Marlow, the cocktail bar that turned a 1950s brick building on East Sixth Street into one of Austin's more polished nightlife spots, is closing after nearly three years. The bar at 700 E. 6th St. will hold its final service on Saturday, August 29, 2026, capping a run that began in September 2023.
The closure was first reported by CultureMap Austin, which noted that Marlow did not provide a reason for shutting down. The bar is co-owned and co-operated by Mike DeBonville, Joe Schumacher, and Wade McElroy, according to the outlet. DeBonville named the bar after his daughter when he co-founded it as the inaugural concept of Fresh Air Hospitality, a group built to open elevated neighborhood bar concepts in historic Austin locations, according to 365 Things Austin.
Before Marlow moved in, the building overlooking Waller Creek had a layered history on the eastern edge of the historic Sixth Street entertainment district. It previously housed sports bar Edwin's and event venue Waller Ballroom, and it historically operated as a horse feed store, per Sixth Street Complete.
A Bar Built Around Bartender-Driven Cocktails
Marlow built its identity on creative cocktails and a cool, comfortable atmosphere, per the CultureMap report, with terrazzo countertops setting the tone for the space. Each house drink was attributed to a specific bartender on staff — the Indie Sunset, made with Bombay Sapphire, African sunrise tea, Giffard apricot, Luxardo maraschino, orange bitters, lemon, and an egg white alternative, was created by a bartender named Justice. The Moon Song, featuring Worthy Park silver rum, Giffard blackberry, lime, honey, and lavender cold foam, was created by a bartender named Ryan.
The bar also built out a dedicated non-alcoholic program, stocking zero-proof options including Rationale Brewing Mexican Cerveza, St. Agrestis mocktails, and Seedlip spirits, reflecting a broader trend of Austin bars expanding sober-curious offerings, according to NA Beer Finder. Rather than run a full in-house kitchen, Marlow leaned on rotating food pop-ups and culinary residencies, hosting the food trailer Golden Castle — known for Wagyu tallow crinkle-cut fries — alongside collaborations with local concepts Elementary and Side Eye Pie, according to Hotels Above Par.
An International Spotlight During SXSW
Marlow's profile got a boost in March 2024, when it served as the official Ireland House activation hub during SXSW, hosting Irish trade and cultural agencies alongside tech and live music panel discussions and international artist performances, according to the Ireland House at SXSW recap. Regularly, the bar offered live music and DJ sets, with hours running 5 pm to 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, 5 pm to midnight Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 3 pm to 8 pm on Sundays, per CultureMap. Happy hour ran from opening until 7 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, and the bar offered half-price wine bottles Tuesdays through Thursdays.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission data compiled by local outlet ATX Things recorded Marlow's monthly gross alcohol sales at $42,000 as recently as June 2026, offering a snapshot of the bar's finances just weeks before the closure announcement.
Closing Weekend Plans and a Changing Sixth Street
Marlow is set to host a closing weekend event on August 28 and 29, with the bar planning to announce band appearances, happy hours, and DJ parties in the lead-up to final service, per CultureMap's report. Several send-off events are already on the calendar: an EDM night with drink specials and a kandi-making station is set for Thursday, August 13; Floppy Disko will host a farewell to Marlow party on Friday, August 14; and Rendez-Vous will bring vinyl records for what's billed as a cinematic and moody affair on August 21.
Marlow's arrival in late 2023 coincided with a major private redevelopment push on East Sixth Street, where real estate firm Stream Realty Partners acquired roughly 40 properties aiming to transition the once rowdy “Dirty Sixth” strip into an 18-hour district built around historic restoration, daytime retail, and dining, according to MySA. The district has also seen municipal change: in January 2025, the City of Austin and the Austin Police Department permanently reopened East Sixth Street to vehicular traffic on weekend nights, ending decades of pedestrian-only closures meant for nightlife crowds, per the Austin Monitor.
Following that shift, the Austin Police Department reported a 25 percent decrease in arrests and officer use-of-force reports in the district from 2024 to 2025, according to The Daily Texan. Marlow's departure also lands amid a wider wave of Austin hospitality closures in late 2025, including 30-year Sixth Street staple Jim-Jim's Water-Ice, 16-year Latin club Cielo, Redbud Ice House, and blues venue Skylark Lounge, as reported by MySA.
