Spaghetti Warehouse leaving after 36 yrs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Opened as the second Spaghetti Warehouse in the country back in 1975, the iconic 4th street restaurant will soon be moving locations.

 "It will be weird coming down here and not seeing Spaghetti Warehouse because this is the building I first identified with this part of the Warehouse District," said UT student Alanna Iverson.

Iverson spent the last 10 years enjoying parties and birthdays at this location.

"Every year after track meets, birthdays, we'd always come and want to sit in the trolley," she said.

The building was recently sold by its previous owner. The President of Spaghetti Warehouse, Inc. told KXAN that the restaurant has recently been facing some facility problems. Instead of starting a new lease with the new owners, Spaghetti Warehouse decided to move to a new location downtown, which they're currently scouting out right now.

"Over the 36 years the Spaghetti Warehouse has been there, the district has evolved tremendously," said Jude Galligan, publisher for the Downtown Austin Blog and a board member with the Downtown Austin Alliance . "You've got a highly visible corner in the Warehouse District. Here's an opportunity to re-invigorate that specific location. That specific building. And bring a different retail mix to that district that serves the 24/7 lifestyle."

Six Lounge is the only other tenant in the historic century old building, and they will be staying put. The rest of the 20,000 square foot facility will be transformed into something else.

"The potential for a creative retail mix where the Spaghetti Warehouse currently is and is leaving, that's an opportunity that rarely comes around downtown," Galligan said.

For many Austinites who grew up with the restaurant, its departure is bitter sweet.

"It's an awesome building. Gorgeous decor. It's kind of disappointing that they're going to be taking off," said John Espino. "I'm very curious what they're going to do with the building. It's going to be interesting to see, but I'm going to miss it for sure."

Currently, there is no timeline on when the Spaghetti Warehouse will vacate the property.