Hoover’s Cooking, founded by longtime Austin chef Hoover Alexander, is set to close after more than 27 years in business, according to restaurant announcements and local reports. The closure comes as Alexander prepares to retire after over 50 years in the restaurant industry, a career that helped shape Austin’s food culture from the ground up.
The restaurant, located on Manor Road in East Austin, became known for its mix of Southern, Tex-Mex, Cajun, and barbecue-inspired dishes. Over the years, it built a loyal customer base that stretched far beyond the neighborhood, turning Hoover’s Cooking into both a dining destination and a community gathering place.
Alexander opened the restaurant in 1998 near the East Austin community where he grew up. Before launching Hoover’s Cooking, he worked his way through Austin’s restaurant scene, starting as a teenager in the 1970s, eventually moving into leadership roles across several local establishments. That long journey helped shape his reputation as one of the city’s influential culinary figures.
The decision to close the restaurant comes after what Alexander has described as years of reflection on his life, career, and the changing realities of the restaurant business. Industry pressures, shifting dining habits, and the challenges that followed the pandemic have all played a role in the transition, according to local reporting…