Austin | Domain/North Austin

[Scottolini]

So it's a crappy place to walk, but is certainly possible.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Freebirds is a good almost local. Would be interesting to see some other small local chains up there: Galaxy comes to mind. El Chilito.....

Would kill for an El Chilito! I used to live a block from the original.

Originally Posted by Talon

McCormick's happy hour has burger and fries for $1.95, lots of other tasty options under $5 as well. I've gone to it several times both at the downtown location and more recently the domain.

I agree about the Kramer MetroRail station, I work about a little over mile from it and even biking isn't an easy proposition for me the way Braker and Kramer are setup. Walking is not even possible.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking of - the McCormick's happy hour special.

Originally Posted by Scottolini

I thought those roads had sidewalks? Or is there some other reason walking isn't possible?

Well, again from the perspective of an hourly-waged employee at the Domain, walking to Freebirds, getting food, eating, and getting back to work in an hour isn't really possible. Whereas something in the Domain would be walkable. It's quite a schlep out to Burnet.

[M1EK]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Well, again from the perspective of an hourly-waged employee at the Domain, walking to Freebirds, getting food, eating, and getting back to work in an hour isn't really possible. Whereas something in the Domain would be walkable. It's quite a schlep out to Burnet.

True dat. When I worked at IBM (east side of Burnet, a little closer than Freebird's), I walked over to the basketball courts (where the Domain is now) the first time I went out to play at lunch - it took 20 minutes each way; far too long to be feasible. After that, the next 500 times, I drove.

[Talon]

Originally Posted by Scottolini

So it's a crappy place to walk, but is certainly possible.

You're right, I let the hyperbole get away from me there. I used a poor choice of word in 'possible'.

The sidewalk along Kramer from Braker to Metro Rail ends a little past Culver's so your'e walking on brush for the last couple hundred feet. The path along Braker east from Kramer to my office actually isn't so bad when it's not 100+.

[breathesgelatin]

Man, I never seem to get around to taking pictures. I guess I just get off work and want to see my daughter so badly!

The cladding & windows are nearly complete on the Westin now. It is looking better than I expected. The Aloft, I think, looks really good.

The Dick's Sporting Goods has a "now hiring" sign up. I wonder if they will actually open earlier than expected? They have signage up inside the store and everything.

Someone asked about the Maggiano's. I saw some plyboard over an entrance that was spray-painted "Maggiano's," which leads me to believe they must be making deliveries to the location.

At work today I had 2-3 more discussions about how we need more affordable places to eat. Seriously, it is on the mind of all the retail workers there.

[PartyLine]

A Fox Sports grill might do good there like the one in Houston in the Galleria

[PartyLine]

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin...6/daily22.html

[breathesgelatin]

According to an update at work, the Grand Opening date for the Dillard's and "several smaller stores" will be February 26th.

[Scottolini]

Domain II tenants

* A’GACI, teen clothing, www.agacistore.com
* American Eagle Outfitters, men’s and women’s clothing, www.ae.com
* Aeropostale, men’s and women’s clothing, www.aeropostale.com
* Avalon, nail salon, www.avalonnailsalon.com
* Bath & Body Works, fragrant body care products, www.bathandbodyworks.com
* The Buckle, men’s and women’s clothing, www.buckle.com
* Bui-yah-kah, young women’s clothing, www.bui-yah-kah.com
* Charming Charlie, women’s fashion accessories, www.charmingcharlie.com
* Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, coffee and tea shop, www.coffeebean.com
* DICK’S Sporting Goods, sporting goods, www.dickssportinggoods.com
* Dillard’s, department store, www.dillards.com
* East Fifth Hub, clothing
* EXPRESS, men’s and women’s clothing, www.express.com
* Finish Line, athletic shoes and apparel, www.finishline.com
* GameStop, video games, www.gamestop.com
* Gold Class Cinema, movie theater, www.goldclasscinemas.com
* The Limited, women’s clothing, www.thelimited.com
* Maggiano’s, Italian restaurant, www.maggianos.com
* Master Wok, Chinese restaurant, www.kcmasterwok.com
* Payless ShoeSource, footwear and accessories, www.payless.com
* Perfume Palace, men’s and women’s fragrances, www.perfumepalace.us
* Shasa Collection, women’s clothing, www.shasa.com
* Stride Rite, children’s footwear, www.striderite.com
* Sushi Zushi, Japanese restaurant, www.sushizushi.com
* Vans, action sports footwear, www.vans.com
* Yogurt Planet, frozen yogurt, www.yogurtplanet.com
* Zumiez, snowboarding and skateboarding shoes and clothing, www.zumiez.com

http://impactnews.com/northwest-aust...-february-2010

[breathesgelatin]

The new section is decidedly more downmarket than the original section.

Thanks for posting that list. I knew about most of the stores but didn't have a comprehensive list to reference.

We've heard buzz about a Subway at work, which isn't on the list... There is a subway across the street on Burnet but it would be great to have one closer.

ETA: I just realized one of my friends is quoted in that article. HA!

[PartyLine]

I saw the other day when I was in the Domain that they were tearing down one of the old IBM buildings over kinda behind the building where Texas Culinary Academy is not shure if their just tearing it down or if their going to start something there.

[Scottolini]

The Domain has landed a corporate headquarters...


Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 9:11am CST
Hanger Orthopedics confirms move to Austin
Austin Business Journal

Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc. (NYSE:HGR) confirmed its headquarters move to Austin today, following reports last week that it was negotiating a 75,000 square foot lease on the North side of the city.

Officials said in the release this morning that the Domain 2 building in North Austin will allow room for growth and is more centralized between the company’s 700 national care facilities. Before deciding on Austin, Maryland-based Hanger considered the greater Washington DC metro area.

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin...1/daily19.html

[Scottolini]

Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 10:48am CST
Westin and W hotels to hire 436 in Austin
Austin Business Journal

Westin Austin and the downtown W Austin Hotel & Residences will add more than 430 jobs to the local economy, developers announced today.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) will run a hiring fair from the Westin at The Domain Jan. 25-27 and Jan. 29-30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A Starwood spokesperson said the 340-room, 10-story hotel will open sometime this March.

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin...1/daily21.html


I didn't realize the new Westin at the Domain was 10-stories. Do you know the height, Kevin?

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by Scottolini

Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 10:48am CST
Westin and W hotels to hire 436 in Austin
Austin Business Journal

Westin Austin and the downtown W Austin Hotel & Residences will add more than 430 jobs to the local economy, developers announced today.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) will run a hiring fair from the Westin at The Domain Jan. 25-27 and Jan. 29-30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A Starwood spokesperson said the 340-room, 10-story hotel will open sometime this March.

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin...1/daily21.html


I didn't realize the new Westin at the Domain was 10-stories. Do you know the height, Kevin?

I dont think that's correct. It is 8-stories.

[PartyLine]

I thought some where I saw it was going to be 10 stories but yeah it is 8

[KevinFromTexas]

Yeah, 8 floors was all that I've heard or seen of it. It certainly doesn't stick up like a 10-story building anyway, it's hardly noticeable in the area. I'm not sure what the height is, but I would assume it's probably 110 to 120 feet tall. It might just barely be considered a high rise.

[JoninATX]

Has anyone here stayed in the new Aloft? I hear their rates are fare.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

Has anyone here stayed in the new Aloft? I hear their rates are fare.

I haven't, but one of my college friends came to town for work and stayed there. I never really got the DL on the place from him, though.

[Mopacs]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

Yeah, 8 floors was all that I've heard or seen of it. It certainly doesn't stick up like a 10-story building anyway, it's hardly noticeable in the area. I'm not sure what the height is, but I would assume it's probably 110 to 120 feet tall. It might just barely be considered a high rise.

I agree... it doesn't stand out at all... even from Mopac as you pass the Domain (northbound). The hotel sort of blends in with the apartments and offices. Same goes for the northbound elevated lanes of 183 (between Lamar and Burnet). It's barely visible, blending in with the industrial warehouses along Metric.

[bluedogok]

As some things are opening, others are closing....

Bailey, Banks & Biddle (jewelry) closed around Christmas, there was another that I remember seeing empty on that end/side as well. I just noticed yesterday that the streetscape fronted shop between Victoria's Secret and the Apple Store was empty.

Also, there were some break-ins or something right after Thanksgiving, the Coach store had one of it's glass doors replaced with plywood, so did the Louis Vuitton store along with one of the corner displays and a large window on the north side facing Neiman's covered partially in plywood with the plate glass cracked. LV covered up the front plywood door and the corner display with some banners.