After supplying Austin with over 50 years of live music and drinks, Hole in the Wall offers students a new kind of brew to keep its doors open. Amity’s, a new coffee shop located in the back of the venue, marks the first time students under 21 can enjoy the iconic space.
Situated across the street from the Moody College of Communication, Hole in the Wall’s location has made it a target for rent increases and potential closures for many years. Receiving support from the city of Austin’s Iconic Venue Fund in 2023 in 2023 helped keep its doors open, but general manager Clayton England said evolving became necessary to survive. With support from the nonprofit Rally Austin, an organization focusing on providing real estate assistance to historical sites throughout the city, England began crafting the perfect bridge between students and the historic venue: coffee.
“We take the coffee program seriously,” England said, “but it’s more about what (Amity’s) offers (to) the overarching community and culture of Austin, and what it offers the students.”
England said Amity’s is the result of a first-of-its-kind investment by Rally Austin. He said he hopes Amity’s can serve as a model for investing in the importance of cultural spaces, but the store requires student support to do so.
“Music venues don’t make money on bands,” England said. “They make money on alcohol sales — that’s how they pay rent. Well, if that’s not happening … you gotta figure out a way to diversify. That’s what I’m trying to do, leaning into what (Hole in the Wall) has been for the last 50 years.”
Recent UT graduate Isabella Pritchard, who previously never visited Hole in the Wall, said she heard about Amity’s coffee offerings and stopped by with recent graduate Benjamin Suh.
“I wish (Amity’s) had been here before I graduated,” Pritchard said. “It’s very cozy and retro, but (it) also feels very familiar,” Suh said.
Amity’s barista Adara Ostdiek said she noticed that, like Pritchard, many patrons are first-time visitors.
“I’m meeting people who have never been to Hole in the Wall, but they’re discovering us,” Ostdiek said. “(They’re) getting coffee here and being like, ‘Oh, cool. I can go to a show here in the evening or come here for karaoke.’”
As a musician who played on the Hole in the Wall stage, Ostdiek said she was excited to help launch the coffee program to help preserve the historic venue.
“We just celebrated our 50th anniversary last year, and we’re celebrating our 51st this week,” Ostediek said. “So (we’re thinking), ‘What are those next 50 years going to look like for us?’ It’s introducing coffee, more community programming and events for a variety of ages … so that way we can look forward to the next 50 years.”
