AUSTIN, Texas — According to a report by the Austin American-Statesman, Aaron Franklin, the pitmaster of Franklin Barbecue, is looking to open up a new restaurant at 1200 E. Sixth St., the location of the historic Uptown Sports Club.
Franklin is joined by the Mohawk co-owner James Moody, architects Michael Hsu and Ken Johnson of Hsu Office of Architecture and design director of Bunkhouse Group Tenaya Hills, according to the Statesman.
The group intends to restore the building to create a new Uptown Sports Club, the Statesman report said. The re-imagined Uptown Sports Club will be inspired architecturally by the original space, along with New Orleans, French and South American influences.
Franklin and Moody, both owners of iconic Austin establishments, have been eyeing the building for years. According to the Statesman, Moody had looked at the space for the location of the Mohawk and Franklin had looked into the spot to be the original home of Franklin Barbecue.
The Statesman reported the menu is still being created, but Franklin said a fried shrimp po' boy and a roast beef debris po' boy should be expected, joined by a seasonal option.
According to the Statesman, Forth Worth-based attorney Jason Jones is the driving force behind the return of the Uptown Sports Club. Jones had signed a lease with the previous owner, Ron Hernandez, before he passed away. He went on to purchase the building from Hernandez's family, according to the Statesman.
Jones is reportedly committed to Hernandez's wishes of turning the place back into a bar and grill.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: