After watching several of the oldest establishments in Austin, Capitol Saddlery and The Nighthawk, move from their original locations, I have decided to do a series that regretfully will be called Vanishing Species. This series will include those mom & pop, old time Austin establishments that are still in the same locations they had when I moved to Austin long ago. Hut’s, Dirty’s, Scholz Garten, Deep Eddy Cabaret, The Tavern, are just a few of these Austin institutions that now sit on very expensive property, happily have survived, but sadly will not last forever. So here is a first installment.

Can a restaurant have a more anti marketing name than Dirty’s? While its full name is Dirty Martin’s, it has always been known as Dirty’s. Originally founded in 1926 it did much of its business with car hops serviing you in your car. I remember as a boy coming up with my dad to see UT football games and sitting in our car eating at Dirty’s after the game. Situtated five blocks up Quadalupe form UT it has always had both student and old Austinite customers. With great burgers cooked off a large grill and tasting the same somehow after so much has changed, it is a time warp that is really back in the ‘70s if not earlier. http://www.dirtymartins.com/1/Home.htm

Here are two shots… I still have to work out a time to shoot the full facility. The exterior has another name I like - Martin’s Kum-Bak.

A shot of the interior as you walk in.

I’ll try to add to the series as well as post additional shots of Dirty’s as my schedule allows. I hope you enjoy these.