Austin restaurants brace for heat

As another potentially record-breaking summer looms, local businesses are preparing to zig while the mercury zags up.

Why it matters: Adjusting to weather-related challenges is crucial for small businesses, especially as high temperatures often discourage outdoor activities.

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Driving the news: Central Texas has already seen heat indices up to 115 degrees this month, and Austin-Travis County EMS officials reported a 90% increase for heat-related illnesses compared to this time last year.

• Austin notched 80 days of 100°F or more in 2023 .

Threat level: Last summer's extreme heat could have reduced the state's GDP growth by as much as $24 billion, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' estimates.

• Jobs in leisure, hospitality, mining, construction and manufacturing are "notably affected" by heat waves, per the Fed report.
• The Texas Restaurant Association also noted this dip coincided with rising food costs and offered tips that local establishments are adopting.

State of play: Well-known local bars and restaurants are adjusting hours and finding new ways to tackle the heat.

• Skinny's Off Track Bar entered into a partnership with Cowboy Pools so guests can lounge in a stock tank pool while eating and drinking. The bar also paused its popular weenie dog races until the weather cools down.

Skinny's now has a stock tank pool to let customers cool off in the heat. Photo: Courtesy of NoCo Hospitality

• Lao'd Bar , which opened in April as an open-air concept, shifted its hours to open later — from 5pm instead of 4pm on weeknights, and 12-3pm and after 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. It also added an industrial AC unit, as well as evaporative coolers and misters.
• Victory Lap , the West Campus bar, reduced its hours for summer.
• Bar Peached , like many spots with outdoor seating, has installed misters and fans for customers.

Between the lines: Restaurants are already under the city's stage 2 restrictions for misters and water use.

• Per the city's drought contingency plan , restaurants may not serve water unless requested by a customer and patio misters can only operate between 4pm-midnight.

Zoom out: In San Antonio , which hit a heat index of 117 this month — the highest ever recorded in the city — restaurants are training their staff to recognize and prevent heat exhaustion, installing shade coverings and adding misters.

What we're watching: How the heat impacts Austin businesses as the National Restaurant Association predicts record-breaking sales of $1.1 trillion by the end of December.

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