The Transformation of South Lamar - Page 44

Urbannizer · #**861** Posted **Feb 18, 2023, 1:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin242

Yet all the retail in the indeed tower is empty and Glorias across the street is still empty. DT is the only spot that seems to not be bouncing back.

Don’t know what’s going on with Indeed’s Food Hall but Downtown is bouncing back quite well with new and coming tenants. BOA Steakhouse is moving into Glorias’ space, the long vacant Counter Cafe is now Garbos and Le Politique-which has been closed since 2020 is gaining a new restaurant concept.

https://austin.eater.com/2022/12/9/2...ael-mina-texas

clubtokyo · #**862** Posted **Feb 18, 2023, 3:16 AM**

Downtown restaurants and retail seem super busy when I am down there.

StoOgE · #**863** Posted **Feb 18, 2023, 1:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobotomizer

The problem I see arising is many of these shopping centers are home to beloved, old-school, local businesses.

Wheatsville Co-Op, Waterloo Records, Alamo Drafthouse, Terra Toys, etc.

I am not opposing these shopping centers being redeveloped. Quite the opposite, actually.

However as these centers begin getting razed, and these stores are not replaced for any number of reasons I believe there may be a backlash.

And truthfully it will be a little sad to see these shops replaced by the likes of another Starbucks, waxing studio, or worst of all empty storefront.

Because really outside of Brodie Oaks I can't think of any shopping centers listed with a bunch of vacancy. These shopping centers are auto-oriented, and mostly uncool. But they're mostly full of businesses and people shopping, eating, etc.

Alamo already redeveloped their strip mall on Lamar and that wheatsville is newer. The vast majority of these strip malls don't house local businesses.

ahealy · #**864** Posted **Feb 18, 2023, 5:06 PM**

I say bring all the cool niche local businesses to the suburbs where I can easily enjoy

Like, I don't think gamefellas in Brodie will survive the new transformation.

This goes for places like: comic shops, video game shops, karaoke bars, small foreign grocers, wig stores... you name it!

Lobotomizer · #**865** Posted **Feb 18, 2023, 5:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Alamo already redeveloped their strip mall on Lamar and that wheatsville is newer. The vast majority of these strip malls don't house local businesses.

The Alamo I was referencing is on Anderson Ln. I am also aware the Wheatsville on S. Lamar is not the OG, and is relatively new, but it's still a local businesses, and an asset to the area.

Many of these centers on the edge of the urban core are filled with local businesses actually. I'm pretty sure Wheatsville, Twin Liquors, Play It Again Sports, Azul Tequila, Deckhand, Dong Nai, Tomlinson's, Strait Music, Austin Gifts, etc. are all local in that one area NE of S. Lamar and Ben White.

And while not local, it's pretty nice to have the Target and Goodwill in the area.

But I'm fine with these areas redeveloping. I am simply stating there will be some drawbacks, and possibly some backlash as many of these centers, and their assorted retailers go bye bye.

KevinFromTexas · #**866** Posted **Feb 18, 2023, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

I say bring all the cool niche local businesses to the suburbs where I can easily enjoy

Like, I don't think gamefellas in Brodie will survive the new transformation.

This goes for places like: comic shops, video game shops, karaoke bars, small foreign grocers, wig stores... you name it!

Are you talking about Gameover Games? The only Gamefellas I know of is located at Stassney & I-35. I don't really like Gamestop, I prefer the locally owned video game stores. I always feel like a suspected criminal/shoplifter going into Game Stop since every time someone walks in they play some pre-recorded message about the place being monitored on video. And they pretty much have a heart attack if you walk in with a backpack (since I typically go on my bike). Gameover is a on Lamar. They used to be in the same shopping center where Half Price Books is, but moved into a spot near Lamar Square - next to that Sonic. I haven't been to that location yet, but their old spot next to Half Price Books was sweet. You'd go in and they'd have the soundtracks playing for old Nintendo games. Gamefellas is cool, too, and are really helpful and back all their stuff. I bought a used Xbox 360 there once and it didn't work, so they switched it for another one a few days later. They also sell $5 blu rays, which is pretty nice.

StoOgE · #**867** Posted **Feb 19, 2023, 12:18 AM**

Game fellas still exists? I remember paying a lot of money to play an early Japanese import n64 at northcross mall there a long time ago

LoneStarMike · #**868** Posted **Feb 19, 2023, 5:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahealy

Like, I don't think gamefellas in Brodie will survive the new transformation.

Are you thinking of Warhammer Games Workshop Hobby Center?

migol24 · #**869** Posted **Feb 19, 2023, 7:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

Game fellas still exists? I remember paying a lot of money to play an early Japanese import n64 at northcross mall there a long time ago

There's definitely a gamefellas off of s i35 when I Google it.

LoneStarMike · #**870** Posted **Feb 19, 2023, 2:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobotomizer

I'm pretty sure Wheatsville, Twin Liquors, Play It Again Sports, Azul Tequila, Deckhand, Dong Nai, Tomlinson's, Strait Music, Austin Gifts, etc. are all local in that one area NE of S. Lamar and Ben White.

Plus that "one area" is actually two separate shopping centers owned by two different companies. Lamar Oaks Shopping Center is the one with Wheatsville, Twin Liquors, Goodwill, Harbor Freight Tools, LA Fitness, the minor emergency center, etc. and those other stores you mentioned are in what's known as Lake Hills Plaza.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobotomizer

And while not local, it's pretty nice to have the Target and Goodwill in the area.

I seriously doubt that Target is going anywhere any time soon. It may be considered part of Lake Hills Plaza, but Target owns their store and I believe the parking lot directly in front of it. I believe it's the same situation with Strait Music.

If you look at a map of Lake Hills Plaza, Target and the area where Strait Music is are both shown in gray which means "owned by others."

One of many things that made Brodie Oaks an attractive candidate for redevelopment is that it's pretty large and it's all owned by just one company (Barshop & Oles.)

Sigaven · #**871** Posted **Feb 20, 2023, 10:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobotomizer

The problem I see arising is many of these shopping centers are home to beloved, old-school, local businesses.

Wheatsville Co-Op, Waterloo Records, Alamo Drafthouse, Terra Toys, etc.

I am not opposing these shopping centers being redeveloped. Quite the opposite, actually.

However as these centers begin getting razed, and these stores are not replaced for any number of reasons I believe there may be a backlash.

And truthfully it will be a little sad to see these shops replaced by the likes of another Starbucks, waxing studio, or worst of all empty storefront.

Because really outside of Brodie Oaks I can't think of any shopping centers listed with a bunch of vacancy. These shopping centers are auto-oriented, and mostly uncool. But they're mostly full of businesses and people shopping, eating, etc.

I feel like some of those parking lots are so huge and unused that they could be half-redeveloped while the existing businesses still operate, those businesses could move into the new buildings and then the rest of the strip malls could be torn down. Wonder if something like that would be possible.

Echostatic · #**872** Posted **Feb 20, 2023, 11:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaven

I feel like some of those parking lots are so huge and unused that they could be half-redeveloped while the existing businesses still operate, those businesses could move into the new buildings and then the rest of the strip malls could be torn down. Wonder if something like that would be possible.

I believe this is close to the development plan for Brodie Oaks. That development will be done in stages, beginning with the oldest part at the back around the old Toys-R-Us.

StoOgE · #**873** Posted **Feb 23, 2023, 4:22 PM**

Saw soil sample testing going on at the old Goodwill site the other day.

Urbannizer · #**874** Posted **Feb 24, 2023, 4:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbannizer

2323 S. Lamar

https://www.multihousingnews.com/pea...condo-project/

Quote:

Pearlstone Partners has obtained $75 million in construction financing for an upcoming 182-unit condominium development in the South Lamar area of Austin, Texas.

Knighthead Funding supplied the loan, marking the firm’s fifth transaction on behalf of Pearlstone since 2020, according to prepared remarks by Knighthead Vice President Henry Boeckmann.

Set to take shape on an 80,900-square-foot parcel at 2323 S. Lamar Blvd., 3 miles from Austin’s central business district, the five-story building will incorporate studios, one- and two-bedroom units, as well as four live work units. Additionally, the project will feature more than 6,000 square feet of street-level retail and office space. Completion is slated for the second half of 2024.