After 15 Years In Downtown Austin, This Popular Steakhouse Is Closing Its Doors

The past couple of years have not been easy for the hospitality business. Many steakhouses have permanently closed their doors, despite having recognizable names and loyal customers. Now, another restaurant, with a single location located in downtown Austin, is shutting down for good: Vince Young Steakhouse. 

The final day of service for the steakhouse will be January 24, according to the official statement on the restaurant's website. The Austin community is encouraged to visit the place one last time to say their goodbyes. "Details regarding farewell moments and final service offerings will be shared in the coming weeks," explained the announcement.

Vince Young Steakhouse is owned and run by husband and wife duo Phil and Laura Brown. Vince Young, a famous quarterback that used to play for Texas Longhorns, allowed the couple to use his name for the steakhouse because they're longtime friends. While some athletes may have just left it at that, Young stayed involved with the steakhouse. "Been there multiple times when he stopped by the table to chat," reported one customer on Facebook, and several others pointed out that they just recently saw Young in a commercial advertising the steakhouse. Still, after 15 solid years in business, the restaurant that was built on the philosophy of Southern hospitality is bidding the city farewell.

"What began as a passion project became a cornerstone of Austin's culinary scene," said the message on the website. Vince Young Steakhouse was important to many people in Austin, impressing its guests with creative dishes such as the roasted bone marrow appetizer, or the uniquely crafted short rib chili. The prices were very reasonable for a steakhouse, but the restaurant still went a step further with its happy hour menu, which offered the steak for only $10 between 5 and 7 p.m. every day. It's perhaps not surprising that happy hour was many customers' favorite part of dining at Vincent Young Steakhouse.

As the reason for closure, the official statement cited "changing environment facing independent, single-location restaurants, alongside rising costs across the restaurant industry" in Austin. Across the country, several steakhouses are experiencing declining business, battling the ever-changing restaurant landscape. But for the Browns, the closure of Vince Young Steakhouse is not a failure. For them, the past 15 years were dedicated to "building something meaningful in the city we love, and we did exactly that." And despite losing this gem, there are still at least 20 great places to eat and drink in Austin.