University of Texas has tried for years to acquire Players, the tiny burger joint on MLK just north of the state capitol.

Back in the mid double aughts UT tried to muscle down on the local restaurant through the use of eminent domain but eventually backed off when the hue and cry went nuclear.

Lots of wheels around these parts matriculated at UT and ate their body weight in burgers from Players so there was no shortage of power brokers who know their way around the smoke filled back rooms of Austin.

University of Texas chooses their battles wisely.

The southern end of UT campus has seen a lot of changes since 1981 when Players opened. Property values have skyrocketed so we imagine Players owners & operators, Carlos Oliveira and Eddie Hempe are going to be trundling duffel bags filled with cash back to their homesteads when the whole affair is said and done.

We've been eating at Players for years. We loved it when they were 24/7 and spent many a 3 am in the wood paneled dining room eating cheap, flame grilled burgers and plotting our next move.

Rest In Peace.

all Austin Texas restaurant obituaries http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/RIP-Rest-

Fricano's has shuttered their original location. We loved this restaurant from the moment they opened. Yes, they were slow, toddler-like, out of the gate but once they found their rhythm they became a very good source for fat, deli sandwiches.

It was touch and go from day one whether they were going to remain open. Crowds were slow to arrive and you could tell the little business was struggling to stay afloat.

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We don't have to ponder for very long when the subject of worst meal we ever had in Austin is broached. Red House Pizza holds that dubious honor. We were once served a pizza there that bore little resemblance to any commonly held definition of that beloved food.

Red House has shuttered.

Hot off the Twitter wire we just read a report from Austin Business Journal that the restaurant is no more.

Whew.

Rumors have been flying in East Austin for the past month that Larry Perdido, one of our town's most talented chefs is coming in fast for the takeover.

Our spies have further reported that the new concept is going to involve roasted pig and copious amounts of ice cold beer.

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Texas Monthly Top 50 barbecue house Wild Blue is preparing to close its doors.

Pit boss and professional chef Abraham Avila reported that while business was strong at times the weak quarters were ultimately too poor for the joint to surmount.

Can't get enough Wild Blue? You have until February 4th to get your fix. That's the day the business ceases to exist.

Avila does offer a lifeline of sorts. He hopes to re-open his outfit in the next year or so but this time he'll be selling meat in Brownsville.

obit out of Brownsville http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/avila-136319-barb

More on Wild Blue http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-30641932R-wild_bl

http://www.yelp.com/biz/wild-blue-barbecue-los-fresnos

all barbecue coverage http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/Barbecue

all restaurant obituaries http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/RIP-Rest-

Dark day in the history of the great state of Texas.

Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company is no more.

It's being reborn under a new name; Dublin Bottling Works Inc. and will no longer be manufacturing it's signature drink; Dublin Dr. Pepper with pure cane sugar.

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Tipster button is heating up. Thanks for helping get the word out on late breaking Austin Texas restaurant news y'all.

After a reader lit up our tipster contact button with the sad news we just visited the Open Table website and read the following cryptic message "This Restaurant Is Currently Unavailable".

We interpret that to mean that this restaurant is closed.

We never made it by but a quick perusal of some restaurant review sites indicates that this was a good northern option for diners living on the edges of Austin.

The pack of dingo dogs that restlessly circle the corral of Yelp managed to mash their paws on their keyboards hard enough to give Technique 4 stars.

Nice work fellas.

Mixed reports on Austin Chowhound with most reviews wearing some serious cobwebs as is the custom over that way.

We expect Randall Stockton to announce the opening of Rio Rita North in the old Technique room some time before the end of the week.

Just off the tipster wire we received word from one of our readers that McCormick and Schmicks in downtown Austin has closed. More later.

All Austin Texas restaurant obituaries

http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/RIP-Rest-

Ok, it looks like McCormick and Schmick's shuttered 10 under-performing restaurants across USA this morning.

We reckon this must be shakeout from back in 2011 when the restaurant chain was purchased by Landry's Restaurants Inc.

Founders Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick originally opened in Portland in 1979.

More later

We penned over 3 dozen Austin restaurant and restaurant figures obituaries this year. It's important to look back at these obits. These are the ones y'all found most intriguing.

1] The wildly successful Odd Duck Farm To Trailer shuttered http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/2011/12/1

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Never made it by. In fact, today was the first time we ever visited The Triangle.

We used to love to roll down Lamar at dusk and veer off onto Guadalupe as the sun was setting behind the grove of oak and pecan trees that were bulldozed for this Dallas-esque work/live/shop hybrid complex.

With Austin restaurant space at a premium we doubt that the space Sago occupied will stay vacant for long.

All Austin restaurant obituaries here http://www.scrumptiouschef.com/food/index.cfm/RIP-Rest-

Splendid meal at Odd Duck Farm To Trailer last evening. Word's out; the little food cart that put Austin on the map for local sourcing is shuttering. Rumor has it that a brick and mortar may be in the works in 2012.

We wait with bated breath.

The importance of what Odd Duck accomplished can not be overstated. Bryce Gilmore introduced an ethos to modern Austin that had been here in fits and starts but had not been done to such extremes.

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