Austin weirdness declines with economy

AUSTIN (KXAN) - In an economy that is anything but normal, it is tough to Keep Austin Weird.

Some of the city's well-known boutiques and restaurants are struggling or closing up shop altogether, unable to stay afloat as fewer customers and higher supply costs are too much to handle.

Some worry Austin could lose its reputation as a city filled with hip shopping and dining experiences. That it will start moving away from quirky, unique busineses like "Flirt" on the UT campus, which closed Jan. 1, and Slate, which is downsizing its operations.

Fetish, a high-end boutique that has been a staple on the corner of 12th Street and Lamar Boulevard for more than a decade, is among myriad local business that are closing as well.

"We're losing a lot of the local shopping in Austin and it's heart breaking," said  Amy Schalk, owner of Slate and Soinge. "That's part of the reason people love Austin so much. We had five boutiques on this strip alone and I'm the last one now. So, out of five, four have shut down, so we're definitely starting to see a lot of changes in local business."

The economic picture for Austin is not clear.

"I think March will tell how the economy is doing here in Austin, because March is a busy month," said Mike Hutchinson of Hut's Hamburgers and Frank & Angie's restaurants on Sixth Street. "SXSW, that's our busiest month." Hutchinson's businesses are luckily doing well so far, but he is watching the books closely.

Artz Rib House narrowly missed having to close its doors after a fundraiser on Monday at Scholz Beer Garten by loyal patrons and fellow businesses. After closing briefly last weekend, they're back in business in spite of family tragedies and big tax bills. At least, for now. 

What favorite local businesses are closing that you will miss? Tell us!

 

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