Empire Control Room & Garage is open in a limited capacity this month, following a lockout notice posted Friday, April 3, on the Control Room half of the venue. That notice, which remains visible on the front door of the building as of April 22, states that “payments under the Lease Agreement” on behalf of venue owner Stephen Sternschein’s Heard Entertainment Texas LLC “are delinquent.” Landlord 606 Holdings LLC, managed by Treysian, the LLC of Side Bar owner William “Trey” Spaw III, states in the notice that Sternschein “will not be provided a new key until all past due rents are paid in full.” Shows continued last weekend on the outdoor Garage stage. Spaw and Sternschein did not comment on the lockout.
Chili’s has many locations, but none quite as uniquely beloved as the 45th and North Lamar outpost – though perhaps not for long. Commercial real estate firm Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis has listed the 0.7-acre lot that hosts the iconic fast-casual haunt for sale, appraised to the tune of $3.64 million. Fans of the Triple Dipper hot spot and its cheekily derived local stature, which began as an inside joke among Austin redditors recommending the Dallas-based chain to visitors, worry the closing will mark one more piece of Austin weirdness lost to redevelopment, but CBRE Senior Vice President Bradley Bailey told the Austin Business Journal that construction is still a few years out. Chili’s lease will run through 2029, though Bailey says they have no options to renew.
Food & Wine Magazine named Austin its premier U.S. coffee destination, praising innovative cafe locations in office buildings, alleys, trailers, and vans – plus the plentitude of combination coffee shop bars, breweries, and bakeries. Creative drink options and a diversity of cultural influences made an impact on the culinary experts polled to create the ranking. Klerje Coffee, El Tigre, Fleet Coffee, and Flat Track Coffee received shout-outs, as did newcomer Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar.
ACME is accepting artist applications for exhibitions at City Hall and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The People’s Gallery, in City Hall, welcomes locally made two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks that reflect “Austin’s artistic excellence and cultural diversity.” For the airport’s Changing Exhibits Program, ACME calls for multidisciplinary exhibition proposals that resonate with the theme “Vestiges of the Future.” More information about eligibility and the application process can be found on ACME’s website.
Karaz, the latest restaurant offering from the esteemed team behind Austin favorites Suerte, Este, and Bar Toti, will bring “Middle Eastern hospitality” to 2627 Manor, says Executive Chef Alejandra “Ale” Kuri. The concept, named after the Arabic word for “cherry,” blossomed during a family meal Kuri prepared, influenced by her Lebanese heritage, for the team at Este, where she’s currently the chef de cuisine. The menu, according to a press release, will continue to reflect that cultural connection, as well as “community and seasonality, highlighting fresh ingredients sourced from Central Texas farms.”
This article appears in April 24 • 2026.
