Austin Bids Adieu: Thom’s Market Closes, New Owners Take Over
The end is near for several independently-run community stores in Austin, as their proprietor prepares to retire and the premises come under new management.
Thom’s Market
Opened near Barton Springs Road in South Austin as early as 2007, this local grocery store eventually expanded to reach up to four locations at its height. This community-oriented supermarket offered prepared foods, fresh produce, everyday essentials, pet supplies, alcoholic beverages like beer and wine, along with gift items and various small novelties, housed within shops adorned by their iconic cowgirl logo.
At present, there are three markets located near Barton Springs Road, Burnet Road, and Riverside Drive, scheduled for acquisition next week. Bill Thom, proprietor of Thom’s Market, disclosed on their company website that they plan to close down on Sunday, April 19.
“This wasn’t an easy choice,” Thom stated.
statement
Expanding Thom’s Market has been among the most fulfilling experiences of my lifetime, and I feel incredibly thankful for the friendships and cherished moments that have made this path so remarkable. Beginning as just a small community store, it transformed into a treasured local icon, all because of our devoted patrons and committed team members. None of this would have been possible without Austin’s affection and backing.
In a
Facebook post
Earlier this week, Thom verified that Austin’s Select Market agreed to take over all three store locations. The announcement also noted these outlets will likely resume operations under their new branding on April 22.
The closure and location revamp marks the latest in a string of changes along Barton Springs Road, a corridor that has seen the losses of Shady Groves, Baby A’s and the
almost complete shutdown of Green Mesquite BBQ.
News of the closure sparked varied responses among certain community members, with Rick Garcia, who co-owns Green Mesquite, being one of them.
He penned that he had been present when you initially opened.
online
Thank you for being wonderful neighbors! We’ll miss you, Bill. Best of luck!
Many consider it essential when moving along the Barton Springs corridor, particularly when going to or from Zilker Park, Peter Pan Mini-Golf, or Barton Springs Pool, often carrying a black and white cookie.
Some Reddit users commended the staff and the conveniently located markets for their help throughout the city, providing complimentary cases of water when apartment buildings cut off supplies, as well as making grocery shopping easier amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One user chimed in, ‘I’m definitely going to miss this hidden treasure of a place,’
Some observed that the stores had somewhat elevated pricing, yet commended them for being conveniently situated across the three neighborhood areas. A few mentioned that their shutdown highlighted growing worries over rising property values, notably for enterprises operating under lease agreements in Austin, with particular emphasis on those near the desirable Barton Springs area.
“Wow, everything in this town seems outrageously priced, and now people are finally catching on and refusing to pay,” noted a user. “That’s incredibly strange!!!”