SoCo Trailer Diaspora

Where did all the South Congress food trailers go?

After developers signed a 99-year lease to take over the dusty lot on South Congress Avenue between Monroe and Milton Streets, the dozen trailers that had occupied the space for nearly three years were asked to leave. After throwing a goodbye party on Memorial Day, many of them seemed just to disappear. That had us wondering: Where did they end up? Where could we get our Mighty Cone fix? Was there a still a place offering french-fry-stuffed pitas?

We needed answers. So, we tracked them down. While a couple have closed up shop, most just rolled into a new location.

The Mighty Cone
Where it is now: The West Campus trailer park located at 2512 Rio Grande Street (on the corner of Rio Grande and West 26th streets)
Why you should track it down: Fried chicken in a cone, of course.

Burro
Where it is now: Just down the street from the original SoCo lot at 1221 South Congress Avenue (across from the Austin Motel)
Why you should track it down: Whether you're craving savory or sweet, these artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches are the ultimate indulgence. While it is a bit pricey ($11.00), the Croque Madame rivals any in town.

The Original New Orleans Po-boy and Gumbo Shop
Where it is now: A new brick and mortar with sit-down dining opened up this summer at 1701 East Cesar Chavez Street. Still looking for the trailer experience? Head to the West Campus trailer lot (2512 Rio Grande Street) or 1503 South First Street (near the Gourdoughs trailer), which staff tells CultureMap will be opening very soon.

Why you should track it down: Chef Darold Gordon serves up some of the best po-boys west of New Orleans. Look for big portions and an authentic experience.

Nomad Dosa
Though they briefly set up in the West Campus lot, Nomad Dosa remains closed due to unforeseen circumstances. Sources say the business has been sold, but CultureMap was unable to confirm.

Wurst Tex
Where it is now: The good ol' West Campus lot (2512 Rio Grande Street)
Why you should track it down: Want to be a little adventurous with your artisanal sausage? Pick up an order of Predator and Prey (a rattlesnake and rabbit combo). You will also find decent vegetarian options and delicious truffle fries on the menu.

Coat & Thai
Where it is now: Barton Springs Neighborhood Food Court at 415 Jessie Street (behind Thom's Market on Barton Springs Road)
Why you should track it down: This stand has its fair share of critics but also a large, loyal following. The food can be hit-or-miss, but Coat & Thai is good for satisfying that Pad Thai craving in a pinch. In fact, it was fielding questions about where this trailer ended up that sent CultureMap on the journey to document the SoCo trailer park diaspora.

Short Bus Subs
Where it is now: While the South Congress bus ended up at 801 Barton Springs Road (next to MamboBerry and Sno Beach), you can also get your sandwich fix at the West Campus lot or in the Mueller development at 4209 Airport Boulevard.
Why you should track it down: Hot Teacher is one of the most sought-after veggie sandwiches in town, while The Principal features just about every deli meat possible. Add in the fact that it's served on fresh bread, and you have yourself a winner.

PitaLicious
Where it is now: Like Nomad Dosa, it looks like PitaLicious has yet to find a permanent home. Oh 'Licious, we miss your chicken and french fries with extra spicy sauce all rolled into one delicious pita. Come back to us soon.

Taco Baby
Where it is now: 2323 South Lamar Boulevard (at Bluebonnet)
Why you should track it down: Simple menu, good prices and great ingredients. The fish tacos are always a hit, and don't forget to try some spicy coleslaw.

Fry Baby
Where is now: 2323 South Lamar Boulevard (next to Taco Baby)
Why you should track it down: Who doesn't love fried food? Order some delicious sweet potato fries or stick to the classics and pick up a batch of waffle fries in a creamy homemade cheese sauce. We're partial to the fish and chips.

Frigid Frog
Where it is now: 1707 Barton Springs Road (next to Barton Springs Bike Rental) and 2323 South Lamar Boulevard (at Bluebonnet); the stand is already closed for the season, but owner Dominic Gonzalez says it will reopen for SXSW in March 2014.
Why you should track it down: Full disclosure: The author of this article worked her way through graduate school staffing this trailer, which is arguably one of the most underrated snow cone stands in town. Organic cane sugar syrups, dozens of flavors, fresh chopped pickles for the bottom, and chamoy, cream or chili salt for the top. Order up a classic Tiger's Blood or be adventurous and get a pickle cone.

Hey Cupcake!
Where it is now: The trailer is now at 1511 South Congress Avenue (just one block north of the original lot, at the corner of Monroe Street), and the brick and mortar remains at 5530 Burnet Road.
Why you should go: If you put a spinning cupcake on an airstream trailer, the masses will come. Customers can now enjoy their Hey Cupcake! on its own pink-painted patio, with even more seating. The Michael Jackson is always a hit, but our personal favorite is the seasonal Pumpkinator.

The pumpkinator cupcake is back to celebrate the season.

Austin Photo: Places_Food_hey_cupcake_exterior

Photo by Rachel M

The pumpkinator cupcake is back to celebrate the season.

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Belles of the Ballroom

9 Austin bar and venue experts take over popular Old Austin space near UT

29th Street Ballroom/Facebook

Changes are coming at the 29th Street Ballroom, but the goal is to preserve what already makes it special.

The evolution continues at the 29th Street Ballroom, the music venue formerly attached to Spider House Café. It's no secret, Resound Presents CEO and co-founder Graham Williams says, that he and a large team of other industry pros are taking over the space; but now they're ready to talk about what comes next for the venue and adjoining bar.

Although Spider House Café closed in 2020, the Ballroom stayed open, and has continued serving University of Texas students and anyone else who wants to see a show outside of the ordinary: punk shows, burlesque revues, fundraisers, and more. It'll stay open through most of the renovations, scheduled through January of 2025, and is expected to hold a grand opening in March.

Now Resound — one of Austin's top live music organizers, which was itself born from the ashes of another Austin institution — is lending two of its co-founders to managing the space going forward: Williams and Ian Orth. They're joining seven other team members from venues around town, many of them overlapping: Amy Mullins, Brian Tweedy, Jason McNeely, John Yaklin, and Shannon LeBoeuf of Hotel Vegas, Chess Club, Kinda Tropical, Tweedy’s, and Yellow Jacket Social Club, in varying capacities; and Brian Buscemi and Mike Sanchez of the Little Darlin’.

Williams emphasizes that although things will be changing at the Ballroom, the goal isn't to change anything people already love.

"Over the next few months as we kind of ease into the spring, we're using this downtime to revitalize things, decorate, revamp some of the stuff in the venue and the bar, and just kind of get things moving in the right direction," Williams says, "taking what's already popular about the venue and just adding to it, really."

Bar updates
The biggest shift will be turning the bar from an accessory to live shows into its own entity that's open even when there's nothing else going on. Amy Mullins, best known as a co-owner of Yellow Jacket Social Club, is overseeing that transition. She's never operated a venue that is primarily focused on music, and has been enjoying learning more about how to do it; she even worked the door recently when a staff member called out sick.

Mullins echoes Williams in assuring that the change is more about logistics than tone. It'll still feel like Old Austin, but she does express a hope to run more than the "typical venue bar," handing out simple drinks as quickly as possible. She's working on a new menu that includes wine, beer, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic options like tea, kombucha, or mocktails. Regardless of what's on the schedule on any given night, Mullins says the menu will stay the same.

"There's no drink too complicated for us to make, however busy we are," she says.

Food options
Another goal for the team will be making sure the space works when there's not someone onstage to crowd around. They'll expand the front and side patios and create a food truck food court that features the same trucks that are there now, plus one newcomer. All in all, that includes Yalla Burger & Wings, Gyro Center, Li’l Nonna’s Vegan Pizzeria, Guppy’s Indian Fried Chicken, Waylon J’s BBQ, and Ay Chihuahua Tacos.

The expanded patio will connect to Tweedy's Bar next door, which also has its own food trucks. The idea is to create a space to hang out after shows that feels fit for the purpose. It's possible to stick around after events now, but the layout does create a vague feeling of loitering.

Artist and fan-friendly tweaks
On the entertainment side, Williams says some of the renovations include putting in a new sound system, redoing the green room, updating the facade, and repainting signs. Since the winter is a slower time for live music, they'll be taking advantage of the extra time to work on things before packing the calendar with more events than before. Resound will handle most of the bookings in live music, comedy, and DJ sets, welcoming both national and local talent.

Whatever the details end up being, this team has proved to Austinites that they know how to run venues worth visiting. And since they're all friends and business partners on multiple levels, it sounds like having this many cooks in the kitchen just isn't an issue.

"Some of us have been roommates and known each other since we were young," says Williams. "It's a good mix of people who are all very like minded, so a lot is being brought to the table per decision. So yeah, it's it's really exciting. Sometimes that's not the case. .... But with this project, it's a lot of really great, creative people that are good at what they do [and] they trust each other."

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Where did all the South Congress food trailers go?

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