Downtown Austin Blog

downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog

Is Katz’s Really Klosin’?

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We were unhappy about last week’s news that Katz’s deli has fallen on hard times.  Amidst the recent bankruptcy, Austin’s Katz’s Deli is now certain to be moving.  Our sources say the landlord wants them out, and the famous restaurant could vacate as soon as August.

According to the ABJ article, Katz said agreeing to his lease terms was his “biggest mistake.”  DAB is being told that the current landlord is asking $42 per foot + ~$12NNN for approximately 6,000 square feet.  It’s gotta be hard to make a living paying $27,000 per month in rent while selling sammiches in Austin, Texas!

The restaurant chain may be down, but not out.  Even with the financial troubles, it is hard to imagine there isn’t a landlord out there that could benefit from the Katz’s brand cache.  We’re eager to find out where they will be moving to.

DAA Seeking Proposals for Holiday Tree Decorations

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The DAA is seeking for proposals from artists, designers, and other qualified individuals to create an attractive, cohesive and Austin-centric set of decorations for the downtown holiday tree. The approximately 40’ live tree is installed at the base of the Capitol in early December and remains in place until the second week in January. The tree is an important part of the downtown holiday experience. The decorations will showcase a local artist or designer while providing a uniquely festive signature tree for downtown. Proposals are due on August 30th and a pre-proposal meeting will be held on August 13th.

For more information, review the RFP at: http://www.downtownaustin.com/news

Downtown Austin Open Houses

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downtown Austin open house listings for Saturday, July 24th
(Got the wrong week? Click here)

  1. 603 Davis St, The Shore Condos #103, $499,900 2-4pm [Urbanspace]
  2. 603 Davis St, The Shore Condos # 1711, 2bd/2ba  $449,900 2-4pm [Urbanspace]
  3. 603 Davis St, The Shore Condos # 1603, 2bd/3ba$650,000 2-4pm [Urbanspace]

downtown Austin open house listings for Sunday, July 25th

  1. 800 W 5th St, Austin City Lofts # 909, $465,000 1-4pm [Daybreak]

This is a great weekend to check out the Shore condos (my home!) where there are three open houses.  Including #103: a rare three-story live/work space, located on the ground level.

When you’re done with the open houses, you can enjoy an afternoon on Lady Bird Lake by renting a canoe or kayak from at the Texas Rowing Center. Or, dine al fresco at Annie’s Cafe on Congress Ave for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Make sure to download my transaction report from June (registered members only) and discuss with a Realtor who lives and works in downtown Austin.

-Jude

Downtown Austin has Downtown Burgers – Yum!

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Downtown Burgers

Quietly tucked in a small lot across the street to the Austin Convention Center and adjacent to the Railyards, a little burger stand quietly awaits your patronage.  The little burger stand (or, more correctly, the little trailer, as is all the rage these days in Austin) is simply called Downtown Burgers, and has been in the neighborhood since the second week of February this year.

Simple is the theme here.  From a simple building, to a simple menu:

Downtown Burgers likes to stick to what it does best.  And that’s burgers. Just burgers. (Though, thankfully they have a vegetarian option).

I ventured out today, immediately assaulted by the Austin heat, but undeterred in my goal to have a burger, coke, and fries.  I arrived, ordered my burger, and chatted a minute with the owner, Steve McDermott.  Steve, an Austin transplant, was born in New York and raised in Chicago. He says business has been good. “The good news is, I’m 10 feet away from the convention center.  The bad news is, I’m 10 feet away from the convention center.”  He explains that most of his business comes from the events and the workers at the convention center, but that business has been pretty steady since he opened.  I’m personally a little surprised at the turn-out today given the heat and the fact that there is NO indoor seating. I’m hoping this means that the food is good and a good deal.

Diners Enjoying a Good Old Fashioned Burger and Fries

I ordered the veggie burger combo for what I thought was a fair price: $6.95.  Here’s a picture of my meal:

The burger and the fries were really, really good.  Like, really good.  I would definitely eat there again.  And I was happy to find out that they were open weekdays from 11am-10pm and weekends from 11am-Midnight.  A great place for a downtown condo dweller to pick up a simple meal after work if you don’t feel like cooking.

In the spirit of Downtown Burgers, I’m going to embrace simplicity in this post, and just say I recommend it.

Downtown Burgers, 350 Trinity Street, 78701. http://www.downtownburgers.com/