Austin's retailers feeling the pinch of the national recession (Bryan: real estate, buy)

[inthecut]

Seems like the necessities and food/drink places are still humming, but the
"frills" are hurting, out here.........hard to define frills, but the article does a good job.....

In other words, people will spend their last dime hanging out or puchasing necessities, but DO cut back where they can........A/K/A Frills.....



http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/04/15/0415retail.html (broken link)

Though the following worries me...

"Bryan Dabbs, a retail principal with Austin- based Endeavor Real Estate Group, said the region's retail storefronts and shopping centers were more than 90 percent occupied at the end of 2008. But demand has waned, he said, and money for new retail development has largely dried up. "

That last line doesn't sound too promising per short-term retail growth(and taxes) in Austin.....

[llkltk]

Have you been in any of the stores they mention? I wouldn't buy anything from most of those stores even in a booming economy. Austin has too many independent stores that sell overpriced items, I'm not sad to see any of these stores close. That St. Thomas boutique is too hoochy mama.

[inthecut]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Have you been in any of the stores they mention? I wouldn't buy anything from most of those stores even in a booming economy. Austin has too many independent stores that sell overpriced items, I'm not sad to see any of these stores close. That St. Thomas boutique is too hoochy mama.

agreed....Austinites are simply going to let the frilly, hoochy mama places wither on the vine...indeed, there were a ton of botiques opened up recently all over.......looks like most will close their doors...

[txgolfer130]

But this is not news to ANYWHERE within the United States right now, and even in Europe & Asia as well.

However, Austin and Texas for that matter are more insulated and not as elastic to price or demand shocks compared to the rest of the country. The point of the story is that we all are feeling the pinch, but no where near the sting that others are, regardless to what the naysayers keep saying.

[inthecut]

Originally Posted by txgolfer130

But this is not news to ANYWHERE within the United States right now, and even in Europe & Asia as well.

However, Austin and Texas for that matter are more insulated and not as elastic to price or demand shocks compared to the rest of the country. The point of the story is that we all are feeling the pinch, but no where near the sting that others are, regardless to what the naysayers keep saying.

tough call.....all cities are connected to the national recession to the extent they are connected to national and regional financial flows....
if the rest of the sunbelt is economically depressed, no slight-of-hand will prop up Austin, located in the heart of the same........

Read the last line of that newspaper excerpt once again....