The long-standing Travis County Farmers' Market on Burnet Road will be closing by the end of the month, and along with it will go Brentwood Tavern, a popular restaurant and live music venue.

Travis County sold the 2.3-acre property to new owner Paz Dhody for $2.25 million last month. Though Dhody, who heads a company called Spiritual Urban Warrior, could not be reached Thursday, he had told Travis County and neighborhood groups that his plan was to turn the property into an Indian restaurant, an acoustic music venue and a gallery featuring his crystal collection.

It's the first time in more than 20 years that the property has changed hands. Some neighborhood residents and current tenants are unhappy about the sudden change, particularly the business owners who said they did not realize until Friday that they would be asked to leave.

"We're closing next week," said Kathleen Macek, co-owner of Brentwood Tavern. "Paz said his long-term goals didn't include us."

Brentwood isn't alone. Lightsey Farms and Hill Country Landscape also will be leaving by the end of the month, said longtime property manager Curtis "Hill" Rylander, whose management contract expires next year.

"The new owner has run off all my tenants," Rylander said. "I'm going to have to leave, too. That's my income."

Rylander was hired by the county to manage the land in 1988. He developed the land into a bustling farmers' market where, for a time, it was one of the few spots in Austin to buy fresh local vegetables and fruit. It was so popular that law enforcement sometimes was brought in to direct traffic.

But as new farmers' markets opened in other parts of Austin, and local farms were plagued by droughts, the market became nearly deserted in recent years.

Although it is open seven days a week, only Lightsey Farms still keeps a stand there on most weekdays.

Meanwhile, Burnet Road has undergone a renaissance of sorts, transforming from a stretch of furniture stores, tattoo parlors and car lots into a more pedestrian-friendly collection of stores and restaurants.

The county decided to sell the property last year after receiving a bid from local developers. It was asking

$1.75 million for the property. Three proposals were submitted, and the county asked for input from local neighborhood groups.

In the end, Dhody was selected in part because he had a high bid and could close quickly, said County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt. But she added that neighborhood groups also showed support for his bid, which he had pitched as a pedestrian "urban oasis."

"Mr. Dhody's concept was far and away the favorite, which was not anticipated," Eckhardt said.

Now, months after the meeting, sentiments have changed as the owners of Brentwood Tavern prepare to leave.

"A lot of people are un-happy," Macek said. She said she and her fellow co-owner, Tim Thomas, don't have the money to start another restaurant right away.

Brentwood Neighborhood Association President Dale Henry said Brentwood Tavern is a popular spot among locals for neighborhood meetings and happy hours.

"I like the place," he said, "and I'm sorry to see them go."

lrockwell@statesman.com; 445-3819