Sandra Bullock behind new store

KevinFromTexas · #1 Posted **Apr 21, 2009, 3:39 AM**

You really have to give Sandra Bullock some credit for adding something to Austin.

Sandra Bullock behind new store
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/04/20/story4.html?b=1240200000

Quote:

Originally Posted by the above article

Sandra Bullock, the actress who won America’s heart with “Miss Congeniality” and “Speed,” now hopes to win over urban Austinites with cappuccinos, sandwiches and chicken pot pies.

Bullock is bringing a neighborhood market called Walton’s Fancy & Staple to 609 W. Sixth St. Walton’s is her second downtown business. She opened her upscale comfort food-style restaurant, Bess Bistro on Pecan, a little more than two years ago.

Now with Walton’s, Bullock is creating a modern version of a general store aimed at downtown office workers and condo dwellers in Austin’s core, said Mizael Saucedo, general manager and executive chef of Bess Bistro.

Celebrity Biz

Here’s a sampling of celebrities who dabble in Austin retail ...

Bess Bistro on Pecan
500 W. Sixth St.
Owner: Sandra Bullock

Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop
400 Neuces St.
Owner: Lance Armstrong

Six Lounge
117 W. Fourth St.
Limited Partners:
Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow

Maria Maria La Cantina
415 Colorado St.
Owner: Carlos Santana

Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Partner: Earl Campbell

Ray Benson’s Roadhouse
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Owner: Ray Benson

Jdawgboy · #2 Posted **Apr 21, 2009, 6:07 AM**

Sandra really loves this city and it shows. This is afterall her main residence.

paulsjv · #3 Posted **Apr 21, 2009, 2:10 PM**

I was wondering what they were doing to that old run down building on W. 6th! Very cool!

Texas Tuff · #4 Posted **Apr 22, 2009, 9:16 PM**

Cool! I already knew Sandra Bullock lives in Austin but I didn't know she owned anything other than her home. It certainly sounds like she's really plugged in down there.

TXAlex · #5 Posted **Apr 23, 2009, 11:45 PM**

I wanted the building for years just couldn't foot the bill. Too late now.

paulsjv · #6 Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 12:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXAlex

I wanted the building for years just could foot the bill. Too late now.

You now have me curious to know what you wanted to do with it.

TXAlex · #7 Posted **Apr 24, 2009, 3:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsjv

You now have me curious to know what you wanted to do with it.

There's space for a couple of businesses and an appartment up top. I was thinking a gallery and small wine bar and a huge loft upstairs.

It was a really cool building it just needed a lot of work. It didn't didn't even have a floor in it for the longest time, just dirt!

Unfortunately, 1+ large and then repairs, was just not in the cards. Too much risk for my humble finances.

JAM · #8 Posted **Apr 25, 2009, 6:59 PM**

Great for Austin as a whole, but maybe a bit of unfair competition to small unknown mom and pop places with limited bank rolls who are struggling to make a retail operation work.

arbeiter · #9 Posted **Apr 25, 2009, 9:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAM

Great for Austin as a whole, but maybe a bit of unfair competition to small unknown mom and pop places with limited bank rolls who are struggling to make a retail operation work.

It's hardly like she placed her "pet project" off of E. 11th or somewhere that is ground zero for mom-and-pop stores going under. West 6th's mom and pop competitor is Whole freakin' foods.

Name me one store within 1.5 miles of that which might be affected. Maybe that store on West Lynn, but that's an affluent place too.

SecretAgentMan · #10 Posted **Apr 26, 2009, 1:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by arbeiter

It's hardly like she placed her "pet project" off of E. 11th or somewhere that is ground zero for mom-and-pop stores going under. West 6th's mom and pop competitor is Whole freakin' foods.

Name me one store within 1.5 miles of that which might be affected. Maybe that store on West Lynn, but that's an affluent place too.

Well, there's the new Royal Blue Grocery barely three blocks away at 4th and Nueces. Not to mention the original Royal Blue another three blocks away at 3rd and Lavaca. They would appear to be direct competitors, and the article claims there is nothing else like it in Austin!

I'm not so worried about competition though. If Downtown Austin is to become a vibrant high density residential neighborhood, it will need similar stores on almost every block.

arbeiter · #11 Posted **Apr 27, 2009, 12:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMan

Well, there's the new Royal Blue Grocery barely three blocks away at 4th and Nueces. Not to mention the original Royal Blue another three blocks away at 3rd and Lavaca. They would appear to be direct competitors, and the article claims there is nothing else like it in Austin!

I'm not so worried about competition though. If Downtown Austin is to become a vibrant high density residential neighborhood, it will need similar stores on almost every block.

Well, nothing else like it in Austin meaning that it's the only pet project boutique grocery store funded by a moderately talented actress. Those Royal Blues are both new to me, I forget they exist.

Talon · #12 Posted **Apr 28, 2009, 1:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXAlex

I wanted the building for years just couldn't foot the bill. Too late now.

Man, I used to think the same thing about that building every time I walked by. I thought it would be sweet to live upstairs and do something cool with the downstairs area. At least someone is doing something positive with it.

TXAlex · #13 Posted **Apr 28, 2009, 3:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talon

Man, I used to think the same thing about that building every time I walked by. I thought it would be sweet to live upstairs and do something cool with the downstairs area. At least someone is doing something positive with it.

I'm surprised it took so long for it to be claimed as it's has a lot of sqft and didn't look half bad.

KevinFromTexas · #14 Posted **May 16, 2009, 1:17 AM**

Sandra Bullock plants another Austin root
http://www.austin360.com/food_drink/content/food_drink/stories/2009/05/0517bullock.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by the above article

Sandra Bullock would like to clear something up: Austin isn't just a hobby for her and her family. It's home, the place where she reports for jury duty and the place she's chosen for her newest business venture, a florist, takeout deli, coffee shop, catering operation and bakery called Walton's Fancy and Staple.

Walton's opened at 609 W. Sixth St. Friday with a one-stop philosophy described this way by general manager Jerald Rhodes: "A bride can come in here and get everything she needs, except the dress."

The pre-1900s building has been renovated from the plumbing up, keeping the architecture, wood and brickwork intact, when possible, down to the faded ads for gum and coffee painted on an inside wall. The renovation follows a template established at other high-profile, Bullock-owned Austin properties, including the 1918 Stratford Arms building across West Sixth Street from Walton's that houses Bullock's restaurant, Bess, and the century-old building at 400 Nueces St. that plays host to Mellow Johnny's, the bicycle shop in which Lance Armstrong is a partner.

Excerpt:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandra Bullock

"I have a hard time referring to these projects as my business," she said. "In the end, I might not make a dime. ... But look at what we've done to this building. That's an investment and payoff all on its own."

Quote:

She called her passion for restoring old properties a "hereditary illness, in a good way," something she got from her father, John Bullock, a voice teacher who restored old buildings and used them as studios during her childhood in Virginia. "It's the love of history. It's an expensive love."

Quote:

For the food, Bullock turned to her sister, writer and professional baker Gesine Bullock-Prado, who came from Vermont to consult. Bullock-Prado brought along chef Tim Stephenson, who will stay in Austin to oversee Walton's food services, which includes catering, deli meats and cheeses, fresh-baked breads, pastries such as macaroons and croissants from $1.25 to $3, sandwiches starting at $5.50, soups and a grab-and-go menu developed with Bess chef Mizael Saucedo. A full coffee menu includes espressos and lattes from $2.25 to $3.85.

PartyLine · #15 Posted **May 18, 2009, 10:33 PM**

Yeah didn't she buy Walton's Florist on Bee Caves?

priller · #16 Posted **May 27, 2009, 3:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretAgentMan

Well, there's the new Royal Blue Grocery barely three blocks away at 4th and Nueces. Not to mention the original Royal Blue another three blocks away at 3rd and Lavaca. They would appear to be direct competitors, and the article claims there is nothing else like it in Austin!

I went to Walton's last weekend and I don't think it's a competitor at all. I would not consider it a boutique grocery, it's more of a deli. But it also has a big flower shop in the back. Seemed like an odd combination.

We split a fried eggplant sandwich and a mango tart. Both were good. I asked for focaccia bread but they put it on what looked like challah bread instead. Oh well, it was still good.

It's turning into a pretty nice area on that side of downtown. Ovation will be in a great location, and a great addition to that part of downtown.