Alright, so it took me about six years to return to this place because I had some major PTSD from…read morean employee (who still happens to work here unfortunately). However, this time was a lot different and I was able to find the perfect gifts for my friend's birthday as well as fun items for myself. It seems like the selection has remained the same although Atown is keeping up with current and modern trends. For example, there were a lot of ICE based items tucked away as well as current celebrity crushes who are on everybody's minds. The coolest thing I found was a James Talarico candle but other than that, a lot of the items that were for sale were pretty kitschy and I believe they are the same wholesale items I have seen before. I must shoutout the incredibly helpful service from Audrey who went above and beyond to help me find items for my friend's birthday. She was super sweet, and I would've been wandering around the store aimlessly if it wasn't for her direction. Additionally, she even came up with combination gift ideas which was pretty sick. Atown is lucky to have her! I think my PTSD is no longer because of her assistance. Great store, unfortunately high prices. However, no one does it like Atown!

Shopping local for stocking stuffers for the wife and the former teen. Shana was with me so we…read moreseparated, this place has so much stuff, almost too much, it can be overwhelming and you know you missed things. There are 3 or 4 separate areas you can visit and they have things from locally made earrings and art to coasters, desk plates, rubber ducks of famous people, religious candles with random famous people, funny socks, clothes, and so much more. The staff is friendly and outgoing, they even had a woman at the door greeting you and offering you a hand basket if you wanted or needed one. There were 3 or 4 cashiers and at least one lady walking around greeting you and seeing if they could help. It is pricier then your chain store but the products are cooler, unique, and many times locally made. Things you can't get at other stores or amazon. Like so many places, it's one downside is parking. It is a small lot, if you part in front you basically have to back in to spot blocking traffic or back out into traffic. There is a small side lot that is better but you basically have to 3 point turn out of that spot. Always willing to pay a bit more to support local. We don't get out of our area/comfort zone much but we do love this place. #Supportlocal

A few years later and I am still a big fan of Slow North and their candle arrangement and…read moreapothecary needs. I've been coming for a few years now and can't rave enough about their candle scents and store layout. The aromas that touch your nose will tingle your senses and have you ready to find that signature scent for whichever room you're looking to scent. From linen sprays to candles and oils, Slow North has you covered. Don't let the pricing be a deterrant as they are definitely well worth the investment. The burning time on their candles is really good and more of a slow burn. Take an opportunity to do a candle making class or participate in their other workshops!

The Hubs and I came for a midday date and we enjoyed every second of candle making. We learned so…read moremuch and were both wowed by the scents we created.

Sugarboo & Co is a cool, unique and eclectic store with everything imaginable. When I was walking…read moreby I saw that they were selling Dubai chocolates. When I inquired more specifically, I learned that those were not "the Dubai chocolates." I appreciate the sales associate's honesty. They have a plethora of wall hangings. It is quite impressive the sayings they have on some of their wall hangings. If you are looking for some unique hearts for Valentine's day, Sugarboo is your go to place. The staff is southern hospitality friendly. They welcome any questions and if you are looking for something specifically, they will let you know exactly where it is in the store. This store is very affordable. Importantly, it has unique items that you will not find in every store you frequent.

Sugarboo & Co is the cutest store in Austin, Texas! They sell clever and fun items to enhance your…read morehome's vibe. From pillows to placemats to notepads to candles to sweaters and shirts and comforters and pet items. Oh my! This store has so many fun products that are great gift giving ideas at reasonable prices. I visited from California on a work trip and super bummed I didn't bring a bigger suitcase because I would've bought so many gifts to give. I believe this store is female owned, and have store locations throughout the south. Their staff is sweet and accommodating, and every gift comes with a beautiful gift wrapping that's complementary. They have plenty of parking as they are part of a mall and there is tons of parking stalls. Can't wait to come back and visit this store on my next work trip. It will definitely be on my list of things to do when I visit Austin, Texas and in the mood for shopping.

Was very happy to see a Puerto Rican shop and Food Truck in Austin. However, after our first visit,…read moreI don't have the motivation to return, unfortunately. I'll explain. To be fair, upon our initial visit, we were informed that since they had just returned from vacation, they were working on restocking their shelves. So they weren't fully stocked. But overall, it seems like they're only equipped to carry dry pantry items. Mostly Goya brand items, but no gandules at the time of our visit. They also have a lot of frozen goods, and lots of candy from the Island, and some popular pastries to enjoy. It would be great if they carried fresh Puerto Rican produce such as Vianda, Culantro, Plátanos, etc, (even though there is definitely an understanding that some of those items are extremely difficult to find in Texas altogether). Finding them and then ordering and delivering them to the store could end up being very costly to consumers and also there is a risk of the produce losing quality on their travel to the shop. Now, the food. We only ordered their Asopado de camarones (asopao). This is supposed to be a thick-like soupy rice with shrimp. This is a very special and popular dish among Puerto Ricans. Their version of Asopao was lacking the authentic flavor that is to be expected. Based on their soup, it seems unlikely that they used fresh ingredients. Very few pieces of potato and a few baby carrots, but no celery or fresh onions at the very least. The flavor, mainly, is supposed to come from the broth that is made using the removed shrimp tail/skin. The shrimp tail is supposed to be removed, because it is used to make the broth. They served the shrimp with the tail. Essentially what they served was asopado con camarones, and not Asopao de camarones. There is a difference. This review is not a cooking lesson, so I'll spare the details. We want to fully support a Puerto Rican shop, and we would love to try their other dishes. Based on our first experience, there is definitely a lot of room for improvement. We look forward to another opportunity to try them out. The people were very friendly and serviceable, as is to be expected. There is also a sense of being at home. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm. Oh, and yes, we are Puerto Ricans.

This is such a lovely, little Puerto Rican store. I visited for the first time yesterday, and the…read morelady working there was so friendly and inviting. She was just a genuinely nice person, and was very helpful explaining things to me even though I don't speak much Spanish. She showed me the food truck & picnic table area in the back that I didn't even know was there. She said they have live music sometimes. I'd already eaten lunch, so I didn't get to try the food truck. I'll be back for that though! The store is small but has some great items. I purchased some Pan Sobao, a sweet bread (not sure the name but it came with a side of powdered sugar), some hot sauce, and fresh Sofrito. I'd heard of Sofrito but am not too familiar with how to use it. She explained to me how to use it in cooking a variety of dishes. The breads were both exceptionally delicious! I haven't used the Sofrito yet but it smells SO good and looks so fresh. I'm really glad I stumbled across this store and can support a friendly, local business. I'll be back soon to try to food truck, try new things, and buy more bread!

Excuse the pun, but this place is literally a "hidden gem". It is located along the I35 feeder…read more before you get to Braker Lane hidden behind the Wood Spring Suites. There's about 20,000 ft.² of rock, gem and prehistoric related items here. This is the ultimate place to get your mineral fix with thousands of fossils and gemstones to choose from. But that's not the only thing they sell here. You'll also find singing bowls, gongs, T-shirts, wind chimes, insence and literature on spiritualism. There's an additional area called the rock Depot where you could buy raw unfinished minerals by the ounce. If you have a fossil, rock or gem fetish, this place is second and none to get your metaphysical fix. The photos included should get you through the door.

I was limited on time, but I will most definitely be back for a deeper look. I just scratched the…read moresurface.

Love this place and enjoy popping in when I'm near one. They have such a selection of beautiful…read morewrapping paper, bags, cards and a few fun things. The Lego options were cool along with the puzzles and the 3D small rooms you could build. I could spend hours just looking at everything. Nothing bought this trip just a browse around.

They are located in the domain, near the park area. It's a cute gift shop type place. Greeting…read morecards, mugs, candles, other small gift items. Staff is so nice and helpful. I just needed a birthday card. But since I was there I had a little walk around. So many items to look at. Bath bombs, candies, wrapping paper, all sorts of different gifts.

Such a helpful staff!!!! Whether in person or over the phone they are SUPER helpful, there's one…read moregentleman in particular (I wish I had gotten his name) very friendly and polite. Despite the fact that they have products up to the brim- everything is very organized. The only problem is trying to decide what to get without breaking the bank!!!

My Nephew is very into anime and wanted to get him a gift. I know nothing about anime so was…read morepraying the staff could help me out. I was directed to a Menga authority where she did an amazing job of interpreting my gibberish about what may work for my nephew. The store has an amazing selection, and staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you for your help and needless to say you impressed.

Been following this owner for about a decade, she has always made really cool jewelry but this was…read moremy first time IN her store. Walking in I was drawn to everything she had, it was so hard to process what I wanted most. She carries the cutest Pfluggerville team gear including purse straps, headbands, boot bows, tshirts and more. She has stickers, candles, soap, magnesium rub, car fresheners, little plants, clothes, Jean jackets, sets, sweaters, tanks, shorts and even a mens's section. Price points were good, it's not cheap but it's not overly priced either, I thought everything was right on par with what I thought it would be for a Pfluggerville boutique. I got a pair of UT earrings for game days and will be back for a few of the clothing pieces I was swooning over.

The Merc is a super cute boutique that opened in the old Wink boutique space…read more It's filled with items from a variety of artisans and you're sure to find unique gifts at a variety of price points. The service was quick, helpful and friendly. There's plenty of parking in the front lot or along the side street. Shop local, y'all!