Kevin Durant Opens 'Athlete-Approved' Restaurant in Austin
NBA star Kevin Durant is entering the culinary world with a new restaurant venture in Austin. The concept centers on an "athlete-approved" menu featuring macro-balanced plates and creative takes on global street food, aiming to prove that performance-focused eating can be flavorful and experiential.
The new Austin eatery is named the Austin Sports Club and is slated for a spring 2026 opening in the downtown area. It will be located at 205 E. Third St., taking over a 4,723-square-foot space with an estimated $2.4 million buildout. Durant is partnering with Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia and his own business partner Rich Kleiman of Boardroom Hospitality. Local operations will be managed by Lobos Hospitality, an Austin-based group known for establishments like Toasty Badger, Manny's sandwich shop, and the Powder Room cocktail bar. The venture is described as a "timeless restaurant reimagined for the modern athlete, executive, and tastemaker," aiming to blend luxury dining with an immersive sports atmosphere. It marks the first restaurant concept developed jointly by Durant and Kleiman through their Boardroom brand. This project deepens Durant's connection to Austin, where he played for the Texas Longhorns during the 2006-07 season, earning Collegiate National Player of the Year honors. In 2018, he donated $3 million to the University of Texas for a new basketball practice facility that now bears his name. The restaurant is an extension of Durant's broader business interests managed through his firm, Thirty Five Ventures. The company's diverse portfolio includes investments in over 60 companies, such as Postmates, Robinhood, and the Philadelphia Union soccer team. Durant joins other athletes in Austin's restaurant scene. Former Texas Longhorns and NFL players Brian Orakpo and Michael Griffin own a Gigi's Cupcakes location, while Super Bowl MVP and Westlake High School alum Nick Foles is a part-owner of the modern Mexican restaurant ATX Cocina.
