Video: Austin’s Hooters Hoots No More

Photo by James Rambin.

We’ve been waiting a little longer than we thought, but the deed is finally done: Stream Realty Partners has kicked off demolition at the former Hooters restaurant located at 401 South First Street, making way for the upcoming construction of its 15-story office and retail project RiverSouth.

At a “ceremonial demolition” and groundbreaking held at the site earlier today, an excavator tore down a big corner of the Hooters building for the audience — an incredibly satisfying way to go about a groundbreaking event compared to the traditional “gold shovels” approach.

Mayor Steve Adler praised the project’s impact on the future of the South Central Waterfront Initiative, but like the rest of us, he really wanted to get to the demolition part. Photo by James Rambin.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler was on hand for remarks, along with Stream’s regional managing partner David Blackbird, but I know you folks are mainly (or perhaps entirely) here to see a video of this Hooters getting torn up, so let’s get to it:

For safety purposes, the demolition didn’t continue after finishing that corner, but the rest of the building should come down over the next couple of days. The RiverSouth project, which recently secured $122.9 million in construction financing, is currently scheduled for completion in 2021. 

Mayor Steve Adler (center-right) and Stream managing partner David Blackbird (center-left) doing the typical “groundbreaking pose” with other partners on the RiverSouth project. I enjoy this photo because they’ve got sledgehammers instead of shovels — really driving the “demolition” part home there. You probably won’t be surprised to learn this, but I don’t think they actually hit anything with them. Image: Stream Realty Partners / Photo by Jonathan Garza.

For holdout Hooters fans — if Austin actually has any of those — you’ll now have to schlep all the way up to Round Rock or down to San Marcos for your fix. Of course, you could always just get wings somewhere else.

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