Central Austin Impacts — March 2009

Central Austin Impacts — March 2009

Friday, 13 March 2009

1. Sushi Zushi Austin

San Antonio-based Sushi Zushi is expanding to Austin. The 5,322 sq. ft. restaurant at 1611 W. Fifth St. will be Sushi Zushi’s sixth location in Texas, according to NAI Austin real estate. Visit www.sushizushi.com.

2. Electricity relocation

Texas Electric Cooperative moved into a 7,700 sq. ft. office on the 24th floor of the Westgate Tower, 1122 Colorado St., at the beginning of the year. TEC represents statewide cooperative electric utilities and performs related services. Call 454-0311 or visit www.texas-ec.org.

3. Rich get richer

Jenny Fleming recently opened EquiStar Wealth Management, 901 S. MoPac, Ste. 300, a boutique financial advisory firm that provides wealth management and financial planning services. Call 250-2277 or visit www.eswealth.com.

4. Closed reading

The John Henry Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St., will reopen April 15 after a six-week renovation that started March 2. The primary purpose of the project is to comply with ADA standards. Other changes include additional self-check machines, an audio-visual section and a rearranged first-floor collection. During the renovation, library staff are offering limited services next door at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St. Call 974-7400 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/faulk_central.htm.

5. Texas teuscher

Owner Angus Black opened teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland & Coffee of Austin, 409 W. Second St., Jan. 20. It is the only shop in Texas to have a license agreement with teuscher, a family-owned chocolatier in Europe famous for inventing the champagne truffle. The shop serves Cuvee coffee, which is roasted in Texas. Call 236-1657 or visit www.teuscheraustin.com.

6. Mango means money

Mango Financial, Inc., a consumer financial services company for underserved customers, will open this spring at 519 W. Oltorf St. Mango is a portfolio company of MPOWER Ventures, a venture capital fund whose mission is to empower the world’s underserved. Visit www.mangomoney.com or www.mpowerlabs.com.

7. Blog gets physical

The heads of political blog Burnt Orange Report, Matt Glazer and Karl-Thomas Musselman, are turning their venture into a business entity. The new company, Burnt Orange Media, is headquartered in the 501 Studios building, 501 N. IH 35. Visit www.burntorangereport.com.

8. Kitchen Door downtown

The Kitchen Door, a bakery, deli and gift shop, relocated from Tarrytown to the Chase Tower building, 221 W. Sixth St., in mid-February. Call 476-1000 or visit www.thekitchendoor.us.

9. Management mania

The Austin branch of Association Management, Inc. opened Dec. 15 at 3103 Bee Cave Road, Ste. 100. Founded in Houston in 1979, AMI offers professional management services, such as master-planned communities, high-rise condos and active adult communities. Visit www.amitx.com.

10. Doubletree renovation

The Doubletree Hotel Austin-University, 1617 N. IH 35, completed a $5 million renovation in February. The year-long project included upgrades to the hotel’s 149 guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas. The new lobby bar and restaurant, Topaz Bar and Grill, debuted along with the completion of the renovation. Call 479-4000 or visit www.austinuniversity.doubletree.com.

11. Resourceful management

On Feb. 26, NWP Services Corporation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new Austin office at 800 Brazos St., Ste. 500. The California-based company offers resident billing, utility management and payment services to multifamily residential developments. Visit www.nwpsc.com.

12. Birds of a feather

Birds Barbershop is doubling the number of its shops. The Austin-based haircutter opened its third location Feb. 23 at 1107 E. Sixth St., with another shop coming soon on Congress Avenue. Call 457-0400 or visit www.birdsbarbershop.com.

13. Dancing on the moon

Galaxy Dance Studios is planning a grand opening gala from 7-11 p.m. on April 4 for its new studio at 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 338. G.P. Avery founded the nonprofit to provide the area with adequate facilities for dance and fitness programs. Call 442-5299 or visit www.galaxydances.com.

14. Phat sandwiches

Owner Joseph Eighoul opened Big Bite Pizza & Grill, 415 W. 24th St., in January. The restaurant serves pizza and specializes in making authentic “Phat Sandwiches,” originally created in New Brunswick, N.J., where Eighoul was a restaurateur. Call 457-4992 or visit www.bigbiterestaurant.com.

15. Kiss and Fly

A new lounge is coming to 404 Colorado St. this spring. Called Kiss and Fly, the business is located next to Truluck’s. Visit www.kissandflyaustin.com.

16. Wedding destination

United Rent All/Austin’s Party & Wedding moved to 810 Capitol Court, near Lamar Boulevard and 51st Street. The store rents out items for parties and weddings. Call 452-9206 or 444-3287 or visit www.austinpartyandwedding.com.

17. Twist of Fete

Fete Accompli restaurant opened at 917 W. 12th St. and began serving lunch Feb. 24. Owned by Quincy Adams Erickson, the restaurant is an extension of Fete’s catering services, which have been in operation for about a year and a half. Erickson plans to offer dinner at the restaurant in the near future as well. Call 478-3383 or visit www.feteaustin.com.

18. Moxie re-re-grand opening

Moxie held a “re-re-grand opening” Jan. 21, after Matt Swinney purchased the boutique in fall 2008. The shop, 2110 S. Lamar Blvd., features items from Austin artists and designers. Call 441-6699 or visit www.moxieandthecompound.com.

19. Chinatown Downtown opens

Owner Ronald Cheng held a kickoff party Feb. 25 to mark the official opening of Chinatown Downtown at 109 E. Fifth St. The restaurant is the second for Cheng, who also owns Chinatown Restaurant, 3407 Greystone Drive. Call 637-8888 or visit www.chinatown-mopac.com.

20. Zilker sprinklers

Much of Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, will be under construction for the next few months as workers install a sprinkler system throughout the 42-acre park. Water from Lady Bird Lake will be used for irrigation. The project is expected to be finished in the summer. Call 974-6700 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/zilkerparkimprove.htm.

21. New Stompin’ Grounds

Stompin’ Grounds, a coffee shop by day and martini lounge by night, is set to open April 13 on the first floor of SoCo Lofts, 3801 S. Congress Ave. The shop will deliver coffee door to door to loft residents. Happy hour specials will run from 3-7 p.m. every day. Visit www.stompingroundslounge.com.

22. School improvements

Mid-February marked the beginning of a massive renovation of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 1100 W. 45th St., expected to cost $68 million and take nearly two years to complete. The state-bond-funded project involves the construction of 19 buildings, replacing 14 structures. Call 454-8631 or visit www.tsbvi.edu.

23. Dressed to the nines

Title Nine, a store dedicated to women’s participation in sports and fitness activities, is set to open in March at 500 N. Lamar Blvd. It will be the first Texas location for the California-based retail chain. Visit www.titlenine.com.

24. Get your fix

A Walgreens pharmacy is set to open at the end of April at 5819 Burnet Road. Visit www.walgreens.com.

25. Mighty Texas Dog Walk

More than 10,000 dogs are needed to help Austin reclaim the Guinness World Record for “Largest Dog Walk” on April 11. The walk begins on the Congress Avenue bridge at 9 a.m. and lasts until noon. All dogs get a gold medal at the finish line and their best friend gets a collector’s T-shirt. The event benefits Texas Hearing & Service Dogs, a nonprofit that adopts shelter dogs and trains them for disabled Texans free of charge. Visit www.servicedogs.org.

AISD names superintendent

Meria Carstarphen will succeed Pat Forgione as superintendent of Austin public schools. Trustees voted Feb. 26. Carstarphen has been chief accountability officer for Washington, D.C., schools and superintendent of schools in St. Paul, Minn. Carstarphen is the first African-American and first woman to serve as superintendent of Austin schools. In June, Forgione will retire from the position he has held for 10 years. Visit www.austinisd.org.

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