Empire Control Room & Garage, a noted Austin music venue, has recently secured its future with the assistance of city funds. The Rally Austin economic development organization announced the successful purchase of the venue's property, as per a statement on LinkedIn stating that the "community’s investment also supported the intention to expand Empire Control Room and Garage to increase capacity at the venue in the future,” as stated by Austin Monitor. This acquisition includes both the 2,200-square-foot indoor Control Room and the neighboring 3,000-square-foot outdoor space known as the Garage.
The deal, facilitated by city dollars, however, has not disclosed its funding or structure details. Notably, this completes another initiative by Rally Austin to actively preserve creative spaces utilizing the 2018 city bond package, which includes $12 million earmarked for such causes. Empire Control Room & Garage co-owner Stephen Sternschein, along with partners Lou Ellman, Steven Kalil, and Jeff Speck, were able to prevent the venue from falling into the hands of real estate company World Class Capital Group in 2018, a move that could have disrupted the vibrant Red River Cultural District, as reported by Austin Monitor.
"In most cases, the venues that do well are the ones that have good relationships with their landlords. We’ve had a great relationship with our landlords here for many years, and that’s why we’ve been able to do it,” Sternschein said, as quoted by the Austin Monitor. The recent acquisition empowers the owners to invest further into the space, with Sternschein adding, "It would be impossible for us to have done what we have done and invest what we have in the space without owning the dirt."
This is not the first time Sternschein and his partners have fought to keep control of their venue. Previously, they faced rent hikes and threats of purchase by Nate Paul's company, which had a history of acquiring and closing other downtown music venues. "Part of the reason I think our deal didn’t go through the first time is because they had Nate waiting in the wings. We couldn’t agree, and they were like, ‘Oh we’ll sell it to Nate, he’s got cash,'" Sternschein recounted in an interview with Austin American Statesman.
