Privately owned Texas town drops 'Bikinis' name

BANKERSMITH, Texas (AP) - Bikinis, Texas, is no more. The privately owned town in rural Gillespie County has reverted to Bankersmith, the name it had before it was bought by an Austin restaurateur whose chain requires waitresses to wear bikinis.

Doug Guller bought the ghost town in 2012 and renamed it after his Bikinis Sports Bar and Grill chain. The town, about 75 miles northwest of San Antonio, was intended to become a tourist attraction tied to the chain.

Since acquiring the 1.6-acre property, Guller has built a hall with a bar and sound and light system for weddings and corporate events.

The Austin American-Statesman reports (http://bit.ly/1CBgK1I ) that the name change is meant to appease neighbors, who have complained about rowdiness at events.

Guller says the entire property can hold about 3,000 people.