Cedar Door clocks five decades with weeklong rollout of DJs, Disco, and Dazed and Confused

A half-century after first opening in 1975 The Cedar Door is celebrating fifty years as one of Austin’s most legendary watering holes with a week’s worth of parties events programming and the launch of a new look for the brand. Known as the nomadic bar Cedar Door has not just moved addresses they took their iconic bungalow with them through five location changes finally landing at their current location at 201 Brazos Street in 2002. Cedar Door is also the inventor of the Mexican Martini Austin’s own cocktail a sweet savory and tart margarita/martini concoction that is equal parts sophistication and swagger. To celebrate this anniversary Cedar Door is hosting a weeklong celebration from Sunday October 13 through Saturday October 19 inviting Austinites to journey back to the spirit of 1975 with themed cocktails vintage tunes and a tribute to its deep Austin roots.  That week they will also officially debut their new brand identity inspired by their 70’s roots but with a fresh twist to celebrate the next fifty. 

"The Cedar Door has always been about more than cocktails it’s a gathering place where Austin’s stories get told and retold" says owner Heather Potts. "This milestone is a thank-you to everyone who’s shared a laugh a toast or a memory with us over the past five decades. We’re here because of you and we’re ready to shake up the next 50 years."

Events Lineup

• Monday Oct 13 – 9 PM Zombie Disco A nod to its 1975 roots guests are encouraged to embrace their inner Barbarino with a spooky twist. ’70s funk & soul on the decks spinning with a costume contest photo booth giveaways and $10 Mexican Martinis all day and $2 off all other Mexican Martinis (Limit of 2 per person)
• Tuesday Oct 14 –  6-8  PM Meet Me at the Door: Brazos Block Party Live music patio games and cocktails feat. Texas brews and spirits giveaways.  Discounts on all Texas brews and spirits and vendor booths and giveaways featuring: Pinthouse Real Ale and Austin Eastciders Tito’s Deep Eddy many more. Follow an interactive brand map visit all the booths collect stamps enter for a chance to win a Texas sized raffle.
• Wednesday Oct 15 –  7 PM Dazed and Confused Watch Party and McConaughey Lookalike Contest - Cedar Door will be showing Austin's own homegrown tribute to 70’s nostalgia: Dazed and Confused. Big screen themed cocktails and twisted X’s “McConauhaze” IPA specials and  brand giveaways.
• Thursday Oct 16 – 7 PM Decades Trivia Night: 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Boomer meets Gen X meets Millennial dream teams are invited to test their pop culture and Austin history knowledge. First second and third place prizes along with post trivia raffle drawing.  
• Friday Oct 17 – 7–11 PM 1970s cover Live Music Jim LeMond Tribute with proceeds from Mexican Martini sales benefiting Sims Foundation and a Mustache contest Honoring the bartending legend.
• Saturday Oct 18 – 7–11 PM Two cover bands and a Mexican Martini Satellite Bar
• Sunday Oct 19 – 12-2 PM Daytails: Hair of the Dog Patio Party Tito’s and Lucky One’s Lady Bird Soda– dog costume contest pup-friendly patio party F1 and Cowboys watch parties with Herradura & Jack Daniels and $1 wings all day for NFL Sunday.

Throughout the week look for exclusive merch drops themed cocktails (including riffs on the iconic Mexican Martini) and community collaborations celebrating five decades.

Cedar Door through the Decades

Since opening its doors in 1975 The Cedar Door gained notoriety as Austin’s movable landmark after a total of five moves of the bar’s cottage-style building across the city. 

1975-1984 - The original location opened by 401 West 15th Street (Next to Michel’s Massage parlor). Gus and Diane Koerner opened Cedar Door as a watering hole for Gus to hang out with his buddies.  It became a hotspot for local politicians celebs and notables through the 70s and 80s.

1984-1990 506 East First Street (Now known as Cesar Chavez).  Home to the current Austin Convention Center.  The city paid Gus to move the house to make way for the New Convention Center.

1990 - 2001  910 West Cesar Chavez – right in front of the former Town (Lady Bird)  Lake– Booted out to make way for development of a high rise.

2001 - Toomey Road near Lamar. The landowner was unsuccessful in obtaining the necessary permits and the bar never opened in this location.  Gus sold it to current owners Heather and Steve Potts who moved it to its now permanent location on the corner of 2nd and Brazos

2002 - Now Corner of Second and Brazos. The Cedar Door’s move across the river to its current occurred at record speed in the middle of the night in 2002 the whole ordeal taking only about an hour to complete. Owners Steve and Heather Potts brought along long-time legendary bartender Jim LeMond to step behind the bar and the rest as they say is history. 

The New York Times wrote a pivotal piece about Cedar Door in 2002 that detailed its epic history its midnight move on a trailer and how its peripatetic journey symbolized the rapidly evolving nature of Austin. 

The Mexican Martini

The Mexican Martini originated at the Cedar Door first appearing on the menu sometime in the late 70’s to early 80’s when a Cedar Door bartender named Ellen XXXXX came back from a trip across the border where she was served up a margarita in a martini glass.  Olives and olive juice were added to the mix and the rest is history.  

Ingredients: 

• 3 ounces añejo tequila
• 1 ½ ounces Cointreau
• 1 ½ ounces fresh lime juice
• ½ ounce green-olive brine from the jar
• a splash of fresh orange juice
• lime wedges and olives

Directions 

1. Agitate everything in an ice-filled shaker then strain into a small chilled coupe or martini glass rimmed with salt.
2. Add a couple of olives and a lime wedge.
3. Proceed to drink slowly preferably with a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa and clear your calendar for the rest of the day.

Also check out other Entertainment events in Austin, Music events in Austin, Contests in Austin.