Bar owner aims to preserve East Austin history through his new business
When Johnny La Touf and his wife, Mary, opened Skylark Lounge in June 2013, they said they wanted to create an old-school East Austin vibe to attract cultures of all varieties.
La Touf, an East Austin native, describes his business as a dive bar that offers live entertainment seven days a week, including music, comedy and open mic nights. The bar has changed names several times throughout the years, including being a gay bar called Bernadette's and an African-American bar called Airport Bar & Grill, he said.
"I [wanted] to open something up that has some cultural significance to the neighborhood," he said. "If money comes from it, great; if money doesn't come from it my goal was always just to say, 'If I break even, I'll be happy.'"
To preserve the history of the bar, La Touf kept the original furniture that was brought in 30 years ago and had the business's dust painted into the walls. La Touf owned the bar for six months before picking a concept he felt the neighborhood would embrace. He and his brother Terry decided to incorporate local culture into the bar by bringing in musicians with East Austin roots, such as Margaret Wright and Blues Boy Hubbard. Other regular musicians at Skylark include the East Side Kings and Soul Man Sam.
"Being a part of the neighborhood over here is to recognize it for what it is [and] for what it was," he said. "I don't know that I can change what is going on here, but I know there are other people who think like me and are a part of it and are trying to keep that culture [alive]. My dream of this place is that the Skylark would morph into an East Austin festival that celebrated the culture of these neighborhoods that are going away."
Wright, a weekly Skylark performer, is a blues, jazz and gospel musician who has played shows in Austin for 60 years.
"Johnny and Mary did a fantastic job [of] reaching out to our area," Wright said. "They took the chance on giving our community a place to perform. I like it because they really had a dream," she said.
Wright said Skylark has a chair on stage to encourage audience members to participate in live entertainment.
"Johnny and Mary provided a really neat place for all of us," she said. "I really like the inclusion of no picking and choosing, no pointing fingers, nothing like that. I like the common camaraderie that is extended: 'You are welcome. If you want to come, come, and we'll take you just as you are.'"
Skylark has been operating as a BYOB facility since its opening but is expected to receive its liquor permit this summer, he said.
Also this summer, La Touf said he hopes to create an outdoor stage in the back patio area, build a kitchen and offer food to customers. Chef Patrick Gannon is currently working on creating a menu for Skylark, he said.
"This place is special. It has something I cannot define," he said.
Entertainment at Skylark Lounge
The East Austin venue offers live entertainment, including music, comedy and open mic nights. Guests regularly perform, and Skylark has hosted musicians such as Blues Boy Hubbard, The Eastside Kings, Miss Lavelle White and Hosea Hargrove. For more information about upcoming shows, visit Skylark Lounge's website, www.skylarkaustin.com. Regular weekly performances include:
Mondays
8 p.m.—Open mic comedy
Tuesdays
8:30–10:30 p.m.—Texas songwriter Dickie Lee Erwin performs. Erwin plays instruments including acoustic upright bass, banjo, banjola, acoustic guitar and percussion.
Thursdays and Fridays
6–8 p.m.—Jazz, blues and gospel musician Margaret Wright performs. Wright is an East Austin native and piano player. She was named the Best Happy Hour Lounge Act by The Austin Chronicle in 2013, along with Mike Miller, who performs at Truluck's.
Skylark Lounge, 2039 Airport Blvd. 512-730-0759, www.skylarkaustin.com, Hours: Mon.–Fri. 5 p.m.–midnight, Sat. 5 p.m.–1 a.m., Sun. 5–10 p.m.
