El Arroyo headed into The Ditch?

[DalTxHornFan 3089]

This place has generally begun to suck since the Abel's guys took it over a couple of years ago.  Now, it seems that they are behind on their rent on the West 5th store and a fight has ensued over the El Arroyo trademark.  Perhaps the high-rise that ends up getting built there will preserve the daily marquee postings?

https://www.mystatesman.com/business/sign-the-times-fight-brewing-over-arroyo-restaurant-name/KmvJZFeWHwZrVDFvnN44tO/

[Chet Steadman 940]

Par for the course for those guys.  

They have a longstanding reputation of running restaurants into the ground.  

[Larry T. Spider 1746]

Maybe it’s just me but I’ve always thought it has sucked. Last time I ate there was probably 7 years ago and it was terrible.

[South Austin 52199]

I haven’t been to the 5th Street location in over a decade, but the one on Far West started sucking shit a few years before it closed. 

[chainsaw 9840]

10 hours ago, Chet Steadman said:

Par for the course for those guys.  

They have a longstanding reputation of running restaurants into the ground.  

Who keeps loaning them money to do exactly that?

[Stunns38 3438]

It sucked back in 2006, the last time I went.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[phdhorn 6224]

Haven't been since the Clinton Administration
Haven't cared that I haven't been
Their Monday Enchiladas Del Mar was fucking awesome (3 crab/shrimp for $6.50 Monday nights).  Once they stopped that I stopped them.

[TwiceHorn 31353]

I know what happened on the trademark.  Common scenario.  The original owners (Ogdens), never bothered to register the trademark, they just called it a "trade name."  The agreement probably says something like "the right to use the trade name "El Arroyo.'"

The lawyers who did the buy-sell paid no attention to the IP,  so the name didn't get handled properly.  The buyers (Cozumel) registered the trademark as the users/owners.

Now the sellers are claiming they only had a license to the mark, not outright ownership and that the buyers thus fraudulently registered and renewed the trademark.

The seller's end game is that they want to keep the name and license it to someone else when the current El Arroyo goes el busto.

 

Reason I bring this up, if you have a business where the name is even a marginally important asset, register that fucker.  And even if you don't register it, treat it like a valuable trademark even if it may not be.  I see this way too often.

Edited May 15, 2018 by TwiceHorn

[miguelito 11225]

If the new one is called The Arroyo, is that different enough to not get sued?

[TwiceHorn 31353]

Just now, miguelito said:

If the new one is called The Arroyo, is that different enough to not get sued?

Probably not. 

Funny thing, I see this in my practice fairly often coming out of smaller towns (most recently Waco from a transaction in 2003) , where the lawyers just aren't that cognizant of IP and trademarks.  Austin certainly no longer fits that bill, but this was early 90s Austin.  A bit of a sign o the times, if you will.

[TwiceHorn 31353]

Also, I see that the Winstanley bros own The Tavern now.  Does it suck?

[utee94 15749]

It better still be Air Conditioned...

[Texas007 195]

12 hours ago, TwiceHorn said:

Also, I see that the Winstanley bros own The Tavern now.  Does it suck?

The even screwed up the hamburgers. I mean how do you fuck up a hamburger.

Looks like they sold it to the Esther's Follies owners back in February 

https://austin.eater.com/2018/2/14/17013288/the-tavern-esther-follies-new-owners-raymond-tatum-menu

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Texas007
Duh

[jimmyjazz 45627]

On 5/15/2018 at 5:30 AM, South Austin said:

I haven’t been to the 5th Street location in over a decade, but the one on Far West started sucking shit a few years before it closed. 

Yep.  We used to take the brood up there every once in awhile but eventually it just wasn't worth it.  Clammy cheese, sauces seemingly out of a can, etc.

[Ten Bears 2479]

Just change it to El Ditcho.

[YoungCounty 165]

Worked a couple of blocks from there for seven years, and probably ate there 5 times. But I did like driving past the marquee every day. 

[Chet Steadman 940]

Nm 

Edited September 7, 2018 by Chet Steadman
Dbl post

[Chet Steadman 940]

On 5/15/2018 at 9:54 AM, TwiceHorn said:

Also, I see that the Winstanley bros own The Tavern now.  Does it suck?

Case in point: https://www.statesman.com/news/local/hill-cafe-close-south-austin-location-bound-for-new-development/u4HZmeveZJdNHtViDYrmBN/

[DalTxHornFan 3089]

14 minutes ago, Chet Steadman said:

Case in point: https://www.statesman.com/news/local/hill-cafe-close-south-austin-location-bound-for-new-development/u4HZmeveZJdNHtViDYrmBN/

There are enough data points to create a compelling downward trend line involving these guys.

[utee94 15749]

You'd think eventually they'd run out of money? 

[South Austin 52199]

3 hours ago, utee94 said:

You'd think eventually they'd run out of money? 

Unless it's a drug-laundering front.

[wild_turkey 3154]

On 5/15/2018 at 7:25 AM, Stunns38 said:

It sucked back in 2006, the last time I went.

Same here. The food was never great. It was a place to go after class on Thursday afternoon for $1 ritas. Anyone who has ever gone there for any other reason was doing it wrong.

[Neonmoon 38127]

The food has always sucked. The location is the only reason I assumed it was still open. The drug laundering would also make sense 

[DalTxHornFan 3089]

Wow.  With a bit of PE money, the Winstanley's plan to expand their footprint of suckage!

El Arroyo, Austin restaurant famous for funny signs, is expanding across Texas

The home of the iconic marquee sign will open multiple locations in the state in the next few years.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/article/el-arroyo-austin-new-locations-17405032.php

Edited September 1, 2022 by DalTxHornFan

[Deej 76637]

Must be quite the market for shitty Mexican food. 

[Spoosner 86]

Has anyone actually eaten there recently? I heard a rumor the food has improved, but I haven't been in 15 years.

[South Austin 52199]

Last time I ate there was on the way back from ACL Fest in 2021.  I was starving and drunk, so didn't care about quality and don't remember much about it, other than it didn't make enough of an impression for me to go back there.

[Red Five 40701]

1 hour ago, Spoosner said:

Has anyone actually eaten there recently? I heard a rumor the food has improved, but I haven't been in 15 years.

A few months ago. It was ok.

[DalTxHornFan 3089]

1 hour ago, Spoosner said:

Has anyone actually eaten there recently? I heard a rumor the food has improved, but I haven't been in 15 years.

Cold chips out a bag and crappy salsa, both likely straight from the Sysco truck.  Hard to overcome that.  Sad.  I used to love that place in the Doug English and Clay McPhail, et al. era.