BUSINESS FEATURE
Sam’s Town Point Down-home venue embraces the spotlight L ive music tavern Sam’s Town Point sits in a quiet, tree-covered neighborhood that hugs the southern border of Austin’s city limits. BY GLORIE MARTINEZ
Midwood found Sam’s Town Point in 2002, when he moved to Austin from California and struggled to book gigs at downtown bars. Over the years, he developed a close relationship with Grossman, whose eclectic taste still shapes Sam’s musical culture, even after she transferred own- ership of the bar to Midwood in 2017. Grossman sits at the bar most nights to watch the performances. The lineup rotates between local players of honky- tonk, blues, rock, roots music and more. Judging by the dancers’ enthusiasm and bar sales, Grossman’s tastes are still crowd pleasers, Midwood said. “We have a saying, ‘take care of Penny and the business will take care of itself,’” Midwood said. Sam’s Town Point has no televisions, and most nights there is hardly a cellphone in sight. Midwood wants to provide patrons with relief from divisive news cycles on TV and social media. He calls Sam’s Town Point “a place of unity.” “You’ll see someone wearing a Trump hat and someone wearing a Beto hat, and they’ll be dancing to the same music,” Midwood said. Midwood wants to share Sam’s Town Point’s community feel and music cul- ture with a wider audience. He envisions a network of trails connecting South Austin nightspots, which he dubs “the Austin City Limits Music Trail.” “It would be nice if the city looked into something like that, to encourage scal growth [for music venues],” Midwood said. “If we were to lose places like this, I think people would stop feeling like this is an important place to be.”
Sam’s Town Point has an indoor and an outdoor stage. (Photos by Glorie Martinez/Community Impact Newspaper)
The backyard features a patio and sprawling beer garden lit by Chinese lanterns. Inside, Louisiana roots band Jesse Lége et Bosco Stomp plays as two-stepping couples twirl around the dance oor. Patrons nod along to the music at their bar stools and shoot pool at a table in the back. The mixed-age crowd is a blend of devotees, neighbors and people who come from far and wide to hear the music. A sign above the door reads, “Friends are the best part of life.” Founder Penny Grossman opened Sam’s Town Point in 1981 after moving from Chicago with dreams of opening a dance hall. In some ways, the no-frills establishment has changed little since then, said owner and Austin music scene veteran Ramsay Midwood. But when he looks at Sam’s Town Point, Midwood sees the future. “I know people are scared of the words ‘entertainment district,’” Midwood said. “But I think this area could become a new cultural hub.” Midwood has watched the rise of several new venues in the area since the early 2000s. The locale near Slaughter Lane and Menchaca Road is now home to popular establishments including Indian Roller, Moontower Saloon, South Austin Beer Garden, Armadillo Den and new addition Parlay House. “It’s really a vital part of Austin,” Midwood said. “The music is why people come in from all over.”
Couples two-step at Sam’s Town Point on April 22.
A FEW SAM’S TOWN POINT REGULARS • Rance May and the Coyotes: high-energy local honky-tonk band • Double or Nothing Two-Step lessons: beginner-friendly two- step dance lessons to the tunes of the night’s band • Little Elmore Reed Blues Band: a group of some of Austin’s best blues players that never rehearse and never play a song the same way twice Sam’s Town Point 2115 Allred Drive, Austin 512-965-6028 www.samstownpointatx.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 4 p.m.-midnight, Sat. 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Sun. noon-midnight
Musician Ramsay Midwood owns Sam’s Town Point.
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