'Breastaurant' empire owner puts his brand on the map (literally) by purchasing and renaming Texas ghost town 'Bikinis'

The founder and CEO of a restaurant chain notorious for its scantily-clad female wait staff has decided to get some more exposure for his brand by purchasing a deserted Texas town and renaming it after his business – Bikinis.

Doug Guller, the millionaire behind ATX Brands, bought the town of Bankersmith through Craigslist and changed its name in honor of his Texas-based ‘breastauarant’ empire.


The town was first established in 1913, when the San Antonio, Fredericksburg and Northern Railroad laid tracks between Fredericksburg and Comfort, according to the Huffington Post.


While the town has never boasted a large population, about 20 people called Bankersmith home between 1949 and 1961, according to the town's website.


Guller has not revealed how much he paid for the depopulated municipality, but promised in a press release that ‘Bikinis, TX will be a world class destination.’



Abandoned: About 20 people called Bankersmith home between 1949 and 1961, but the population has since dwindled to zero

Bankersmith was named after Temple Doswell Smith, a successful Fredericksburg banker who helped fund the railroad’s construction and was given the honor of driving the last spike in the tracks in 1913, according to the site Voice of the Texas Hills.






The town was built on land owned by Rudolph Habenicht, who became postmaster when a post office was established in 1914.


The 1920s were the peak of development in the history of Bankersmith. At that time it had a store, a dance hall, a lumberyard, a warehouse, and about fifty residents.




Empire: Bikinis currently has 11 locations in Texas, Oklahoma and North Carolina








Hot trend: Similarly to Hooters, Guller's 'breastaurants' are known for their female wait staff clad in skimpy shorts and tops


However, the railroad was never very successful and the population dwindled to ten by 1930.


When the railroad ceased operations in 1935, most of the buildings in Bankersmith were taken apart and used for wood.


By the mid-1940s, the post office had been closed and only a business and a few scattered houses remained from the community. Bankersmith remained on the county highway maps, but almost no trace of the town can be found today.




Ambitious plans: Guller expects to have over 50 Bikinis eateries throughout the United States by 2017

Guller has big plans for the tiny ghost town that currently features little more than a few trees and hills. Come fall, the Austin entrepreneur hopes to begin hosting parties and festivals on his new property.

The 'breastaurateur' has equally big plans for his chain. In five years, the franchise has added nine locations throughout Texas, as well as Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, Culture Map Austin reported.


By 2017, Guller expects to have over 50 eateries throughout the United States.