BoomATX Episode #58 - Jesse Lunsford - "The Godfather of Rainey"

In this episode of BoomATX, we dive into the game-changing history of Austin’s Rainey Street bar scene with none other than Jesse Lunsford—real estate developer, east side visionary, and the man BoomATX calls 'The Godfather of Rainey'.

Before parades of bachelorettes, high-rise condos, and weekend mayhem, there was a Craigslist ad. Jesse, sensing the untapped potential after the City of Austin up-zoned the Rainey Street Historic District, bought a run-down bungalow at 97 Rainey, reinforced it just enough, and posted an ad seeking a bar operator. Enter Bridget Dunlap from Houston. She launched Lustre Pearl—and a nightlife revolution.

But Jesse didn’t stop there.

Through his firm, Rainey Ventures, Jesse has quietly reshaped Austin’s culture with projects at 61, 69, and 88 Rainey Street, as well as unique developments across the city for staples like Jacoby’s, Sour Duck, Armadillo Den, and the Michelin-starred LeRoy & Lewis.

This episode blends real estate hustle, creative placemaking, and the offbeat Austin spirit. If you’ve ever had a drink on Rainey or wondered how bungalows became bars and bars became towers, you don’t want to miss this one.

BoomATX - Interesting Austinites Doing Interesting Things!