Brothers Jeff and Darren Van Delden and their cousin Adam Karam are no strangers to the Austin bar scene.
Together they have opened 36 venues in Austin and Houston since 1999 and have been working together since first opening a neighborhood bar to support the family, Karam said.
“We’re a family business,” he said. “We started from the bottom [waiting tables and] washing dishes 20 years ago, and here we are.”
But five years ago they decided to sell their downtown Sixth Street bars, including Union Park, The Aquarium and The Foundation, and focus on North Austin, Jeff said. Their first venture outside of downtown was opening The Park at The Domain in May 2011.
“There’s a huge market in North Austin, and we think people in North Austin are underserved with entertainment options,” Jeff said.
The trio now own hospitality business Union Venture Group, which has launched other Austin concepts, such as The Park on South Lamar, Somersault Innovative Cocktails, fast-casual restaurant Greengos and Maverick’s country bar in Pflugerville. The group announced July 12 it purchased the former Dallas Nightclub for a new venue opening this fall.
UVG’s latest four venues are all located in the Rock Rose district of Domain Northside, a new entertainment area envisioned and planned by Endeavor Real Estate Group.
Planning for the new venues took three years, and the trio said Endeavor has been a great partner at Rock Rose.
“When you have a group of minds that are all together, you can accomplish something amazing,” Karam said.
All four Rock Rose venues occupy the same building at 11500 Rock Rose Ave., Austin, but each has its own concept so there is something for everyone, Jeff said.
“People are looking to be entertained and don’t want to mess with traffic, parking or go all the way downtown,” he said.
Overall, Darren said their goal was to provide new concepts that would encourage people to try something they have not tried before.
“It’s interesting to have a place like Rock Rose that’s not downtown,” he said. “That’s naturally a place people are going to check out.”
Union Venture Group at Rock Rose, 11500 Rock Rose Ave., Austin
Jack & Ginger’s opened in late January and is a Irish pub with an outdoor patio. The bar features 82 beers on draft and classic Irish fare along with burgers and sandwiches.[/caption]
Jack & Ginger’s
Jack & Ginger’s opened in late January and is a Irish pub with an outdoor patio. The bar features 82 beers on draft and classic Irish fare along with burgers and sandwiches.
“We wanted to make Jack & Ginger’s extremely inviting,” said co-owner Darren Van Delden, who handled the design of the pub and St. Genevieve. “We wanted to take the space outside on the patio and make it feel like really you’re inside.”
512-350-3738
www.jackandgingers.pub
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-midnight
Upscale lounge St. Genevieve opened in March and serves cocktails, wine and small plates as well as beer, wine and liquors from Europe, South America and the Mediterranean.[/caption]
St. Genevieve
Upscale lounge St. Genevieve opened in March and serves cocktails, wine and small plates as well as beer, wine and liquors from Europe, South America and the Mediterranean.
“We liked the concept of a communal atmosphere,” Darren said. “It’s very worldly in nature in both the cuisine [and] the cocktails, [which] are a playful interpretation of a classic cocktail. You’ll see the communal presentation of food, the wine and tables.”
512-659-5537 •
www.stgen.co
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 3 p.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
The three-story 77 Degrees Rooftop is a rum bar accessible through a prominent feature wooden door. The rooftop bar opened May 31.[/caption]
77 Degrees Rooftop
The three-story 77 Degrees Rooftop is a rum bar accessible through a prominent feature wooden door. The rooftop bar opened May 31.
“It kind of teases you,” Darren said of the design. “The idea was to bring in a Mexico, Caribbean, Mediterranean feel. That’s why we brought in the hookahs as well.”
77 Degrees features rum-based cocktails, which Darren said are making a “comeback with classic cocktails.”
512-589-2925
www.77-degrees.com
Hours: daily 3 p.m.-2 a.m.
The latest venue is The Rose Room, a multilevel dance club that opened July 8. Access to the club is from the street or from the second level of 77 Degrees.[/caption]
The Rose Room
The latest venue is The Rose Room, a multilevel dance club that opened July 8. Access to the club is from the street or from the second level of 77 Degrees.
“You can’t have an entertainment district unless you have a late-night landing spot on the weekends,” co-owner Jeff Van Delden said.
Darren said the goal was to make the club more accessible and inviting so customers did not have to worry about reservations, lines or bottle service.
512-743-1400 •
www.theroseroom.club
Hours: Fri.-Sat. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 8 p.m.-midnight, closed Mon.-Thu.
Jack & Ginger’s opened in late January and is a Irish pub with an outdoor patio. The bar features 82 beers on draft and classic Irish fare along with burgers and sandwiches.[/caption]
Upscale lounge St. Genevieve opened in March and serves cocktails, wine and small plates as well as beer, wine and liquors from Europe, South America and the Mediterranean.[/caption]
The three-story 77 Degrees Rooftop is a rum bar accessible through a prominent feature wooden door. The rooftop bar opened May 31.[/caption]
The latest venue is The Rose Room, a multilevel dance club that opened July 8. Access to the club is from the street or from the second level of 77 Degrees.[/caption]
