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Threadgills is currently a pair of restaurants in Austin, Texas serving home cooking style menus.
History[edit]
Kenneth Threadgill opened the original Threadgills in 1933 as a Gulf filling station, just north of the Austin city limits. When Travis County decided to become a "wet" county in December of that year, Threadgill was the first in line, waiting all night to get a liquor license. [1]
Soon, the filling station became a favorite spot for traveling musicians since it was open 24 hours for drinking, gambling and jamming. Kenneth would sing songs by his beloved Jimmie Rodgers nightly. Musicians who came to play were paid in beer. Such was the atmosphere at Threadgill’s, it was only when a curfew was enacted in 1942 that its owner had to get a key for the front door, before that it had yet to have been locked.
The quintessential Austin beer joint continued to flourish into the sixties, and changed with the social climate of the era by inviting the folkies, hippies and beatniks to his Wednesday night singing sessions with open arms. Threadgill’s love for people and music smoothed out the conflicts that usually occurred when longhairs met with rednecks at the time, and because of this, a new culture tolerance emanated from the club, which had a profound effect upon its patrons and the music that came from it. It was here that Janis Joplin developed her country and blues hybrid-styled voice that would blur the lines between country and rock n’ roll.
In 1974, when Austinites and the nation were extolling the benefits of living in the heart of the Lone Star State, and the “Cosmic Cowboy” movement, which had its roots directly planted in the history of Threadgill’s and Armadillo World Headquarters, was at its peak, tragedy struck Kenneth Threadgill when his wife Mildred died, and he decided to close his club.
After nearly succumbing to the city of Austin’s desire to demolish the original Threadgill’s site which had become an eyesore, it was purchased by Eddie Wilson, owner of the Armadillo World Headquarters, a sister venue of a kindred spirit. Wilson’s idea, however, was to make Threadgill’s a Southern style restaurant, based on the success of the menu that he offered at his kitchen at the Armadillo. So, on New Year’s Eve 1980, the Armadillo closed, and on New Year’s Eve 1981, Threadgill’s opened as a restaurant. It was an instant success.
In 1982, the main building burned down, but Wilson reopened only three months later with an added commissary kitchen and banquet hall which has evolved into the Country Store Museum and Eddie Wilson Memory Archive and Upstairs Store.
Threadgill’s World Headquarters
In 1996, Threadgill’s World Headquarters was opened in south Austin, right beside the residence of the Armadillo Headquarters. Wilson has made a distinction between the two locations: the original, north location has the theme of Austin between the 1930’s and the 1960’s. The south location celebrates the history of the Armadillo and its salad days of the 1970’s. The memorabilia of the Headquarters represents the hey-day of this era from the juke box which contains many of the artists who played the Armadillo to the piano that hangs from the ceiling which has been played by artists as diverse as Jerry Lee Lewis to Captain Beefheart. At either venue, Wilson is proud to boast that “in matter of music and food, we represent a time before disco or microwaves”.
Threadgill’s Southern Comfort Food
Eddie Wilson knew the type of T.L.C. that is a main ingredient in Southern cooking well before opening the kitchen at the Armadillo Headquarters. Everyday, his mother Beulah, would cook for 50 children at the nursery that she opened. With the taste of his mother’s cooking forever imprinted on his taste buds and the knowledge that goes into creating it, Eddie opened the kitchen at the Armadillo where touring acts were as attracted to the food as they were to the packed and frenzied concert goers.
With the incredible food, overflowing plates of it and at generous prices, along with his touch at hiring only the friendliest wait staff, the opening of Threadgill’s in 1981 was a smash. Bon Appetit thought the food was so good that they ran a story about it, as did Gourmet Magazine.
The banquet facility behind the north location is called the Upstairs Store, where Wilson has displayed vintage articles and memorabilia from the “old Austin”, cerca 1930-1940s. The room is ideal for rehearsal dinners, reunions, fund raisers or any other reason that you might want to gather friends and family around for a celebration with an authentic Southern feast.
The meals are served on Blue Willow china and features three entrees, five vegetables or salads, fresh hot bread, and two scrumptious desserts. Iced tea and coffee are also served, and a wet bar if preferred. The atmosphere and vittles are strictly Austin, and cannot be replicated anywhere.
Threadgill’s also provides catering for a wide variety of events, whether it be at a backyard party or at a rock n’ roll club. Their expert cooks, bartenders and servers are sure to provide the perfect meal, anytime, anywhere. You may choose from five menus and from a breakfast menu for a morning affair. Or you may create your own menu. Either way, it is guaranteed to be a hit.
For the true Austin experience, Threadgill’s restaurants are landmarks. Please come be a part of the World Headquarters’ Beer Garden concert series and head North on Lamar to Old No. 1 for music and chicken fried anything you want on Tuesday nights.