AUSTIN, Texas — The off-leash dog park and bar Yard Bar will close on Saturday after operating for nearly a decade in North Austin, its founder said, citing rising operating costs and development pressures.
Owner Kristen Heaney Clark said the business, which opened in 2015, will shut down after its final day of operations due to increased property and operational expenses in the Austin area.
Heaney Clark said she created Yard Bar after identifying a need for a space where dog owners could socialize while their pets played off-leash.
Rising property values and operating costs in North Austin contributed to the decision to close, she said.
Heaney Clark said she attempted to reduce costs but determined that the business model was no longer sustainable.
The business sits on a 1.5-acre property in the Allandale neighborhood, an area she said has become increasingly attractive for real estate development.
Customers who have visited the park over the years said they used the space regularly for social gatherings and dog recreation.
Heaney Clark said the business built a community of regular patrons over its 11 years of operation.
“I don’t know that I anticipated how much that would mean,” she said. “People have had their first kisses here, built relationships here, built friendships here.”
Longtime customers said they observed rising property taxes and changing business conditions in the area.
Heaney Clark said she is considering future opportunities and has not announced plans for a new location.
The business will host a farewell event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
