From Austin to Amarillo, a busy week of closures reshapes the Texas dining map
Today’s Southwest Stories update is dominated by a changing of the guard in Austin, marked by the closure of the 15-year-old Vince Young Steakhouse and the departure of South Congress staples Vespaio Ristorante and Chapulín Cantina after a quarter-century run. The contraction extends across Texas, with Houston losing its River Oaks Perry’s Steakhouse due to landlord disputes and Dallas facing the future loss of the Michelin-recommended Rye, alongside foreclosure threats looming over six dining concepts at The National Building. From the legal shuttering of San Antonio’s Noxx Nightclub to the quiet exits of regional fixtures like Abilene’s Cinemark theater and Oklahoma’s Bixby Genghis Grill, the list reflects a broad mix of lease struggles, strategic retreats, and the end of long-held community eras. This email was originally sent out on Jan 19th, 2026.
Southwest Stories chronicles the fading restaurant landscape of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona, dedicated to documenting the closures of family-owned diners and roadside staples. Each Monday, the newsletter captures the history of these community fixtures, preserving the memories of places shaped by the region’s deep roots and long highways before they are forgotten. Read more here.
