Hip live acts, a laid-back atmosphere and a massive outdoor beer garden make this old-fashioned bar a favorite with locals. Two full bars and stages with 11 drafts on tap.

Built in 1871, The Scoot is the oldest continuously running beer joint in central Texas. In the olden days weary pioneers would roll their wagons into the Scoot "drive in" for a jug of beer, rations and perhaps some ice when available. Many nights, pioneers, Luddites, Flat-Heads, drunks, dullards, rough-necks, ranch hands, outlaws, bandits and ladies of easy leisure as well as men in stove-pipe hats, sombreros and derbies filled the barroom with tales of their travels throughout the wilds of the Lone Star State. Later, she catered to locals, folks in the neighborhood and the random lookey-loo and passerby. Her charm won them over like the current owners

Although we are still piecing together the entire history at this time, we have put together some background through personal interviews. The Scoot Inn, which began as a railroad saloon sometime around 1871, has been claimed to be one of the oldest running bars in Texas. East Austin was teeming with warehouses, railroad workers, and rich bankers living along East 1st, as well as a vibrant mix of Hispanics, African Americans and Anglos.

In 1940, Scoot Ivy and his buddy Red, opened Red’s Scoot Inn after a long succession of owners who operated even through the Depression and Prohibition. They catered to railroadmen and workers who needed a beer after a long journey or after a day’s work at a nearby factory or warehouse. Scoot and Red were reportededly big drinkers, throwing back as many as seven cases daily. “They started early,” according to our buddy, Don, from East End Lumber Company. They owned the business until 1980, when they died in their late 70’s. Not bad for two old salties.

There were some dark years that we are trying to uncover after Scoot and Red’s tenure, and the Scoot even caught fire during this period. It was rebuilt in the 90’s and in 1997, was run by our friend, Vera Sandaval. Vera and her mother, Red, kept a close eye on things and brought in a better crowd.

The Longbranch acquired the Scoot Inn in December 2006; the 2 bars are now collectively known at the EAST INNS. We have major renovation plans in place to bring back the old Inn feel of the interior and expand the bier garden with many locally brewed draft beers and some old national favorites. The Scoot Inn will feature more live music than the Longbranch…