Man plays guitar to drum up business

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Pappy Jack Allen, 50, is calling the rooftop of his north Austin restaurant home until 2012.

Allen owns Pappy's Bar and Grill in the Allandale Shopping Center in the 5800 block of Burnet Road.

"The money is just not there for advertising, so, I decided to get loud and crazy...it is a desperate measure," explained Allen.

Allen has been playing electric guitar on the roof since 4 a.m. Friday.  He is trying to draw attention to his restaurant to lure customers. 

Citing the economy and construction costs to bring the restaurant up to code--Allen told KXAN he will likely have to close down by the end of December.

"I am hoping for a happy ending like It's a Wonderful Life," he said.

So far, Allen's music has brought some business, but not enough.

"It is not working out like I thought," Allen admitted.

Allen knows his publicity stunt is nothing more than a last ditch effort to save his small business.  Some small business owners in the area, however, are applauding his efforts.

"I think it is great," said Lani Steingraph, owner of Kids n Cats.  "Anything to draw attention to small businesses.  That is what makes Austin."

Steingraph said she hoped when Allen's restaurant opened, that would mean more business for her.  It didn't.  And, like many other neighboring businesses, she is struggling to make money.

"I think traffic has slowed down in the last, at least, year or so since the HEB construction and the Wal Mart has moved in.  There has just been a lot of changes in the neighborhood," she explained.

The HEB, which is a few doors to the right of Allen's restaurant, expanded, forcing Steingraph to move her store to another part of the strip mall.

With it being Small Business Saturday, both Allen and Steingraph want to remind the public how important it is to support mom and pop shops and to eat locally.

"We don't have some of the advantages big corporations do," Allen reminded.

Allen has a makeshift bed on the roof and his employees fill a basket full of food and he raises it up with a rope.

The only time he ever leaves the roof is to take bathroom breaks.

Meanwhile, his wife and a trusted employee are running the restaurant.

"I also have my cell phone up here to do business," he added.

Allen plans to live atop his restaurant and play guitar until 2012.

Still, not all of his fellow business owners are happy with him making noise.

One business owner politely asked him to stop playing the guitar because customers were complaining.

Allen obliged and is still strumming the strings just without any sound.