It’s hard to believe the COVID-19 pandemic started six years ago. For many, life is divided into «before» and «after,» especially when it comes to long-standing businesses.
Before the pandemic, we were politically fractured; after, we seem completely broken apart. Before, people were socially awkward but still social; after, there’s a generation unsure how to make eye contact. Before, communities were rooted in decades-old businesses; after-gone.
In Austin, many of the city’s most beloved businesses were forced to close. Politics, socialization, community, shuttered storefronts-it may seem unrelated, but it isn’t. During a time when things feel more fractured than ever, it makes sense that Austinites are still, and perhaps even more deeply, mourning what was lost.
To find out which Austin institutions people miss most and why, we turned to Reddit. While a few lesser-known spots surfaced — Pitchfork Pretty, Dragonbeard Kitchen and a place simply called Leaf — these seven are the ones locals can’t stop talking about.
An old-school bowling alley and Tex-Mex joint. (Flickr user Julie G)
An old-school bowling alley and Tex-Mex joint. (Flickr user Julie G)
Dart Bowl and Dart Bowl Cafe
North Austin’s beloved, old-school bowling alley, Dart Bowl, successfully ran since 1958, but shut its doors permanently in the summer of 2020 due to the pandemic. The cafe was famous for its Tex-Mex — especially the enchiladas.