Bridget Dunlap is a creative force and the visionary founder behind Dunlap ATX, known for her fearless spirit, inventive drive, and uncanny ability to spot potential where others see only risk. Equal parts dreamer and doer, Bridget has built a hospitality empire on bold ideas, unshakable perseverance, and a little bit of magic.
Her story began in Houston, where this single mom, working three jobs to keep her baby in diapers, opened her first bar,Pearl Bar, in 2008. Fueled by grit and a bold vision, she paid off her investors within four months and caught the entrepreneurial spark that would define her future.
In 2009, Bridget set her sights on Austin’s then-overlooked Rainey Street, seeing promise in the rundown houses and empty lots. That same year, she opened Lustre Pearl, the first bar on Rainey Street and the spark that ignited one of Austin’s most beloved entertainment districts. She followed quickly with Clive Bar (2009) and Bar 96 (2010), each helping define a neighborhood and a new era of Austin nightlife.
As her vision expanded, so did her creativity. Bridget’s ventures began to blur the line between entertainment and art, culminating in the bold, design-forward Container Bar (2014), crafted entirely from repurposed shipping containers. Along the way, she also explored the culinary world with Mettle (2013), her first full-service restaurant, and later Burn (2015), an Italian-inspired concept known for its Roman-style thin-crust pizza and inventive cocktails.
When developers eventually took over the original Lustre Pearl lot, Bridget reinvented once again. The iconic bar was reborn in multiple forms: Lustre Pearl East (2015), built around the original Lustre house; a modern Lustre Pearl Rainey (2016); and Lustre Pearl Denver (2017). Each new location carried the soul of the original while embracing its own unique rhythm. During that time, she also launched Parlor & Yard (2016), a relaxed sports lounge that became a West Sixth Street favorite.
Her more recent ventures continued to expand her creative footprint. The triad Lustre Pearl South, Vida Lee, and Lil Mama (2021) brought her signature hospitality to South Austin, followed by Lustre Pearl Portland (2022) and Lustre Pearl Houston (2024), bringing her story back to where it all began.
While Bridget’s journey may have started in Houston, it was on Rainey Street where she discovered her true calling: building community through creativity and courage. Often lauded as
the “Queen of Rainey Street,” it’s no surprise that her next chapter brings her back to the heart of that district. Bridget recently accepted the title of Brand and Cultural Ambassador for Rainey Street, sponsored by the Paseo Highrise. In this new role, she’ll host talented artists and engage with the community she helped shape, celebrating the creativity, energy, and heart that once defined, and will continue to define, Rainey Street.
Bridget will say that dreams and success are never boring—there are usually a few nightmares along the way, but it’s that fearless pursuit of possibility that keeps her moving forward. Whether she’s reimagining neighborhoods, mentoring young entrepreneurs, or chasing her next big idea, Bridget Dunlap continues to build, dream, and dance through the chaos. All with a wink and a smile.
