Austin’s Hole in the Wall Begins a New Chapter Under New Ownership

The Hole in the Wall, a longtime music venue and bar at 2538 Guadalupe St. across from KUTX, is entering a new chapter. Following a change in ownership on March 26, the Drag staple is beginning a new era after decades of shifting leadership. Even so, its role in Austin’s music history remains central.

Open since 1974, Hole in the Wall is one of only three longstanding businesses on Guadalupe Street, alongside Dirty Martin’s Place and El Patio. Generations of regulars have passed through its doors, and the venue’s front-window stage has hosted countless musicians over the years. Stories about Stevie Ray Vaughan, Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley still circulate among patrons, some rooted in fact, others in barroom lore.

That mythology is part of what has kept the venue alive through years of uncertainty.

Hole in the Wall came close to shutting down more than once, including in 2015, when rent increased sharply, and again in 2023. Its footing became more secure after the venue obtained a 20-year lease through the Weitzman Group and received a city of Austin grant. Former owner Will Tanner, who took over in 2008 and remains a partner, played a key role in that effort. But Tanner was ready to step back from day-to-day operations and proposed turning the reins over to Mike Lavigne, a longtime supporter of Austin businesses and culture.

Protecting a piece of Austin

For Lavigne, the opportunity carried personal weight.

He moved to Austin in 1994, inspired in part by Richard Linklater’s “Slacker,” which he described as formative. The film’s depiction of The Drag and surrounding neighborhoods helped shape his early image of the city.

Along with many Austinites, Lavigne has watched longtime local institutions disappear over the years. He has also spent much of his career trying to preserve some of that character, co-founding the former Violet Crown Clubhouse and helping broker the deal for Lala’s Little Nugget.

So when Tanner approached him about Hole in the Wall, Lavigne was caught off guard.

“Will and I have a mutual appreciation for cool things, but I don’t want this place to be a museum,” he said. “It is a bar. It has lively energy.”

To help lead the next phase, Lavigne brought in Courtney Goforth, now a co-owner and manager of the venue.

Goforth moved to Austin in 2012 after attending the University of Oklahoma, where she studied journalism and began writing album reviews with encouragement from a professor and connections to the local music scene.

Keeping the spirit intact

Once in Austin, she worked a range of jobs that gradually built her career in music and venue operations. She started out at Pete’s Piano Bar, later joined Do512 as a freelance music writer and eventually moved into band management, promotion and marketing. Her experience includes work with venues such as the Parish, Empire Control Room, Hotel Vegas, Barracuda and Kinda Tropical.

Lavigne said her reputation and relationships in Austin’s music community made her an obvious choice.

“I know enough about Courtney and how much her friends love and respect her,” Lavigne said. “I knew I needed to bring her in as a partner for Hole in the Wall.”

Under the new ownership group, the goal is to preserve the venue’s identity while expanding its reach. Lavigne said plans include opening a full-service restaurant in the back space now occupied by Calamity Coffee, with local chefs expected to operate the concept as a tenant. He also hopes to deepen ties with KUTX and build additional partnerships.

At the same time, the venue’s core programming will remain intact. Hole in the Wall plans to continue hosting live music seven days a week, often with multiple shows each night. Ticket prices, Lavigne said, are expected to stay affordable, typically in the $10 to $15 range.

The show goes on

“There is live music here seven days a week, sometimes more,” Lavigne said with a laugh.

He recalled a recent midnight set by Liverpool musician Jon Coley, a friend of John Prine who had been told to visit Hole in the Wall if he ever made it to Austin. Coley ended up returning the following night to play again.

The venue is also expanding beyond nightly performances. Goforth said Hole in the Wall has started booking private events as well, including a wedding scheduled for June.

Lavigne said guests can expect the restaurant launch and additional game-day programming by the fall.

Until then, he said, “If you want to buy a rock star a beer, Hole in the Wall is where you do that.”

In a city where change is constant, Hole in the Wall remains one of the few places where Austin’s music history still feels close at hand.

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