Chez Nous, downtown Austin's longstanding French bistro, permanently closes

After nearly four decades in downtown Austin, French bistro Chez Nous has permanently closed.

Located at 510 Neches St., the restaurant announced a temporary closure in March 2020 due to safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Owners Sybil Reinhart-Regimbeau and Pascal Regimbeau announced in a June 14 email newsletter that the closure is permanent.

"We come to you with our hearts filled with emotions, with love, gratitude and thanksgiving. We have been honored and humbled to serve you for the past 39 years, but it is time for Chez Nous to say goodbye; to bid you farewell," they said.

Regimbeau, Reinhart-Regimbeau and their friend, the late Robert Paprota, opened Chez Nous in 1982 after moving to Austin from Paris. Chez Nous' specialties included regional French fare such as breaded eggplant scallopini, confit duck legs and escargots.

"Three French kids shared a dream and a tenacious desire for new horizons and it all became a reality that we will cherish always," the owners said in the newsletter sign-off. "We want to thank you for helping us build our lives around this little restaurant. Small in size but so big for so many of us. It truly has been a lifetime of memories, of heartfelt relationships with customers, crew members, purveyors, our community and friends. And let’s not forget the simple culinary pleasures! We, all together, made it a wonderful ride!"