Closed Yassine club has new renter

AUSTIN (KXAN) - It has been more than one month since the clubs and bars that Yassine Enterprises ran were shut down by federal and state authorities.

While the businesses have been sitting empty, some of those bars might not be vacant for much longer. Other bar owners may be benefiting by the closure of  clubs operated by the Yassine family.

They were arrested last month and face tax, money laundering  and weapons charges.

New operators have already signed a lease for one of Yassine Enterprises' former clubs.

Jason Carrier and his partners, the Womack brothers, aren't new to the downtown entertainment business.The three business partners already operate Molotov, The Dogwood, the Chuggin Monkey and Dizzy Rooster. Now they've signed a lease to take over Spill on East Sixth Street.

"East Sixth is historic. Those buildings are from the 1800's, but it's not rundown," said Carrier. "My partners and I take offense when some call it 'Dirty Sixth.' That's a shame because I think it's the biggest attraction in this great city."

New tenants are expected to move into the other Yassine clubs as landlords look to reopen them.

Carrier and the Womacks intend to turn Spill into a new place called Bourbon Girl.

"I call it 'country cool,' a lot more country and rock than Sixth Street may be used to. We're hiring designers to give it a new look, different than anything you see right now on East Sixth," said Carrier.

Carrier and the Womacks hope to open Bourbon Girl by September.