Haehnel Building, Austin, Texas
historic place
The Haehnel Building in Austin, Travis County, began its history in 1875. Italian immigrant Salvatore Bailetti built the original structure, serving as his residence, grocery, and saloon. In the late 1800s, Carl Haehnel, from a prominent Austin mercantile family, acquired the property. After a fire in 1900, the current brick building was constructed. It is a notable example of a corner commercial business with an attached residence. From 1960 to 1987, the building housed Shorty's Bar, a popular local gathering place. Owner Eugene 'Shorty' Bonner had it designated a historic site on the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 1985. The City of Austin acquired it in 1991, and the Austin Revitalization Authority completed its restoration around 2001. This building reflects Austin's long commercial and residential past.