The meme, the myth, the legend.
Chili’s, located at 4420 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78756, has been listed for sale by CBRE, alongside the adjacent property at 4400 N. Lamar Blvd. CBRE denoted the property encompasses roughly 38,500 square feet, including the 5,380-square-foot building built in 1999 that houses Chili’s. Per CBRE, Chili’s has three years left on its current lease with no renewal options available, “providing a unique opportunity for an investor seeking future repositioning, redevelopment flexibility, or long‑term control of a premier infill site,” officials added.
“If there was ever a GoFundMe to support, this is it,” @matthalfhill wrote, with @theaustintourist adding: “The Triple Dipper at 45th & Lamar just hits different.” Others proposed a co-op-esqué purchase, with several Austinites pitching in to buy it and operate it as a jointly owned Chili’s.
The exact timeline of the Chili’s meme origin remains murky. Still, it dates back over a decade to Austin subreddit posts recommending the restaurant as a tongue-in-cheek reply to tourists’ requests on the best places to dine in the Texas capital. Its virality has stood the test of time, with Austin Mayor Kirk Watson even declaring April 5, 2024, as “Chili’s at 45th and Lamar Day” in Austin.
“The grassroots popularity of Chili’s at 45th & Lamar embodies the special kind of weirdness that makes Austin, well, Austin,” the 2024 proclamation read in part.