South Congress Austin | Discover Austin- Episode 93

South Congress Austin | Discover Austin- Episode 93
South Congress draws tourists and locals alike to it's unique variety of shops and restaurants. I'm diving into all SoCo has to offer in this episode of Discover Austin.
In 1910, construction of a permanent bridge across the Colorado River allowed Congress Avenue to expand southward. That portion of town has seen it's ups and downs since then, but is now one of the most popular destinations in Austin.
Discover Austin explores the culture of Central Texas. We visit landmarks, events, restaurants, history, and much more.
Craig Smyser, Fiv Realty
512-650-7300
[e-mail]
South Congress, often referred to as SoCo, is the stretch of South Congress Avenue that runs from Lady Bird Lake to Oltorf, though the real heart of it runs from Riverside to Mary. It’s host to many excellent restaurants, vintage shops, and boutiques. In fact, I would use the word eclectic to describe a lot of the businesses along this stretch. Allen’s Boots is family owned and opened in 1977. It’s packed from floor to ceiling with over 4,000 boots and other apparel. Monkey See, Monkey Do is loaded with novelty toys for kids and adults, alike. Other notable shops include, Parts & Labour, Tesoros Trading Company, and the more recent addition of Austin’s own Kendra Scott. Of course, Big Top Candy Shop already has it’s own Discover Austin episode and is always worth a stop.
There’s plenty of excellent dining options, too. Home Slice Pizza is an Austin favorite and the subject of a previous episode. Perla’s is a seafood and oyster bar with a great patio area. Vespaio opened in 1998 and some of the investors questioned the location - I think it turned out alright for them. Guero’s Taco Bar is another great restauant. I won’t name all the incredible restaurants, but I can assure you there are a lot of fine, locally-owned restaurants on SoCo. And don’t forget dessert - Amy’s Ice Creams is one of my favorites.
The Continental Club is yet another iconic place. It opened in 1955 and is one of the longest continually operating clubs in Austin. Originally a supper club, it’s now one of the city’s mainstays of live music entertainment.
A few motels continue to stand the test of time. The Austin Motel opened in 1938 and still has the original sign. No, your not the only one who sees the resemblance. The Hotel San Jose also opened in the 1930s. It hosts the annual South by San Jose Festival in its parking lot each year around the same time as South by Southwest.
The School for the Deaf opened in 1856 and sits on 57 acres. In 1981 it became a state agency. It has the distinction of being the oldest continually operating public school in Texas.
From the beginning, Congress Avenue was the main street of Austin. However, it wasn’t until the first permanent bridge was built in 1910 that South Congress started to become a viable place for business. It bustled for a few decades until the 1950s when many businesses moved to be closer to I-35 when it opened. SoCo was a bit rough in the 60s, 70s, and into the 80s as crime and drugs moved in. However, by the late 80s, the area was cleaning up and businesses returning drawn by lower rents. SoCo definitely is a runaway success today.
The next time you’re ready to soak up some true Austin culture, take a stroll down South Congress to shop, eat, and even spend the night at a host of locally-owned businesses. I’m Craig Smyser with Fiv Realty, thanks for joining me for this episode of Discover Austin.
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[@coachdoughannan1]

Well done Craig!

[@DiscoverAustin]

Thank you, Doug!

[@MattiaBottazzo]

Please more Videos! Greatings from Germany

[@DiscoverAustin]

Greetings! 🤙

[@WilliamMcMahon-ig9go]

Nice infomercial for milquetoasts.