Lamar Boulevard and 12th Street

Lamar Boulevard and 12th Street

By Beth Wade Friday, 23 July 2010

Once considered to be located “way outside” of town, the triangle created by Shoal Creek, Lamar Boulevard and 12th Street is now in the heart of downtown and is home to several local eateries and shops. The area is rich in Austin history and is the birth spot of some of Austin favorites, including Austin Java’s original location just just west of North Lamar Boulevard.

1 The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Center broke ground in early July on a new state-of-the-art, $1.5 million Austin Skate and BMX Park. The new skate park will be 30,000 square feet and is expected to open in February 2011. Call Gary Gregson at 974-9475 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us.

2 Ace Custom Tailors has been serving Austin since 1967. The shop at 916 W. 12th St. is one of four full-service tailor and alteration shops for men, women and children in Austin and offers express alterations that can be available within 24 hours. Call 478-9965 or visit www.acetailors.com.

3 Bettysport, a women’s fitness specialty store, was founded in 2004 and carries a variety of styles and brands. The locally owned store is at 916A W. 12th St. Call 473-0040 or visit www.bettysport.com.

4 Crystal Works has been a part of the Austin landscape for 30 years and has been selling crystals, gemstones and jewelry from its 908A W. 12th St. storefront for the past 16 years. Call 472-5597 or visit www.crystalworksaustin.com.

5 Locally owned denim specialty boutique Hem offers customers a one-on-one shopping experience with personal styling and a number of denim options, including designs from True Religion and Diesel. The store, located at 908B W. 12th St., also carries Tom Ford Eyewear. Call 478-5326 or visit www.hemjeans.com.

6 Women’s fashion and accessories retailer Kick Pleat has been part of the local fashion scene for six years. Owner Wendi Koletar has run her most recent location at 918 W. 12th St. since 2008. Call 445-4500 or visit www.kickpleat.com.

7 Hem owners Aimee Hoffmann and Loree Massouh also operate Stanton Clothing Company, which moved next door earlier this year and sells women’s and men’s fashions. Call 474-1405 or visit www.stantonclothing.com.

8 T Kennedy owner Tammis Kennedy has been doing business in Austin for 23 years. Originally located on West Lynn Street, the women’s clothing store to 904B W. 12th St. in January. The store carries a variety of natural fiber clothing lines including Chalet, which is exclusively sold in Texas at T Kennedy. Kennedy also offers a variety of crinkle cotton knit clothing. Call 478-0545.

9 Intimate apparel shop Underwear has been located at 916B W. 12th St. since it opened in 2004 and features a variety of products from basic undergarments to gifts for brides-to-be. Call 478-1515 or visit www.shop-underwear.com.

10 Austin Land and Cattle is open daily for dinner and features a weekday happy hour. The restaurant, owned by Theresa Mertnes and located at 1205 N. Lamar Blvd., is known for its hand-cut, aged steaks. Call 472-1813 or visit www.austinlandandcattlecompany.com.

11 Fete Accompli opened at 917 W. 12th St. in 2009, but has been a part of Austin for more than three years. Owner and chef Quincy Erickson operates the restaurant using locally grown ingredients to make her sandwiches, salads, soups and entrées. The restaurant’s menu changes weekly to feature in-season vegetables and a vegan menu is also available on Mondays. Fete Accompli also has a presence at Austin farmers markets, where patrons can purchase all-natural drinks including Fete originals like the basil lime refresco and peach ginger lemonade. Call 480-8787.

12 Since 1943 House Park Bar-B-Q has been serving Austin residents barbecue out of the same pit at 900 W. 12th St. Owner Joe Sullivan purchased the business in 1981 and has operated the pit ever since with the motto “Need no teef to eat my beef.” The restaurant is only open for lunch Mon.–Fri.11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Call 472-9621.

13 An Austin landmark built in 1916, The Tavern has been located on North Lamar Boulevard at 922 W. 12th St. since before Lamar was built. The building is modeled after a German Public House and was once the home of The Enfield Store, which moved out in 1929. The building was then a steak restaurant, and when Prohibition ended in 1933, The Tavern was born. Legend has it that the building’s upstairs was also home to a popular speakeasy and brothel. Today the restaurant is known as a happy hour hangout and place to watch sporting events. Call 320-8377 or visit www.austintavern.com.

14 Started in Austin in 1975, ThunderCloud Subs has grown to include locations all over Central Texas and as far south as San Antonio. The sub shop at 903 W. 12th St. is one of many in and around Austin known for making “fresh, fast and healthy” sub sandwiches. Call 322-0154 or visit www.thundercloud.com.

15 Word of Mouth Catering, located at 910 S. First St., has been serving food at Austin events for the past 25 years. The caterer operates its kitchen at 2501 N. Lamar Blvd. Call 472-9500 or visit www.wordofmouthcatering.com.

16 Formerly known as the Austin Athletic Club, the Austin Recreation Center is the city’s oldest recreation center. The city acquired the club in 1931, and in 1970, the name was changed to ARC. The existing facility, located at 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd., opened in 1986 after the original building was damaged in the 1981 Memorial Day flood. The center hosts a variety of programs for children and adults and features a 7,000-square-foot gymnasium, a dance studio with mirrors and bars, a kitchen/meeting space, arts and crafts room, meeting room, weight room and shower facilities. Call 476-5662 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/austin.htm.

17 House Park Football Stadium, 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd., is owned and maintained by the Austin Independent School District. Located next to the Austin Recreation Center, the field is also the home of the Austin Aztex soccer team. Call 414-1050.