News
BY ELLE BENT
Majority of businesses on SoCo remain local amid pressures businesses on the corridor were mom-and-pop shops. When he and his business partners learned of the planned Music Lane development, he said the most logical decision was to leave. SoCo businesses
When locals tell tourists where to go in Austin, a common tip is South Congress Avenue, or SoCo, due to its walkability and local shopping, Visit Austin spokesperson Wesley Lucas said. “It’s just what you want to show o about this town,” said Steph Steele, owner of Tiny Grocer. For some, the street’s appeal—from Oltorf Street to Riverside Drive—has changed over the years as businesses come and go. “Back in the day, if you wanted to tell anyone what Austin was like, it was the Drag and it was South Congress,” said Charles Milligan, co-owner of now-closed Doc’s Motorworks Bar and Grill. “Now I tell people it’s South First.” Milligan co-owned the agship Doc’s on SoCo since 2005 but closed in 2016 to make way for the Music Lane redevelopment. The space now consists of hotels, apartments, o ces, restaurants and brands such as Hermès. Put in perspective In 2022 alone, 23.7 million people visited Austin, spending over $10.2 billion, Lucas said, and SoCo o ers one of the densest strips of stores in Austin. “Any shopping and visitation to Austin bene ts the community at large,” Lucas said. “Maybe that business isn’t locally owned, but those that work there are local and bene t from visitors coming in.” Brands based outside of Texas, such as New York- based eyeglasses retailer Warby Parker, have opened on the street in the past few years. Mixed in are Austin-based businesses, ranging from clothing shops, restaurants and music venues to candy shops and grocery stores. What’s changing Milligan said growing up in Austin, most
In a noncomprehensive analysis of 88 SoCo hotels, retail stores, restaurants, grocers and venues, Community Impact found about 64% are Austin-based, and about 36% are not. This analysis excluded professional services and convenience stores.
“Once that development came... that’s when it totally changed,” Milligan said. “If you didn’t own the building, you couldn’t a ord to rent.” According to data from CoStar Commercial Real Estate, rent per square foot for retail space o SoCo has increased by about 40% over the past 10 years. Other local names that left include South Con- gress Books, Maya Star and Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds. Recently, retailers Good Company, Mi Casa Gallery and Sunroom have also closed. South Congress Books owner Sheri Tornatore said rising costs caused her to relocate. Going forward Plans are underway from New York-based devel- oper Related Cos. to transform a 6-acre site at the intersection of SoCo with Riverside Drive to include retail space, a hotel and more. The only property to remain will be 45-year-old karaoke bar Ego’s. New shops will continue to open on the strip, such as German shoe manufacturer Birkenstock and the rebuild of Texas-based supermarket HEB’s 60-year-old store. The new HEB will be twice the size of the original, catering to the area’s growth while “hon- oring the community and rich history of the area,” spokesperson Heidi Anderson said. “We’re not immune to [the growth] happening across the country,” Lucas said. “I think at the end of the day, we have maintained that quintessential, unique Austin feel in South Congress, even though we have seen some growth and redevelopment.”
Austin-based: 56
Based elsewhere: 30 Texas-based: 2
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SOURCE: COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORTING
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