Rebel Cheese is wrapping up service at its Mueller bistro just in time for the holidays, with the Austin-based vegan cheese maker confirming it will shutter the Aldrich Street spot on December 24. The bistro, located along the neighborhood’s busy Aldrich corridor, will be handed off to another plant-based operator, and current staffers are expected to slide into roles with the incoming tenant. Rebel Cheese says this is a strategic move, not a shutdown: production will continue for its online customers and wholesale partners.
Final Days, Discounts And Gift Cards
In a December 16 newsletter, Rebel told customers the bistro’s final day would be December 24 and rolled out a parting perk: 20 percent off grocery items and wine through 3 pm on closing day, according to Eater Austin. The same message reminded fans that gift cards are not headed for the trash. They will be honored in the online store and can be activated by emailing [email protected].
The Bistro, The Brand And The Factory
The Mueller Bistro sits at 2200 Aldrich St., Suite 120, in the heart of the master-planned neighborhood, according to the company’s locations page (Rebel Cheese Austin Bistro). Rebel Cheese says it launched in 2019 and, per its About page, has since grown into a national supplier with a 9,000 square foot production facility that fuels both its online operation and wholesale accounts. The brand has also expanded beyond Texas with a shop in New York City (Rebel Cheese About).
How Shark Tank Helped Scale The Business
The quiet cheese counter did not stay quiet for long. Rebel’s profile jumped after its co-founders appeared on Shark Tank in 2023 and accepted an investment offer from Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner, a TV moment credited with juicing the brand’s distribution footprint and online sales, as reported by Eater Austin. The on-air deal effectively introduced Rebel Cheese to a national TV audience and opened doors to new retail channels.
What Customers Should Expect Next
So who is taking over the Mueller space? For now, Rebel Cheese is keeping it vague in public, describing the incoming tenant in its newsletter as "completely plant-based" and "sharing the same heart that we do." CultureMap Austin notes that the new operator has not yet been identified and that Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records do not currently list a new project at the Aldrich Street address. The outlet also reports that Rebel ships to hundreds of locations across the United States and Canada. In the same newsletter, the company told subscribers it will sharpen its focus on e-commerce, wholesale business, and its New York City shop as it heads into 2026, and that some deli case sandwiches and grocery items will remain available to customers even after the Mueller bistro closes.
