A storied chapter of Austin's dining scene came to a close with the shuttering of the Baby Acapulco restaurant on Barton Springs Road, known affectionately to locals as 'Baby A's'. Specialized in Tex-Mex cuisine and notably credited with the invention of the "purple margarita", the establishment served the community for over four decades. Now, only two Baby Acapulco locations remain — one in northwestern Austin on Stonelake Boulevard and another southeast of I-35 on Lakeshore Boulevard.
According to a report by KVUE, this isn't the first establishment with deep roots in Austin to cease operations on Barton Springs Road, with another local favorite, Shady Grove, having closed down in May of 2020. Similarly, Chuy's, another long-established Austin brand on Restaurant Row, was acquired by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants in July, marking a continuance of significant change in the area.
The "Purple Rita" became a trademark of the Baby A's experience, a strong twist on the traditional margarita. Patrons could only manage to order two per visit, with the secret recipe being closely guarded for 40 years. The community's reaction to the closure has been one of nostalgia and endearment for the restaurant that felt foundational to Austin's identity. "It feels like a staple. This is like a monument that belongs in Austin, so I don't know it is so weird to see it closed because it feels so foundational," Sarah McPartland told FOX 7 Austin in an interview.
As the Barton Springs location bid its farewell, moving crews were seen removing furniture from the eatery, now listed as permanently closed online. Patrons, both longtime locals and those newer to the area, shared their personal connections with the establishment. "My parents lived here in the 80s and they loved this place. I moved here recently. When I first moved here, they were like ‘we have got to go there,’ so, we went there and tried a purple margarita, it was so yummy," McPartland also divulged to FOX 7 Austin.
The Baby Acapulco corporate office has yet to make a public comment regarding the closure, leaving the question of what will next occupy the prime real estate they once held. Meanwhile, expectations by the community are set high for any future businesses looking to take over the cherished space that once bubbled with margaritas and memories. "I hope it is a good business, especially as where this is it is so busy, it is such a high traffic place," McPartland shared further with FOX 7 Austin, echoing a sentiment of cautious optimism for the future of this cultural corner of Austin.
