What do expats, travelers, artists, and humanitarians have in common? You wouldn’t believe it but all these folks hang out at this really rad wine bar in small-town Elgin, Texas – about 30-45 minutes outside Austin. The Owl Wine Bar and Home Goods Store has much more than meets the eye and I was overjoyed to have stumbled upon it.
Co-owned by Molly Alexander and Gary Luedecke, these guys are changing the landscape of Elgin, Texas. With an urban planning background (and having worked at the Downtown Austin Alliance), Molly quickly saw the potential of the charming old Elgin downtown.
The one thing I kept asking Molly was… well, why Elgin? Austin in all of its bohemian glory is a quick 30 minute jaunt away. The answers will surprise you.
“Having come from a large city, I didn’t expect to find the depth of human interaction, creativity and connection that I have found in Elgin. Every community, in my opinion, is full of diverse and interesting people. However, while I am a bit biased, I have found that Elgin always exceeds my expectations. Our community is accepting, diverse, affordable and I believe our proximity to Austin has created a great place for artists, farmers, creative folks and others to call Elgin home. It has always been our goal that our store is an extension of our living room – we welcome folks to hang out, create and build community. We have amazing friends who have supported the store and everyday we have new customers who find us and add to our belief that Elgin is the Marfa of east Austin.“
I just kept blinking in disbelief as I met more and more kindred spirits. A sculptor that has done multiple pieces for Houston. A humanitarian who had spent a lot of time in Africa. A slew of musicians were waiting their turn for the microphone. Molly herself spent a year backpacking around the world in 2001. I somehow found “my people” in a small city outside of Austin in this really rad wine bar. It would have been a damn shame if I had never come here in the first place.
With a big, beautiful mural painted on the wall (original from 1909!), the energy on a Friday night was contagious. People kept piling in for open mic night, shouting wine and beer orders to a furiously working Gary and Molly – in a city no bigger than 100,000 people.
And the wine – OMG. One of the really awesome concepts behind The Owl is finding great wines that aren’t too expensive that you can’t find at your local liquor store. “Red, pink, or white?” Molly smiled as she held up a few wine bottles. She gracefully poured me the REVO LUTION Malbec, which was probably some of the best I’ve had since we were living in Buenos Aires. I moved on to the “pink” which was a Father & Son Rose – delicious, cold, and refreshing for a hot, Texas summer night – and ended on Kung Fu Girl, a riesling from Washington. Normally I’m not a fan of incredibly sweet wines but this one was a nice, crisp wine to finish up on. Make sure to ask them for suggestions!
And a quick heads up – it is incredibly hard to leave the store without buying any of the fab antiques found everywhere. Seeing as Shaun and I are setting up roots in Austin again, I wanted to own just about everything I laid my eyes on. Great find here, my friends. While I’m not normally an antiquing girl, I think Molly and Gary may have converted me on the spot.
“We hope that The Owl spurs a retail renaissance for downtown Elgin and we encourage other creative entrepreneurs to come to downtown Elgin and try out their newest concept. The cost to start a business in Elgin is low, the community is ripe for redevelopment and open to creative concepts.”
You have me considering exactly that, Molly… you really do.
Molly Alexander was recently featured in Austin Woman Magazine. If you would like to read her article, please follow the link below:
http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com/redefining-downtown
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Disclosure: I was given a heads up about this place from a PR company in a no obligations deal. It sounded cute and Molly rained wine upon me when I arrived.
This sounds like such a great place to spend an afternoon getting inspired. I will definitely remember it if I ever make my way to Texas! Cheers guys 🙂
Digging all those antiques!!! I would definitely go there and try out wine! =)
Sometimes life is weird like that, finding awesome people in places you never expected them to be. This place looks perfect to have some wine and look through all of the antiques.
Cool spot to get some shade, spark some creativity and chill for a while with something yummy!
This place sounds like it’s outside my usual hangout…in a *good* way! I’m getting into wine (so far so good) and the funky antiques remind me of going to yard sales when I was a kid (classy ones, of course).
I love this! Looks amazing. I’ve seen business like this popping up in my hometown of Albany, New York and it fills me with joy. Sometimes I think we get caught in the mindset that mega cities are the only planes to find worthwhile artistic and creative communities, and that’s just not true!
I will have to check it out next time I go through Elgin. I always make a side trip there because of the great BBQ places in town.
There’s so many antiques I cant imagine where they put all the people.
I always appreciate getting a new drinking hole tip, this one looks awesomely quirky. I do hope the items are genuine though, there is a company in the UK which actually provides paraphernalia like this, they even have a catalogue!
Great photos.
Sitting in The Owl right this second and – you are right – it truly is an awesome find! Molly and Gary are here now ready to make wine suggestions. Come join us!!!
Erica – thank you! Wow, we are overwhelmed by your love of our place. Thank you so much, your enthusiasm for our business brings tears to our eyes.
You’ve convinced me that I must visit Elgin and this wine bar when I make my way to Austin.
AHH!! I SO want to go here!
I love the style of this place, looks awesome!
You’ve found a treasure! Could the second to last photo look more tempting?
I’ll be full of great ideas for you when you get here!
I have never been an antiques person but now I’m convinced I just have never found the right ones. 😛
I think it is Molly’s ploy to keep you in the shop longer. 😛
YES. Although I would sit out on their patio more if it wasn’t a gazillion degrees outside.
I’m just getting into wine as well – which is why I’m still down to try everything. It has taken me a while to start tasting different flavors but I’ll get there. If I can get Shaun to like beer, I’m sure I can get myself to love wine. 😛
I think most cities have their enclaves, you just have to go and find them. I love projects like this.
Yeah, we always make a pit stop as well to grab sausage. GOOD STUFF.
It does get a bit crowded but they do move a few things around to allow for a good time without worrying about breaking everything.
They are genuine. Antiquing in Texas is SERIOUS business! I’ve seen the catalogues before and it is weird how they age things.
I’m at home, in the A/C with some Dripping Springs chillin’ in the fridge. Come on over!
Heard we’re at 25 consecutive days over 100 – better than last year *sheepish grin*
Ava! I’m so glad that you got a bit of inspiration to head out there. They are super great people!
I’m so glad that I could be of help Molly! <3 My sister is dying to head out there so I'm sure you will see me soon.
And me. You’re visiting me as well! 😛