Two weeks ago I posted a rumor I’d heard about South by Southwest, closing its doors (I had a VERY reliable source) and that post was picked up by Smitty who confirmed that the restaurant had indeed closed. Today I read in a post by Laura Giovanelli on the Journal’s food blog that in addition to South by Southwest the Cotton Mill had also shut down. I never made it to the Cotton Mill, but based on Laura’s opinion of it I’m truly sorry I missed it.
The restaurant business is brutal any time, but during tough economic times restaurants, particularly higher end restaurants, struggle even more. When money is tight the first place most people will cut their expenditures is eating out, and when you have the combination of higher food prices and higher gas prices like we have now a restaurateur has to work very hard to get people through the door. As Laura says in her post:
Sometimes, I try to brush off all the economic gloom and doom. Maybe
I’ve listening to too much NPR, I’ll think. But it’s been obvious for
months now that local restaurants are struggling, particularly the
higher end ones, the ones with white tablecloths and the like.
I’m fairly certain we’re going to see quite a few more "white tablecloth" restaurants close their doors in the next year or two. Of course others will eventually replace them, but that doesn’t help the many owners who have worked so hard to build their businesses and develop a loyal fan base. From a selfish point of view it also doesn’t help the customers who lose their favorite dishes, or the places that house so many cherished memories like anniversary dinners, graduation celebrations, etc.
To end on a positive note I recommend that you check out the Journal’s food blog Dishing it Out. It’s coauthored by Michael Hastings and Laura and they do a great job of keeping it fresh. Personally I think it’s the paper’s best blog now (sorry Ken).
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Befuddled 
Very sad about both restaurants, but especially South by Southwest. While I loved the old building/decor, I can’t help but think (perhaps naively) the place would rock somewhere on 4th or Trade. I’ve been dreaming of a downtown taqueria/cantina for a long, long time — there’s no Mexican in the area and the first to get there will kick ass, imho.
I was sad to hear sxsw was closing, but had not heard that the cotton mill was closing. We ate there shortly after it opened, and there were some timing issues with our meals, but the food & service were excellent. We hadn’t been to either in a while, but it was due to things going on at home not due to the economy.
Not to come across as a cynic, but my response to these closings was largely a “ho-hum.” South by Southwest had been in decline for a number of years–in quality, cleanliness, service, menu options, across the board–so those factors alone should have impacted their business. The Cotton Mill had much potential, but it was never realized. The restaurant itself was beautiful and they had the opportunity to expand upon Sweet Potatoes’ success. The three times I ate there, though, I was never bowled over by the food, and the service was usually mixed at best. Overpriced mediocre food, no matter how beautiful the setting, is not something I’m going to return to. Hopefully now the owners will return their energy to Sweet Potatoes and offer specials or some deviation from the same old tired menu they’ve had since opening. I fear that if they don’t step outside of the box with their menu, they may go the way of these other two restaurants over time. They also seem to have gotten a bit smug in their success and some of their servers are less than friendly. Care should be taken to these matters.