The Louisiana Longhorn Cafe in downtown Round Rock is closing after serving customers for 25 years. The restaurant, known for its gumbo, crawfish, and fried catfish, will serve its last meal on June 20. Owners Warren and Jenny Smith cited rising food prices, a lack of parking, and the changing nature of the downtown area as reasons for the closure.
The restaurant has been at 200 E. Main St. since 1999 and was first owned by Melinda and Ray Overstreet before being sold to the Smiths in 2021. The Smiths also own the Texan Cafe & Pie Shop in Hutto.
Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan expressed his disappointment at the closure, stating, "I do hate to see they are closing. I will miss it. They are a staple of downtown."
Warren Smith noted that business was good during the winter and crawfish season but slowed down in the summer due to parking difficulties and the changing atmosphere of downtown Round Rock, which now has more sports bars than restaurants.
Some staff from the Louisiana Longhorn Cafe will be offered jobs at the Texan Cafe & Pie Shop in Hutto. The restaurant expressed gratitude to its customers and the Round Rock community in a social media post.