r/AustinTX

I largely boycott “local“ businesses that sold out to private equity, consolidators or conglomerates. It’s always the same pattern, locals support a homegrown Austin brand and with our help it builds a cult following, then PE money accelerates expansion and enshitification, a professional CEO replaces the founder and the local identity dies.

I want to create a list of such businesses in Austin for awareness. Below are the ones I’m aware of, please add any others you know of in the comments and I’ll update the post.

• Alamo Drafthouse (Sony)
• Chuy’s (Darden Restaurants)
• Torchy’s (General Atlantic)
• Whataburger (BDT Capital Partners)
• Wholefoods (Amazon)
• Hopdoddy Burger Bar (L Catterton)
• Uchi / Hai Hospitality (KSL Capital Partners)
• Austin Emergency Center (ZT Corporate)
• Shipley Do-Nuts (Levine Leichtman Capital Partners)
• Tumble 22 (BRS & Co. and Rosser Capital Partners)
• Smokey Mo’s Texas BBQ (Switchback Capital)
• Schlotzsky’s (Roark Capital Group)
• Rudy’s Bar-B-Q (Ford Restaurant Group)
• Via 313 (Savory Fund)
• Freebirds World Burrito (Sun Holdings)
• Good Guys Tree Service (Halle Capital)
• Mr. Gatti's Pizza (OneRyan Global LLC)
• Waterloo Sparkling Water (Flexis Capital, Eurazeo Brands, and Moore Strategic Ventures)
• High Brew Coffee (CAVU Consumer Partners)
• Velvet Taco (Leonard Green & Partners)
• Tecovas (Elephant Partners)
• Kendra Scott (Berkshire Partners)
• Outdoor Voices (Consolidated Apparel Group)
• YETI (Cortec Group, now public)
• Koko’s Bavarian (LiveNation)
• Stubb's Bar-B-Q (LiveNation)
• Siete Foods (PepsiCo)
• Bunkhouse Hotels (Hyatt Hotels)
• ARA - Austin Radiological Association (Radiology Partners)
• Urgent Cares (urgentcareownership.com)
• So many veterinarians (Vet Map & List · Private Equity Vet)
• So many dentists (whoownsmydentists.com)
• So many HVAC and plumbing companies

Looking for any open water swim groups, Lake Travis etc. Missing my time in the ocean swimming for hours each week and need to find some friends who want to throw on a pair of fins, some goggles and go for it for an hour a few times a month.

I've heard that the enclosed area at Hippie Hollow is a safe open water option and many folks go in tri suits. Anywhere else and anyone else out there?

Me, former triathlete and competitive open water swimmer back before I had two babies in my mid forties and now basically just a mermaid in need of some water reconnection and outdoor health!

(Note, married. Legitimately an exercise buddy post. Please don't flirt.)

Not sure if this is allowed or not, but Sean is a long time friend of my family and a really good man. He was one of the victims of the teenagers shooting we just had. If anyone has any extra I know his family would appreciate all the help they can get right now. If not allowed mods feel free to delete just trying to help his family out

My girlfriend and I are working on starting a modern age-verified vape/nightlife essentials vending machine business in Austin and wanted to get some honest feedback from people that actually go out regularly.

The machines would be placed in 21+ bars/clubs only and would carry things like:

\-disposable vapes
\-nicotine pouches
\-chargers/cables
\-gum/mints
\-other late-night essentials

We’re trying to figure out what areas or specific bars people think would actually benefit from something like this late at night.

Where have you been out in Austin and thought:
“Damn, I wish I could buy a vape/charger/etc right now”?
Would love recommendations for:
\-bars
\-clubs
\-music venues
\-patios
\-rooftop bars
\-East 6th / West 6th / Rainey spots
\-anywhere with heavy late-night foot traffic
Also curious:
Would you actually use something like this or no?
Trying to build something useful and not annoying lol

Just moved my HVAC company to Austin and starting from zero nobody knows us here yet, no word of mouth, nothing.

Last year we recorded 2 videos,one was a meet the owner kinda thing and the other was a services breakdown "what we actually do" video just to keep things simple.

Now I'm trying to figure out what works when you're invisible in a new city. I've been looking into some AI self serve video ad tools too, like invideo or adwave since they can turn existing site info into video ads. But I'm not sure if this stuff even works. For anyone who started from scratch in new area, what worked for you when nobody knew your business yet? And did tv ads like this help at all? Appreciate the help!!