Austin's Beloved Karaoke Bar, Ego's, May Be Forced to Close Due to Maintenance Disputes with Landlord

Another long-time business on South Congress, Austin, may soon disappear. Popular karaoke bar Ego's announced on Instagram that it might be closing due to disputes with their landlord over maintenance issues. The post states:

"Right now we're taking it day by day while we wait to see if the landlord is willing to fix all of the pipes that keep collapsing, but it's not looking good since they plan on demo-ing the building at some point anyway and we're the only business left in that building."

Ego's, which opened in 1979, has been an iconic part of Austin's unique culture. If the bar does close, it will be on Sunday, August 11, with a "last big hurrah" event announced on Instagram.

While the future of the physical bar is uncertain, the owner of Ego's plans to bring it back after renovations, though no timeline is set.

This potential closure is part of a larger trend of local businesses leaving South Congress, with major clothing brands moving in. In recent months, Outdoor Voices, Maya Star, Good Company, Sunroom, and Mi Casa have all closed or moved out. In their place are stores like Reformation, Madewell, Lululemon, and The Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, an Austin-born brand.

Link to original article: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2024/aug/07/egos-karaoke-bar-austin-south-congress-closing-landlord-dispute/6156311001/