -0600

elizabeth... yes. it's the old taco bell building behind randalls. glad you dig 'em too.

turtledragon

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:51:07 -0600

you're just making false assumptions here. they didn't simply choose to move. i actually spoke to some hill-berts folks shortly after they closed...they were gatthered outside the old building apparently bidding a sad farewell. they said they had been forced out by the property owner. just like the showdown saloon, another recent blow to our local culture. no rent issues, no negotiation, just leave because we're giving it to p. terry's. yes, this is business. and yes, it's ultimately the landlord's fault. but p. terry's could've made offers elsewhere instead of squeezing out a local institution. when you offer a big chunk of money to a landlord to strip another business of their home and give it to you, you ARE in fact running off the preexisting business. and i for one prefer compassionate cooperation in business. the people running hill-berts are obviously not rolling in dough, and mr. terry quite obviously is. and that's just plain mean to try and step on someone else's living. and sure, hill-bert's did get another location. but there's almost zero exposure over in their new spot. which is why i'm so inclined to desperately plug them here on this page. go to hill-bert's. they rule. and selfish cut-throat business sucks. i hope the economic collapse that has occurred since their decision to steal hill-berts bites p. terry's in the ass.

ridgeback

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:38:30 -0600

First 5 Guys at 34th & Guadalupe, now P Terry's at 32nd & Lamar. Not to mention the nearby Dirty's, Burger Tex, Hill-Berts Too at 35th & Kerby Lane, and others not at the top of my mind...That vicinity is a real hot bed for the local burger industry.

AliG

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:52:55 -0600

according to a P.Terry's employee they are opening two new locations. The other will be on William Cannon just west of Mopac in the building where the Longjohn Silver/A&W place was...

Elizabeth S.

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:34:41 -0600

Plus, I think the "newer" Hill-Berts location in NE Austin doesn't look to be going anywhere. . . I'm not too worried about Hill-Berts going out of business. The Cameron Rd. location is usually pretty hoppin'. Did Hill-Berts take over another past Taco Bell building? Is that where the new location is near Randalls? Hill-Berts shakes = downright sinful (in a good way).

Aaron Haley

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:15:18 -0600

While I agree with it being a shame that a local business was moved, at least another local business is replacing it and Hill-Berts is still in business right around the corner. It's not as if P. Terry's ran them off, the owner of the property raised the rent so high they finally moved and then P. Terry's decided they were willing to pay the requested cost. It's just life and business. Alas.

turtledragon

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:10:57 -0600

yeah...too bad they had to run off a fantastic family owned austin institution to get that spot. i'm talking about Hill-Bert's. they were in that spot selling the best damn burgers and shakes in town for 25 years before being forced to relocate by P.Terry's. P.Terry's is a decent joint. but this is no way to treat a family-owned austin business neighbor. I might stop by the old P. Terry's on barton springs from time to time, but i will NEVER patronize their n. lamar location. instead i'll be around the corner behind randall's at Hill-Bert's new location. Hope to see you there. Here's A Map To Hill-Bert's

unitqm

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:15:15 -0600

I love me some P. Terrys. I don't go to the barton springs location because it is a pain to get around there. This location will be much better for me.