How Austin’s South Congress become Texas’ Rodeo Drive

South of the Texas Capitol grounds runs the “Main Street of Texas,” a serious thoroughfare nestled within the coronary heart of Austin that connects the southern portion of town to downtown and the center of state politics. North of Lady Bird Lake, Congress Avenue options workplace buildings, eating places, retailers, historic theaters and leisure venues, whereas South Congress Avenue has turn out to be a hotbed for each iconic Austin music venues and legacy companies married with newer, snazzier eating places and high-end retailers.

The roots of South Congress date again to the 1830s, when Edwin Waller, the primary mayor of Austin, designed Congress with the intention of constructing it town’s major thoroughfare. However, it wasn’t till the early 1850s that the avenue expanded south of the Colorado River with the intention of extending it additional southbound to San Antonio.

In the practically 200 years since its inception, Congress Avenue has turn out to be an inflection level of each the political and social scenes in Austin. In latest years, it is skilled one more cultural shift as Texas’ capital metropolis has exploded in well-liked, driving up actual property values and, consequently, forcing homegrown eating places and companies to both relocate or shutter operations. Here’s a glance again at South Congress’ evolution over the previous 15 years.

Today, South Congress homes a number of luxurious and higher-end storefronts, comparable to Alo, Hermès, Reformation, Madewell, a Sézane pop-up store and GANNI, a South Austin complement to related designer retailers on the Domain in North Austin, which options Balenciaga, Burberry, Christian Louboutin, DIOR and Gucci.

It additionally stays residence to legacy Austin companies and types, comparable to Allens Boots, Kendra Scott and Big Top Candy Shop. On the restaurant entrance, beloved establishments like Jo’s Coffee, Güero’s Taco Bar, Home Slice Pizza and Amy’s Ice Cream proceed operations.

It’s nonetheless a far cry from the late 2000s, when the South Congress hall paired neighborhood residences with music venues and since-shuttered, retired or relocated companies like Lucy In Disguise with Diamonds, Monkey See, Monkey Do!, Mi Casa Gallery and Maya Star.

It’s a change unsurprising to many longtime Austinites, and signifies one more aspect impact of rising pains inside the Texas capital.

“Once you have an Hermes boutique, all claims of weird are lost,” reddit person @sunshineandrainbow62 wrote on an Austin subreddit post in regards to the South Congress District three years in the past, with @44love including: “Most of the cool little shops were priced out and replaced by faux hip boutiques that all sell the same products. I miss the antique shop. Lucy in Disguise. Even the restaurants have all cycled out. Enoteca and South Congress Cafe.”

City leaders have outlined revitalization plans for the whole stretch of Congress Avenue, operating from the eleventh Street on the Texas Capitol to Riverside Drive. The sticker value runs to an estimated tune of about $130 million to create a “more human-centered, multimodal, complete street.”