Sean and Judi Smith believed they could help spark a new energy in Historic Downtown Hutto when they launched The Downtown Hall of Fame in 2011. The restaurant and bar offers a fun and family-friendly atmosphere with craft burgers and cocktails on the menu, always served with a smile.
“We are a place where Hutto loves to gather, eat, drink and relax,” Judi said. “We want to offer a destination inclusive to everyone – those who were already longtime residents of our beautiful town and those moving in!”
Having previously managed a bar and grill in downtown Round Rock, the Smiths felt a passion to bring that same vibe to the Hutto area. With the city rapidly growing and Historic Downtown expanding, Sean and Judi knew the time was right to launch their business.
“We saw the early growth in Hutto starting in 2011 and knew it would continue,” Sean said. “Downtown Hutto wasn’t really on the map yet, so we worked hard to bring people from Round Rock and other areas to enjoy not only our place, but the other great places downtown Hutto has to offer.”
The venture has been so successful that the restaurant has been able to expand four times in the last 10 years, even adding a second location. Park Yard at Hall of Fame opened in early 2021 and offers a beautiful outdoor venue with the same great beer selection, cocktails, friendly service and fun that Downtown Hall of Fame provides. Not to mention, the restaurant has been named “Hutto’s Most Loved Burger Spot” three years in a row.
Sean and Judi describe their dreams as “bursting at the seams” and pride themselves on their ability to never stop dreaming, working and planning. Their advice to others looking to start their own business is simple, love what you do.
“It isn’t an easy feat organizing and operating a business, but if you love what you do, you’ll love it!” Judi said.
Visit The Downtown Hall of Fame restaurant and bar at 205 East Street in Historic Downtown Hutto and visit their website, Facebook and Instagram for more information. Park Yard is located adjacent to Downtown Hall of Fame at 205 Farley Street. For more information and to view all live events and music coming up, check out the venue’s website, Facebook and Instagram pages.
About This Series
As part of National Small Business Week, the City of Hutto is excited to shine a spotlight on local small businesses. The nationwide theme for #SmallBusinessWeek 2022 is the resiliency and tenacity of America’s entrepreneurs, who are doing their part to power our nation’s historic economic comeback. For the next couple of weeks, we’ll make daily posts on the City’s Official Instagram page to celebrate the local entrepreneurs whose businesses help make Hutto such a special place to live and shop. Follow along by visiting @cityofhutto on Instagram.