AUSTIN, Texas — The owners of The Magnolia Cafe are closing the Lake Austin Boulevard location, originally known as the Omelettry West, citing financial issues related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The location opened in 1979 but in an Instagram post late April 16, the owners wrote that things have been slowing down the past few years. And with having to temporarily close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners said the location will not survive.
The owners said they hope customers will head to the South Congress Avenue location for all their dining needs as soon as it reopens.
Here's what the owners had to say about the closing on Instagram:
"Kent started the Magnolias in 1979 on Lake Austin Boulevard, back then known as the Omelettry West. Many of you remember us from back in those days, the staff taking two minute breaks from service to sing together in the dining room and serving up the pancakes and eggs that have been our staples for years.
In the past few years, we’ve seen so many of you regulars at the West. Many of them the children and some of them the grandchildren of our original customers. We’ve had a great team there who we’re proud of, and we’ve done big improvements to the building and our facilities. However, things have been slowing down there for the past few years. In the face of such a huge hit with the reality of Covid-19 and the incredible uncertainty of the future, we’ve had to confront the fact that that location will not survive.
Magnolia Cafe Lake Austin had a great forty one years offering our fare, our style and, most importantly, a place for people from the neighborhood and from all over the world to come together and do what people do best - have a meal and talk to each other. And we, our family and all the staff and management through the years got to do what makes people their best - take care of other people. To our neighbors and loyal customers of that location for so many years, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The West is where we’re from. Y’all are where we are from. We couldn’t have done it without you, and now we hope all you north of the river folks cross one of the handy bridges and head up the hill to our South Congress location for your T. Rex omelette, your jalapeño cheese burger, your gingerbread pancakes, your Love Veggies, your Mag Mud, your Pasta Alfredo, your Magnolia brownie. We are looking forward to reopening South Congress when it is safer to do so.
We would love to hear your stories of the West. We know so many of y’all raised your families there, met your sweethearts there, saw old friends and made new ones as well. Please share your stories and photos if you would like at magnoliacafeaustin@gmail.com
Thank you, Austin. Thank you world. See you on South Congress."
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