• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Breathing New Life Into Historic Scoot Inn’s Funky Old Bones

September 23, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Historic Scoot Inn turns 145

Historic Scoot Inn has spruced up the front patio in celebration of 145 years

Why do dive bars capture our hearts so much? Historic Scoot Inn has tenaciously hung in there as one of the most popular dive bars in Austin. And now this east side venue has swept out the cobwebs with a facelift for its 145th birthday.

That’s right: this beloved East 4th Street location has served as some type of local business since 1871. While Historic Scoot Inn still possesses a tattered, endearing charm, it’s less tattered now. The owners just completed a remodel, gently nudging this East Austin icon into the modern era.

Ivy’s Room

Ivy's Room Historic Scoot Inn

Pianist Rex Simmons plays Ivy’s Room

The remodel included tearing out the inside stage and skeeball machines. Owner Doug Guller of ATX Brands admits that he agonized over these choices. The venue isn’t getting out of the live music game, just moving the music to the outside stage. The inside is now a lounge area called Ivy’s Room, a nod to former owners.

The new decor screams “jazz club,” with black and red patterned wallpaper, a baby grand piano in the corner, and ample seating decked out in leather and velvet. The Tiffany-style stained glass lamps at the bar add to the speakeasy atmosphere with their subtle glow.

If you’re lucky, the pianist in Ivy’s Room will treat you to some standards on the baby grand. Or the bar may treat you to its 8-track tape collection. The quirky selection (country AND western) lends itself to the locked-in-time nature of the 8-track tapes. I’m surprised by how good those old tapes still sound.

Patio Life

Outdoor Patio Scoot Inn

Patrons lounge in the shade on the revamped patio

Scoot Inn has added around 30 tables outside, where guests can relax with friends. The addition of a raised deck at the back of the patio allows for a fully-equipped outdoor bar. Several overhead tarps artfully strung together provide an essential Texas element, shade. The stage is shiny and ready for action, and the new outdoor restrooms are spacious, clean and air-conditioned. This updated patio is perfect for an afternoon hang out or a Sunday Funday adventure!

Live Music Events

Patio Bar Scoot Inn

Order up at the patio bar

Guller and ATX Brands know entertainment, as they also own Parish nightclub, Pelon’s Tex-Mex restaurant and other local venues. Scoot Inn’s live music calendar includes upcoming late night shows for ACL Fest, as well as October performances by The Naked and Famous, Yellowcard, The Dandy Warhols and Greensky Bluegrass. Obviously, Historic Scoot Inn will remain a fabulous venue for live music. The place is just nicer than before.

Food and Drink Specials

Scoot Inn held their grand reopening party on Sept. 22, 2016. For the time being, they’re still offering $1.45 Lone Star drafts to commemorate their anniversary. The bar also has the obligatory craft cocktail menu, and the drinks are tasty.

Guller explains that food trucks will be on a rotating schedule to provide a variety of options for patrons. The lineup currently includes Melted, Arlo’s, Garbo’s, Mighty Cone and East Side King. Now and for the foreseeable future, Historic Scoot Inn will host a different food truck each night of the week.

Come on Down to Historic Scoot Inn

The drinks may cost a bit more, the floor is no longer wonky and the bathrooms are aces. This may make Historic Scoot Inn less divey than before, but I hope Austinites breathe a collective sigh of relief that we haven’t lost this venerable institution. No matter how they paint it, polish it and otherwise pretty it up, the fact this groovy old building is still standing makes me happy. The overall feel of the place is still as cozy as a dive bar. The much-needed updates to the patio, inside bar and bathrooms give it a welcome touch of class.

1308 E. 4th St. – Website

 

@theAustinot wants to know:

What is the best Scoot Inn show you’ve ever attended?

Filed Under: Drink, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Music Tagged With: eastside

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week of October 2

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of October 2, 2023, include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, Maisie Peters in Concert, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. […]

10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, Boulderfest 2023, American Indian Heritage Day 2023, and more! Editor’s […]

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of September 29 which include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, NAMIWalks Central Texas, Oktoberfest at Banger’s, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events - Top 10 Things to Do

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

The much-awaited Labor Day 2023 is right around the corner! And as we all know, everybody wants to make the most of this special day and enjoy the last bits of summer. Labor Day pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. In addition to that, it also symbolizes the end of […]

Caverns in Texas - 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Caverns in Texas – 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Looking for caverns in Texas? Want to explore the best caves in Texas? Luckily, there’s a great mix of both in Austin! Before we dive into the different bat caves in Texas or caverns Texas has to offer, what’s the difference between the two? Well, while used interchangeably, a cave is a naturally occurring cavity […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more
  • 10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Rooftop Bar Austin – 20 Best Bars, Dinner Spots, High Rise Restaurants Near You
  • Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 8 Laid-back Waterfront Restaurants in Austin (Besides The Oasis)
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Birthday Freebies Austin 2023 – List of Over 45 Best Restaurants, Food Places, & Stores with Birthday Month Deals Near You

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x