Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition | April 2023

PLANNED VENDORS

Seven restaurants were originally announced as part of the St. Elmo Public Market. As of April, only one restaurant has not backed out.

no longer involved in the project. The Texas Hill Country Olive Co., a family-owned olive oil company based in Dripping Springs, backed out of the project during the pandemic. “The original group was looking to build a true public market,” Gambini said. “During the pandemic, it started to sound more like a food hall. It wasn’t what we signed up for, so we backed out.” Greater Goods Coee Co. conrmed with Community Impact that it is no longer involved in the project. Salt & Time, a full-service butcher shop and restaurant at 1912 E. Seventh St., Austin, announced its involve- ment in the project in 2018 and is the only tenant remaining. “We look forward to a resolution and are hopeful [St. Elmo Public Mar- ket] will nd a buyer who will move forward with the project,” Salt & Time owner Benjamin Runkle of Present Tense Hospitality. Attempts to reach other involved businesses, including Fire Dance Pizza and Lick Honest Ice Creams, did not receive responses as of press time. What’s next for the district Despite silence surrounding the market, the once fully industrial

Family Business Beer Co.

Texas Hill Country Olive Co.

Fire Dance Pizza

Greater Goods Coee Co.

Lick Honest Ice Creams

Salt & Time

Mignette

Remaining

Withdrew

area south of Ben White Boulevard has begun to see a boom of rede- velopment. Known as the “St. Elmo District,” real estate investors and developers such

Austin’’ in a 2019 report by Kirk Silas. More than 2,000 multifamily units and 200,000 square feet of commer- cial space have been brought to the district since 2016, said Silas. That same year, an array of busi- nesses opened at The Yard, located at 440 E. St. Elmo, Austin. The com- plex includes St. Elmo Brewing Co., The Spokesman, Raw Paw, The Aus- tin Winery and more, all housed in renovated warehouses, like the St. Elmo Public Market concept. The Public Loft condos opened 217 units in 2018 and is credited by Aquila as the rst major multifamily

development in the district. Within walking distance to the market, multifamily housing—such as Bishop Momo by developer United Properties and Congress Lofts by Intracorp—is under construction. “We see having [the market] in close proximity to residents, should it move forward, as a resident amen- ity,” Brenda Studt, development director at United Properties, said. As the St. Elmo Public Market sits for sale, an opening date remains unknown. A developer interested in purchasing the property is not obli- gated to open it as a public market concept, unless stated in the contract, according to Eric Bramlett, realtor and owner of Bramlett Residential.

as Leifer Proper- ties are acquiring property, includ- ing warehouses, for mixed-use or residential developments. “It seems like

“AUSTIN WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE FOR THIS CONCEPT, SO I HOPE SOMEONE BUYS THE PROPERTY WHO CAN TURN THE PROJECT AROUND.” CARA GAMBINI, OWNER OF TEXAS HILL COUNTRY OLIVE CO.

it’s all right now coming to fruition and the neighbor- hood will improve as new residents move in,” Max Leifer of Leifer Proper- ties said. Commercial real estate agency Aquila referred to the district as the possible “next development boom in

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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • APRIL 2023