To the uninitiated, Donn’s Depot seems to be little greater than a rambling, almost dilapidated hodgepodge of constructions—together with a number of cobbled-together rail vehicles—on Austin’s sleepy west aspect. A black-and-white signal rises from the car parking zone, describing Donn’s as a “piano bar and saloon,” which is fully correct, even when it doesn’t fairly seize all that lies inside these weathered wooden partitions.
Actually, Donn’s melds the enthusiastic rowdiness of a honky-tonk with the great outdated Texas courtliness of a dance corridor, in a setting finest described as a derelict cocktail lounge. “There’s something within the air right here… or perhaps it’s within the carpet,” reads the web site.
And whereas longtime proprietor Donn Adelman has, in actual fact, changed mentioned carpet at the least thrice, it’s exhausting to erase 5 many years of historical past and spilled beer.
Inside, the sunshine is dim, even on the bar’s 2 p.m. opening time. By 2:30, the joyful hour regulars could have arrived, holding court docket on the elevated spherical desk close to the entrance door. At 4 p.m., one of many longtime bartenders—like Tammi Schissler, who has labored there for 32 years—will activate the flat-screen TV, signaling the beginning of Jeopardy. Even with out the soothing cadence of the late Alex Trebek, the sport present attracts a rabid crowd, bellowing solutions over drafts of Shiner Bock or Gin & Tonics.
By night, Schissler or her counterparts—all of whom share tenures of a decade or longer—could have scrawled “Reserved” on a visitor examine and positioned it on the spherical desk, making certain her night regulars get the identical seats they’ve occupied for the final 20, 30, 40 years.
“Tammi is the brains of this place,” says Amy Shipherd, who has been coming to Donn’s because the late Seventies. “However Donn, [his wife] Arleen and [son and general manager] Matt are the guts,” she provides. “They’ve created a house for thus many individuals with this place.”
In 1972, the bar’s founder, Bob Ogden, purchased a Nineteenth-century picket prepare depot simply north of Austin and relocated it to what was, on the time, a seedy, sparsely populated stretch simply off the Texas 1 Loop.
Initially known as McNeil Depot, the bar had one of many first mixed-drink licenses in Travis County, which served as a built-in advertising and marketing device. However Ogden had one other draw, within the type of native musician and Goodyear tire salesman Donn Adelman. A gifted pianist and native Austinite, Adelman had been enjoying gigs round city from his huge repertoire, together with songs from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Elvis. The mixture cemented the Depot’s status because the liveliest dance ground on the town.
A yr after opening, Ogden added three extra rail vehicles. A caboose was retrofitted to deal with the women’ restroom and painted with circusworthy pink and white stripes, which hasn’t deterred graffiti within the type of ditties like, “Roses are pink, violets are blue, vodka prices much less, than dinner for 2.” The prepare cupola was left intact, its built-in foot holds and “stripper” pole offering countless picture ops for drunk patrons.
Elsewhere, each obtainable wall at Donn’s is plastered with memorabilia, from prepare souvenirs to the inevitable velvet Elvis tapestry to dozens of images of Adelman, the workers and patrons. A model named Sheila lives close to the bar, her apparel altering with the season and event, whereas remnants of holidays previous stay: Strings of lights, tinsel strands, ornaments and metallic bells cling, and a pale fake-evergreen garland adorns the backbar.
“Bob all the time informed me, ‘By no means transfer a cobweb on this place,” says Adelman, who took over the bar and adjusted its identify to Donn’s Depot in 1978. “And I haven’t.” The one additions are framed images and brass plaques commemorating the dearly departed.
The block of West Fifth Avenue that Donn’s occupies is now populated by million-dollar lofts, live-work areas and a Jaguar–Vary Rover dealership. Push open the bar’s nondescript picket door, nonetheless, and it’s such as you’ve been teleported to a special period fully.
On a current evening, in between units by Donn & The Station Masters, a trio of regulars dished on geriatric superstar standing, canine birthday events and the way Donn’s manages to keep up the established order amid rampant gentrification.
What are you consuming?
Effectively, it’s no matter they bring about me. It’s normally a fruit factor … with vodka. I usually shut the night with a Depot Espresso [Frangelico, Baileys, coffee].
You grew up in a small city in Northeast Texas. What introduced you to Austin?
One in all my many marital errors.
When did you uncover Donn’s?
It should have been the late ’70s, since you had been nonetheless allowed to smoke. Generally the dance ground could be so smoky, you couldn’t see what was in entrance of you.
It might be rude to ask a woman her age, however that might make you…
Are you allowed to put in writing, “I’m providing you with the finger”?
What was it about Donn’s that made you begin coming right here frequently?
It’s a very good place to bounce, the music is all the time stellar, and for essentially the most half the boys are well mannered. It sounds trite, however this place actually does really feel like residence. I can’t dance anymore, after a disastrous again surgical procedure. I come for the music and the corporate, and I all the time sit with Shelly.
Donn’s doesn’t enable canine until they’re service animals, so how did Louise bypass that rule?
Effectively, about seven summers in the past, some girl scolded me about leaving her within the automobile—the home windows had been all down—and we bought into it. [Bartender] Michelle got here out and informed me I might carry Louise in, and that was that. We even had her fifth birthday celebration right here. Two pretty younger males made a throne for her, and there have been dog-shaped pillows and bone-shaped sandwiches. It was a unprecedented get together.
Has Donn’s modified in any tangible means because you first began coming right here?
It hasn’t modified a lot, apart from the clientele. It’s solely altering as a result of the world is altering, proper outdoors that door. Austin has modified a lot, all these big buildings going up. Many of the iconic outdated [bars and music venues] are gone. Donn’s is pure Austin. I can’t think about it being wherever else on the earth.
Throughout the pandemic, Donn’s was saved from everlasting closure due to a GoFundMe. What can we collectively lose when locations like Donn’s go underneath?
It might be devastating if Donn’s closed. We might lose a zillion associates, a few of them with… distinctive qualities. This place is “Maintain Austin Bizarre” in a nutshell.
When precisely did you turn out to be the Chick Magnet?
Shelly: It was about 9 years in the past; my good friend Amy right here got here up with it. I’ll let her inform it. She’s the one who bought me all of those T-shirts.
Amy: Effectively, each time we’d be sitting right here, all of those younger males would come up and ask him to bounce with their wives or girlfriends. Think about, all these cute women, married to those poor duds who couldn’t dance. Anyway, I mentioned, “Shelly, you’re only a chick magnet.” And that’s the way it began. I’ve commissioned T-shirts for him from varied native artists, however they’re not on the market. And I’ve had lots of people ask.
Shelly: I can’t even go to the grocery store or anyplace with out somebody yelling out, “Hey, Chick Magnet!”
Effectively, there are worse issues. What’s a typical evening for you at Donn’s?
I park myself at my desk—it was once [the Ogdens’] desk. I’ve my Dos Equis, and I see who’s round. I can see every little thing from this seat.
What led you to Donn’s within the first place?
I moved right here from [Brooklyn,] New York in 1999. I used to hang around on the senior middle as a result of they’d dances each evening. One in all my companions mentioned, “Let’s go to Donn’s.” It was 10 p.m. I kinda preferred it, and I mentioned to myself, “I’ll have to come back again right here someday.” I’ve been an everyday for about 16 years. Nothing stops me from dancing if I’m wholesome and my legs maintain out.
What function has Donn’s performed in your life?
Coming to Donn’s opened me up. I used to be very shy rising up; at events I wouldn’t discuss to ladies. Now, after I see a younger girl on the dance ground who is aware of what she’s doing, I am going get her.
Effectively, you’re the Chick Magnet, in any case.
I’m not a vulture; I might by no means method a lady who’s coupled off. But when they ask me to bounce, I’ll by no means flip ’em down.
These youngsters, most of them don’t know tips on how to dance. They soar round on the ground, spill their drinks. I’ll present you tips on how to two-step, however in all probability you’ll be again to doing what you do, leaping round like a bunch of kangaroos… I’m not a dang teacher. However I’ll assist them.
You retain coming again, each evening. What’s it about this place?
It’s the camaraderie. I’m right here to have a very good time. I spend extra time right here than my house.
What I’ve hassle with now could be this madhouse right here (gestures to dozens of frat bros amassed on the bar). It was once an older native crowd, nevertheless it’s completely completely different now. After the coronavirus, you bought this inflow of recent individuals.
Youngsters nowadays.
All I can say is, don’t get outdated. You’re not gonna prefer it.
How lengthy have you ever been coming right here?
Since 1995. I fell in love with Donn’s at first sight. Even then, it was family-like, with all completely different sorts of individuals, of various ages. I nonetheless discover it fascinating.
What’s the story behind your nickname?
I’ve been “Winker” for a very long time as a result of I’m a photographer. The “Withaneye” got here from Chris Gage [a musician who performs at Donn’s]. I had a good friend from East Texas with the heaviest accent, and he simply couldn’t pronounce “Winker.” It all the time got here out, “Wanker.” I’d reply that it was Winker, “Withani.” Due to my career, Chris mentioned it was actually Winker “Withaneye,” and it caught. The one time it modified was after I indifferent my retina and needed to put on an eye fixed patch. Then it turned “With One Eye.”
Each time you stroll within the door, your entire bar shouts, “Hiya, Winker!” What’s that about?
Chris began it. The entire schtick revolves round him stopping no matter he’s enjoying when he sees me coming by means of the door and telling the viewers to say hello. I reply with, “Hello, everyone.” Now, Donn and the opposite bands do it, too.
What’s your drink of selection?
Water. I don’t drink alcohol anymore.
I bought actual sick about 4 years in the past and needed to make a bunch of modifications to my way of life, together with giving up consuming. Once I bought out of the hospital, one of many musicians and his spouse took me in for six months. That entire expertise made me understand simply how a lot my associates—a lot of them from Donn’s—imply to me. I don’t have youngsters, or a lot household left, they usually actually sorted me.
Effectively, you’re the Chick Magnet, in any case.
I’m not a vulture; I might by no means method a lady who’s coupled off. But when they ask me to bounce, I’ll by no means flip ’em down.
These youngsters, most of them don’t know tips on how to dance. They soar round on the ground, spill their drinks. I’ll present you tips on how to two-step, however in all probability you’ll be again to doing what you do, leaping round like a bunch of kangaroos… I’m not a dang teacher. However I’ll assist them.
That’s an unbelievable story. Nevertheless it’s additionally on par for Donn’s, which has an extended historical past of serving to workers and patrons in want, proper?
Positively. It’s closed on Sundays until there’s a tribute to somebody who’s handed, or a fundraiser for a charity or a particular particular person. Speak about household.
Seven nights per week, you’re out at different venues taking footage, however you all the time find yourself right here. Why?
Donn’s is a life drive, and every evening has its personal persona, so to talk. It is determined by what musicians are enjoying, and midweek, you additionally get the service trade of us coming in for post-shift drinks. Whenever you stroll in and it’s gradual, it’s like being transported again 25, 30 years. When it’s busy, it’s like, “Holy crap. This place is full of younger individuals. Who’re they, and what are they doing in my bar?”
However after they get it, it’s stunning. I’ll give them a tour and clarify all of the images and different landmarks and present them the women’ room. When younger individuals perceive this place, it’s so inspiring to appreciate that [Donn’s] can proceed. The flip aspect is after they don’t get it, and also you wish to simply kick them.
Do you may have a favourite reminiscence?
Jerry Jeff Walker [the late country-folk singer] used to come back in and sing with Chris, only for the enjoyable of it. He was my idol after I was a child. I imply, “Mr. Bojangles”? Through the years, I used to be lucky to turn out to be associates with him, and we frolicked at Donn’s. Driving and getting him residence safely was one thing that made me really feel so good.
What would you want your legacy at Donn’s to be?
Effectively, I’ve taken plenty of the photographs which can be on the partitions. Possibly just a bit plaque saying I helped contribute to the joint? It might be fairly an honor.
