A longtime steakhouse named after a Texas Longhorns football legend is shuttering after 15 years in Austin. Vince Young Steakhouse announced on its website that it will be closing its doors on January 24.
The steakhouse has been a staple in downtown Austin’s fine dining scene since 2010. Although the restaurant bears the name of Texas’ national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young, the restaurant is owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Phil and Laura McIngvale-Brown.
The pair’s decision to close came after a thoughtful assessment of the changing environment facing independent, single-location restaurants, alongside rising costs across Austin’s restaurant industry.
“This decision was not made lightly,” said Phil Brown in an online statement. “We are incredibly proud of what this restaurant has meant to Austin and deeply grateful to every guest and every employee who made the past 15 years possible.”
But the Browns aren’t the only one. Austin restaurants have been feeling the pinch of higher operational costs, declining sales and bigger chain competition as many local favorites have also chosen to close in recent years citing similar reasons.
“At a certain point, it becomes clear when it’s time to honor what you’ve built and close a chapter with intention,” Brown added. “We chose to do that with gratitude and pride.”
General Atmosphere at the opening of the Vince Young Steakhouse on November 5, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Sarah Kerver/WireImage)
In 2010, Young partnered with the Browns, allowing them to use his name to create their upscale restaurant. Over the years, Vince Young Steakhouse grew into a gathering place for locals, visitors, athletes, business leaders, and families to dine on a variety of steaks, seafood, pastas and more.
“We are thankful beyond words for our team-past and present-who poured themselves into this place, and for the guests who chose to celebrate life’s moments with us year after year,” said Laura Brown. “The memories created here will stay with us forever.”
Young, who has promoted the steakhouse for years, echoed the Browns’ gratitude for the Austin community and being a part of the restaurant’s legacy for more than a decade.
“Austin has always been home to me, and this restaurant was created to reflect the city’s heart-welcoming, warm and full of character,” Young said. “I’m incredibly proud that my name was part of a downtown Austin staple, run by some of my best friends, in a city that means so much to me. I’m grateful for what this place became and the memories made here over the years. This isn’t goodbye to Austin; it’s a thank you.”
Vince Young Steakhouse will continue regular service through January 24, welcoming guests one final time to celebrate the restaurant’s legacy, according to its website. Details regarding farewell moments and final service offerings will be shared in the coming weeks.
Find it: 301 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701
This article originally published at Football fans’ No. 1 Texas steakhouse to close for good after 15 years.