Austin Eastciders Closed Cider Tasting Room in Govalle
An Austin-born cider company closed its last remaining public tasting room. Austin Eastciders ’ Collaboratory closed at 979 Springdale Road, Suite 130 in the Govalle neighborhood on October 18.
“team are the experts in making cider and beverages and they’re continuing to focus on making delicious ciders in Austin.”
However, the former Eastciders space is being replaced with a new all-day cafe and bar space this fall, from the couple behind neighboring event venue Springdale Station. Stargazer will open at the same Springdale Road address starting sometime in November.
Austin Eastciders opened the Collaboratory tasting room in 2017 as a destination for people to drink its core ciders and experimental ones (hence the name). A rep for the company writes that the company’s “team are the experts in making cider and beverages and they’re continuing to focus on making delicious ciders in Austin.”
The Collaboratory’s replacement Stargazer is run by Moya McIntyre and Colin McIntyre. It’ll serve coffee, cocktails, nonalcoholic drinks, tapped beers, and ciders. Moya notes in the press release that they’ll also incorporate drinks and coffee with CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
For food, Stargazer will have two onsite food trucks. There’s Santo Patio with tacos and Dripping Springs Tender Co. (which is actually just remaining on the property because they were set up during Austin Eastciders’ tenure) with chicken tenders, dips, and sides. There will also be ice cream from Lick Honest and prepared meals company Lucky Lime. there’s also a setup where people can place QR orders from neighboring pizzeria Bambino.
There’s a new outdoor children’s play area, new tables, and new umbrellas inside and out. There’s also a mural done by artist Bunny Reiss. The space is named after the vintage rocket shop playscape structure on the property and one of the couple’s favorite flowers.
Austin Eastciders was started in 2013 by co-founders Ed Gibson and Mark King. Since then, the business has expanded vastly with its cans available across the country. There was a second tasting room in the Zilker neighborhood of Barton Springs in 2020, but it closed in 2023.
Gibson left the business in 2022. In November 2023, Austin Eastciders merged with Michigan-based Blake’s Hard Cider. The company was also an official partner of the Austin City Limits Music Festival earlier this month and it underwent a brand revamp around the same time.
The McIntyres opened Springdale Station in 2016, taking over Austin’s former train depots Boone and Pine Street stations.
When Stargazer opens, its hours will be from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
