Lightnin' Bar

Home to about 10,000 people, Elgin is a quiet town 30 minutes outside of Austin. But what most people probably don't know is that Elgin is also the Brick Capital of the Southwest due to its still-operating brickyards, as well as the Sausage Capital of Texas.

The sausage cred came largely due to the longtime presence of Southside Market & Barbeque, which calls itself the oldest BBQ joint in Texas. (A 'Texas Monthly' investigation of the claim did not provide definitive proof.) Southside Market was founded in 1882 by William Moon, who sold BBQ door-to-door from a horse-drawn buggy. He eventually found a space at 109 Central Avenue in 1886 and sold his famous hot sausage from there. The business remained there (and also popped up at some other spots around town) until moving into a much larger space by the highway in 1992.

But the history of 109 Central Avenue ain't done just yet. The hot sausages may be gone but the hot guitar riffs just got here. In February of 2023, Elgin saw its newest business, the @lightnin_bar, officially open in this significant space.

This new endeavor is helmed by Erin Riley, Julian Young, Caleb Dawson, and Bob Mann, who ditched Austin and its skyrocketing prices for a slice of Bastrop County life. Caleb and Bob are both musicians—members of Blue Jean Queen—and wanted to bring more music to Downtown Elgin. The honky tonk maintains a consistent music schedule and locals have welcomed the addition of damn-good bands taking the stage.

As the sounds of guitar massage the air and neon lights spill out over the pressed-tin ceiling, pool tables, and concrete floor, it's easy to tell there's still history in the mortar here. The crowd is a mix of people, with longtime locals and Austin-based visitors tapping their toes to classic country tunes while shooting stick or sipping an ice cold beer.

It's the hottest new spot in one of the oldest buildings in the Sausage Capital. Sounds like a recipe for success.