Hooper's

‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ Restaurant Grand Central Cafe Gets New Name Hooper’s | Eater Austin

"An hour northwest of Austin in Kingsland, Texas, I visited Hooper's—the sleeker successor to the railroad-themed Grand Central Cafe at 1010 King Court that new owners Courtney and Mike Rhodes alongside Austin restaurateur Simon Madera and Hobie Sasser acquired in November 2022—in honor of filmmaker Tobe Hooper and the property's role as the setting for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The owners told me they want to turn Hooper's into “a community space,” emphasizing a hands-on approach rather than reshaping the landscape; the adjacent house and inn are registered Texas Historic Landmarks and are protected from heavy alterations. To further their appreciation for Hooper and locals, they asked fans to donate a chainsaw for an art installation with a one-year commitment to keeping it at the restaurant complete with the owner's name and the tool's backstory, and the rest of the interior contains subtle, eye-catching nods to the history of the house. Operated as a casual Southern restaurant, Hooper's serves breakfast (huevos rancheros, omelets, pancakes, breakfast tacos), lunch (sandwiches from hot chicken to a veggie burger to a Texas BLT, plus chips and queso, hummus, and chicken wings), and dinner (Southern staples like chicken fried steak, along with blackened ribeye steak and chicken alfredo), with alcoholic and nonalcoholic options and specialty cocktails named the Ripper, Bloody Marilyn, and Grandpa Sawyer; the bar served sporadically during restoration before fully opening on March 1. Hooper's aims to appeal to horror fans, locals, and tourists, and visitors don't have to be familiar with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to enjoy the food; hours are Wed–Thu 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sun 8 a.m.–2 p.m." - Marisa Mirabal