C Yang
Almost seventy years ago, right around the start of WWII and when Austin's population was just over 100,000, Fred McNairs’ grandfather, a banker from Kansas City, MO, moved to Texas for its climate and growth. After a short stop of six months in San Antonio, Fred Ruegg bought into the only available appliance franchise at the time in Austin, Norge, and opened a store on the west side of the 500 block of Congress. The store was moved in the years to follow to West Fifth Street and then to a third location at 904 Lamar.
Continue reading "McNairs Appliances now known as KIVA: Where Dreams Come True" »
submitted by Robin Senor
I grew up back East, and so I'm a stickler for a big, hearty sandwich.
The Sandwich Joint does the big hearty sandwich right. With a huge
array of sandwich selections named after Austin Institutions such as
Devil's Cove (chicken, jalapenos, avocado, salsa, sour cream, and jack
cheese) , and sandwich standy-bys such as Cheesesteaks and Chicken
Cheesesteaks, the joint aims to please everyone.
Continue reading "Review: The Sandwich Joint" »
submitted by Robin Senor
Three of the 18 buildings formerly known as Summerfield Suites Hotels on Northcross Road
are nearing their first phase of conversion into condos, and began
selling last week. "The Allandale" condominiums will include 576 square
foot one bedroom units, and 864 square foot 2 bedroom units, with
prices ranging from under $100,00 for a basic one-bedroom unit to
around $150,00 for a 2 bedroom unit with a full upgrade package.
Continue reading " Summerfield Suites condominiums, The Allandale, near first stage of completion" »
submitted by Tom Linehan
If you ever need those kitchen knives sharpened and you live
in Allandale you’re in luck. The only knife sharpening and sales store in the
city is just a few blocks away on Burnet Rd,
right across from Blue Star Cafeteria and next door to the AA Lawnmower.
I wasn’t planning on taking my kitchen knives for
sharpening when I went in the shop on a Saturday afternoon.
Continue reading "Knife Sharpest" »
submitted by Tom Linehan
I spoke with Julia Akin, President of The Frisco Shop, on Friday about Walgreen's intentions to purchase the corner property at Burnet and Koenig. She confirmed that negotiations are underway and is encouraged. Frisco's recently met with the broker and everything appears to moving along as planned. For Frisco, it's good news.
Continue reading "Walgreens Update" »
submitted by Tom Linehan
Based on recent articles in the Austin Business Journal (Proposed Walgreens Threatens 53-year old Frisco Restaurant) and the Austin Chronicle (Food-o-File), long time Frisco restaurant (see history) and Kids Acting Studio may be replaced with a Walgreens. This has generated angst from a number of folks in the Allandale and Brentwood neighborhoods, as well as from patrons of those establishments who don't want to see another piece of the longstanding beloved and familiar replaced with the too familiar. As one Allandale resident put it, "I'm outraged about Walgreen's replacing the Nighthawk- they have the best
breakfasts anywhere."
Continue reading "Frisco or Walgreens" »
"How
cool!" was my wife's reaction when we first walked into Blue Star
Cafeteria in Rosedale Village for dinner on a recent Friday night. The
exterior really didn't clue us into the contemporary interior. It's
certainly not the serve-yourself-pay-the-cashier type of cafeteria
that I'm used to - and that's a good thing. I've never found
Chicken-Fried Quail or Waldorf Chopped Spinach Salad at a cafeteria.
Both, by the way, were very tasty. These are the kinds of out-of-the
ordinary dishes you can expect to find at Blue Star.
Continue reading "Blue Star Cafeteria" »
Hamburgers and ice cream close by. What else could you want? Not many neighborhoods can brag about such a convenience.
Allandale's fortune came partly out of luck. Locating
Amy's Ice Cream and Phil's Ice House in Allandale along Burnet Road was
not part of a grand plan, it was simple economics. Husband and wife
Steve and Amy Simmons (see family photo above) had outgrown the 1,800
SF building on Guadalupe and finding enough space at the right price
took them north. Steve
found the vacant building that now serves as their offices and
productin facility and made an offer.
Continue reading "Amy's Ice Cream and Phil's Ice House" »
This is a photo of the Mobil Gas Station that used to be next to Home lumber and accross from where Amy's Ice Cream is now on Burnet Road. The picture was taken at the stations's grand opening in June 1956. It closed in 1985. I spoke with David C. Wallace, the owner. He said he bought the station from Magnolia Petroleum after moving here from Waco.
Continue reading "A Bit of Burnet Rd History" »
Live Music - Beer - Pool. That’s what the sign on the door
says at Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon at 5434 Burnet
Rd and for over 40 years that’s what they’ve
always served up. Located between Arbor Auto Works and Texas Futon on west side
of Burnet Rd, it’s one of
those places that doesn’t call out much attention. Most people probably drive
by it and never notice. But it has a loyal following and can pack them in when you
have bands like Dale Watson playing.
Continue reading "Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon" »
The sign out front encourages passersby to "Shop Locally, (preferably here!)." It belongs to ClayWays located at 5442 Burnet Rd just accross from Puett Real Estate. In spite of the small storefront, ClayWays has a lot of space for artisans and artisan-wanannbees to spread out and mold their clay. The small gallery that visitors enter into fronts a large studio and outdoor kiln area.
Continue reading "ClayWays Pottery Studio and Gallery" »
submitted by Tom Linehan
Having one more liquor retail outlet in the area did not appear to be a strong concern of the ANA board members in attendance at tonight's meeting. The ANA Executive Committee met with developer Sam Buford and prospective liquor store tenant, Lee Cantrell to learn more about their request for CS-1 zoning.
Continue reading "The Liquor Store Zoning Request" »
Have a couch in need of new threads? Remodeling and want to upgrade your furniture, or just looking for the right fabric for your favorite chair? Take it to Briley's Upholstery Shop. Briley's, located at 2117 Northland Dr., 2 doors down from the new Amys, can make it look and feel like new again. The small shop takes in upholstery jobs from people all around Austin - Allandale, Davenport Ranch, Pemberton Heights, Westlake, etc.
Continue reading "Briley's Upholstery Shop" »
submitted by Tom Linehan
I first saw Orlando at Amy's Ice Cream the night it opened in September. He was driving off on a burnt orange Vespa. It was easy to make the connection with Taco Shack because he had the Taco Shack logo emblazoned on the back of the Vespa (see Vespa in picture).
Orlando and Yoli Arriaga, long-term residents of Allandale, are the proud owners of the popular Taco Shack restaurants you see springing up around town. The first one opened up 9 years ago in 1996 on Medical Parkway, just south of 45th St.
Continue reading "Spotlight on Taco Shack" »
Make your auto inspection an experience. If you're looking for a place to get your vehicle inspected around Allandale, no need to go any further than Burnet Rd., just south of North Loop. You've got to be looking for it but just across from Sue Patrick's on Burnet Rd you'll find Terry's Auto
Inspections. The building is not much bigger than a 2-door garage but the walls are decorated with photos, bumper stickers, posters and memorabilia to keep you entertained while Terry or one of his inspectors take your car through the paces. (more)
Continue reading "Terry's Burnet Rd. Auto Inspection" »
Pacha Imported Arts and Coffee on Burnet Road is a wonderful Allandale stop for coffee
and food. The small coffee shop includes a colorful interior decorated with
South American art and a comfortable outdoor patio. Owned by Julie Fouillet (above photo), husband Laurent Fouillet, and Suzanne Throop, Julie’s sister, Pacha opened up in Allandale 5
years ago. Julie, a former school teacher who lived and taught in Bolivia, looked for a house in an Austin
neighborhood for her business - a strip mall was not an option. The former Podiatrist office
just up from Bark’n Purr was ideal.
Continue reading "Pacha - Coffee and More" »
Billy's on Burnet is the place to go when you're looking for a good hamburger close by.
Located on Hancock and Burnet, Billy's is owned and run by Billy Forrester. He lives in Rosedale and after owning and operating various well known beer establishments for 25 years around town including Waterloo Brewing, Dog and Duck, Crown and Anchor and others, he decided to stay closer to home with his next venture. (Here's a great review of Billy's done by the Austin Chronicle in the 7/29/05 issue.)
Continue reading "Billy's on Burnet - The Neighborhood Burger Joint" »