Retail Downtown

Downtown Retail Demand

The current market demand for retail goods and services Downtown is between 600,000-750,000 square feet, the equivalent to the Arboretum and Gateway shopping centers combined. Today, most of our retail Downtown, approximately 300,000 square feet, is servicing the restaurant and entertainment sectors. The remaining demand is a high priority and the DAA and the City of Austin are focusing efforts to re-establish retail (shoppers goods) Downtown.

Through a partnership with the City of Austin, the DAA has a Retail Coordinator on staff to help retail establishments locate in downtown. The Retail Coordinator works with retail establishments, brokers, tenant representatives and property owners to find suitable, well defined locations for the success of the retail establishment.

Retail Coordinator

Molly Alexander
211 E. 7th Street, Ste. 100-L
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 469-1766
molly@downtownaustin.com

Retail Recruiter

The Downtown Austin Alliance is hiring a part-time Retail Recruiter. Applications will be accepted through June 10, 2005.

Job Announcement

Job Description

Who else is downtown?

There are over 371 food establishments downtown as well as a plethora of soft goods retailers such as Tesoros Trading Company, Kruegers Jewelry, Motive 807, Anthony Nak and many others.

Click on the downtown directory to find the complete list of retailers, by district, downtown. There are also maps that show current first floor retailers by district.

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Retail Announcements

Congress Avenue

On January 26, 2005, Mike Reynolds, one of the partners of Keepers, announced they would be locating downtown on the corner of 6th & Congress. “We are pleased to be coming to the most important intersection in Austin and the State. My father started the Reynolds Penland on Congress 56 years ago, and I am thrilled to be bringing Keepers exceptional mens apparel store back Downtown,” said Mike Reynolds. The store is expected to open Summer 2005.

BakerMan's Bakery opened one block east of Congress in January 2005. This new independent bakery features old-fashioned classic handmade doughtnuts and other baked treats. The bakery is located at 107 E. 7th Street in the Perry Brooks Building.

Motive 807 moved to Brazos opening in December 2004. This Austin independent retailer specializes in hip, trendy footware, featuring such brands as Nike, Diesel and others.

Texadelphia opened at 619 Congress Avenue on January 10, 2005. One of Austin's favorites stop-in-and-get-great-food establishments will feature everything that made Texadelphia so popular, including the "Original Texas Cheesesteak."

2nd Street Retail District

As of March 30, 2005, the following tenants have announced for 2nd Street:

  • Sushi Sake (Sushi restaurant)
  • Lucky Soles (men's and women's shoe store)
  • Shiki (women’s apparel)
  • Taverna Pizzeria and Rissotoria
  • Bella (salon)
  • Cru (wine and cheese bar)
  • Estilo (men's and women's apparel)
  • Jo’s Coffee and Market
  • Cathy's Cleaners
  • Design Within Reach (furniture)
  • Austin Java Cafe and Bar
  • The Home Retreat (home furnishings)
  • Shoreline Galleries

For more information on the 2nd Street Retail District contact Frank Seely at (512) 750-8150 or seely@austin.rr.com.

Market District

The new 85,000 square foot Whole Foods Store and Internation Headquarters opened in March 2005. In addition to this exciting addition to downtown, REI and Antropologie will be opening up in the space Whole Foods is vacating at 6th & Lamar. For more information on Schlosser Development Corporation and leasing , contact David Vitanza at (512) 472-7774, or dvitanza@sdcaustin.com.

E. Sixth Street

Originally in Houston, Vertigo moved to Austin in 1983 and located on E. 6th Street for 19 years. The store then moved to Guadalupe and in December of 2004, Vertigo moved back to 115 E. Sixth Street. Voted "Best Hat Selection" by the Austin Chronicle's Critic Poll in 2002, the owners are excited about being back home on E. Sixth Street.

Retailer Wild About Music relocated from Congress Avenue to the 115 E. Sixth Street the Fall of 2004. "E. Sixth Street is a perfect match for our ecclectic music retail business. With the relocation of the Visitor Center to E. Sixth Street, our daytime business has increased tremendously. We are thrilled to be a part of the live music scene downtown," stated Fred Schmidt, owner of Wild About Music.

Available Space

The DAA maintains a vacancy list of smaller spaces that are suitable for retail and office use.

Demographics

From Claritas to market research the DAA has conducted, there is a wealth of demographic information on downtown employees, residents, tourists and others that can be helpful in making a decision to locate downtown.

Presentations

Presentation to ACRES, April 6, 2005

Retail Development Strategy

The DAA and the City of Austin commissioned a Retail Development Strategy for Downtown. Economics Research Associates of Washington, D.C., conducted the study, which can be downloaded here.

In addition, you can download recent presentations given by the consultant team.

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