Thank you for being a friend (and neighbor)

East Austin suffers unexpected shutter of neighborhood favorite

The last day for the store is January 13.

Photo by Jessica Pages

When Friends & Neighbors opened in a renovated bungalow on East Cesar Chavez in 2014, it was perched next to Ryan McKerley's ceramic studio and not much else. Since then, the block has welcomed some of Austin's top new restaurants (Kemuri Tatsu-ya, Pitchfork Pretty), as well as modern new office spaces and renovated homes.

Now, nearly four years since first opening its (very fabulous) doors, the team behind Friends & Neighbors has announced the east side shop will shutter.

"We have loved being a part of the East Austin community for 4 years and will miss all your faces and the family-like environment that has been created. Thank you all for everything and we hope to see you around the neighborhood!! Our final day of closing will be Saturday, January 13th," the owners said in the closing announcement.

The brainchild of Jade Place-Mathews and Greg Mathews, the same team behind Hillside Farmacy, Friends & Neighbors quickly developed a reputation for its curated boutique of unique curios and vintage goods, as well as its coffee shop, one of the first places in Austin to serve Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

In addition to being a shopping gem, Friends also hosted community events on its expansive patio and garden. "We don't want fancy drinks or fancy food, we just want a comfortable place to be," said Place-Mathews in a 2014 interview with CultureMap.

In preparation for its closing, the shop has marked down all merchandise to 50 percent off, and is also selling select furniture. (No word on whether that near iconic Evan Voyles neon sign is also up for sale.)

The cafe will remain open through the final day, so gather your best friends and favorite neighbors, and make a date to say goodbye to this wonderful shop.

east-austin closings coffee

Brunchy Business

Mimosa Walk returns to Austin's South 1st Street for sips and shopping

Blue Suede/Instagram

Businesses along South 1st Street are welcoming shoppers with mimosas on Saturday, November 16.

Perhaps no other drink has the mimosa's power to draw people out on the weekend, and one Austin neighborhood is harnessing it for a leisurely tour of local businesses. The Austin Mimosa Walk: South 1st Fall Festival is scheduled for November 16, and will stop at local businesses, each with complimentary drinks.

The tour will include some shopping, some casual snack spots, and even some wellness stops. Although not every business mimosa walkers will pass is participating, the tour will pass lots of local eateries, making it easy to tack on a lunch when the Champagne starts making itself known.

The following eight businesses are participating as stops on the self-guided tour:

Austin Salt Room — a spa-like environment for salt therapy, essentially hanging out near tons of salt while breathing in microscopic salt particles, which are said to improve respiratory health
Blue Suede Austin — a cool women's shoe boutique (with a wine bar!) that specializes in semi-casual styles at mid-range prices, featuring brands like Sam Edelman, Jeffrey Campbell, and Cecelia
Devil’s Details Boutique — formerly Bloomers and Frocks, this vintage shop has rebranded and shifted its focus to jewelry, often in bold and unique styles
Glint Dental — a dental office specializing in aesthetic procedures like veneers and whitening, but also offering general and preventative care
Golden Mean — early holiday shoppers should keep friends and family in mind at this gift shop, which carries unique goods ranging from soaps and blankets to kitchen goods and avant-garde decor.
Once Over Coffee— an unassuming-on-the-outside, artsy-on-the-inside coffee shop serving Wild Gift Coffee and less common coffee shop finds like kombucha and Italian soda
Package Austin — a queer menswear store for harnesses, underwear, accessories, toys, and community events
Sugar Mamas Bakeshop — a colorful bakery specializing in fantastically decorated cakes, often with a sarcastic or funny twist

The listing on Eventbrite promises a hydration station by Topo Chico, a collector's glass, and that the event will sell out. It requires that tickets ($32) be purchased in advance online. [Update: An event organizer says the ninth business on the Eventbrite list is still under construction, and will not be participating.]

The walk will take place from noon to 3:30 pm. Guests will receive a "passport" to help navigate between tour stops. A check-in tent will get guests started at 1628 S. 1st St.

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