Business
BY SARAH HERNANDEZ
Monkey See, Monkey Do! reopened at 2810 Menchaca Road, Austin, on May 2.
PHOTO BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Monkey See, Monkey Do! sells toys, knick-knacks, games, apparel and more.
PHOTO BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Monkey See, Monkey Do! keeps ‘funky vibe’ alive For 20 years, toy shop Monkey See, Monkey Do! brought a nostalgic kind of funky fun to South Congress Avenue.
open a similar store. “I worked all night to put a proposal together,” Hodge said. “I turned it in on Friday, and on Mon- day, I signed a lease. It was that fast... Things don’t happen like that on South Congress anymore.” How it’s going The shop’s move was driven by accessibility and customers’ unwillingness to pay to park. “It was hard for us to dodge the ‘pushed out’ narrative because that’s the assumption,” Hodge said. “No, it just turns out to be the right move sometimes.” Hodge said he is happy to be staying in South Austin. The new space o ers free parking and more room to browse and host events.
Brandon Hodge owns Monkey See, Monkey Do!
PHOTO BY SARAH HERNANDEZ COMMUNITY IMPACT
In April, owner Brandon Hodge—also behind Big Top Candy Shop—announced the store’s relocation and, over four days, packed up its eclectic inven- tory of novelties and collectibles and moved it to a new home on Menchaca Road. He hopes the move will see the return of more locally based customers and help the shop return to its “DIY funky vibe” roots. How it started The business rst opened in March 2005. Hodge had been the manager of another gift shop until it closed in 2004, and worked with the landlords to
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2810 Menchaca Road, Austin Facebook: Monkey See Monkey Do!
A private social club created with members in mind. Maeve House provides a
beautiful and inspiring space to work and engage with your community in Southwest Austin.
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