The culture of Austin, Texas has always centered around uniqueness, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Along with booming companies who have made their home in this central Texas oasis, many well-known brands and businesses have the privilege of claiming Austin as their birthplace. From delicious restaurants to online game developers, to world-famous tech companies, we’ve got it all.

Amazing Eats

With so many foodies residing in Austin, it’s unsurprising that there are so many restaurants that have embraced Austin culture over the years:

• Whole Foods – Founded in September of 1980, Whole Foods is the nation’s leading provider of health-conscious groceries. Before it became the giant Amazon subsidiary it is now, it was a small organic grocery store on South Lamar Boulevard.
• Torchy’s Tacos – The original Torchy’s Tacos location started in 2006 as an Austin food truck before the opening of their flagship restaurant on Ranch Road. They currently have 83 locations all over the United States, but are looking to expand to 100 by the end of 2021.
• Schlotzsky’s – When Schlotzky’s was founded in 1971 at their original restaurant on South Congress, there was only one item on the menu: The Original®. Schlotzky’s now operates over 350 locations in the United States.
• Chuy’s – 1982 marks the year when Chuy’s founders Mike Young and John Zapp executed their vision of an authentic Tex-Mex restaurant with an eclectic atmosphere. The original restaurant resides on Barton Springs Road, and is one of 95 locations operating in the U.S. today. 
• Amy’s Ice Creams – Amy’s Ice Cream is a privately owned chain of ice cream shops that found its beginning in 1984 in Austin, Texas. The original location is still standing on Guadalupe Street today, but the franchise operates over a dozen stores across Texas, including Austin, San Antonio, and Houston locations. They also work with wholesalers to sell their addictive ice cream in stores.
• P. Terry’s – Founded in 2005, P. Terry’s Burger Stand’s original location sits on the corner of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar. The company now operates 15 locations in Austin and one just down the road in San Marcos.*

*We know P. Terry’s is a more local eatery, but we promise, it’s worth a try. Their Special Sauce truly is something special.

Tech, Gaming, & Entertainment

If the sheer amount of unique, mouthwatering restaurants that exist thanks to Austin isn’t enough for you, don’t worry, we aren’t done. Check out some of these technology, gaming, and entertainment giants:

• Dell – Founded by Michael Dell when he was studying at the University of Texas at Austin in 1984, Dell Technologies now employs over 150,000 people and had a revenue of 94.22 billion in 2021.
• Vrbo – Started in 2004 as HomeAway, Vrbo was founded by Brian Sharples and Carl Shepherd. It is now Airbnb’s largest competitor.
• Third Wire – Third Wire is an independent software development company founded in 1999. They focus on creating multimedia entertainment, including flight simulators and strategy video games. They have released games such as the Strike Fighters series.
• Retro Studios – Retro Studios was founded in 1998 and is a subsidiary of Nintendo. They are known mostly for their work on the Donkey Kong and Metroid Prime series, with additional contributions to Mario Kart 7.
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Tim and Karrie League founded Alamo Drafthouse in 1997 based on their passion for watching movies and drinking beer. The bulk of their 41 nationwide locations are in Texas.
• SXSW – Founded in 1987, South by Southwest has grown to be an Austin staple, as well as becoming a premier destination for creatives to gather, network, learn from each other, and listen to good music.

Apparel & Jewelry

Need more proof that Austin is the place to be for big businesses to thrive? We’re not just a city of tech, gaming, and food – we’ve got apparel, outdoor, and jewelry too!

• Kendra Scott – Fashion designer Kendra Scott started her jewelry business out of a spare bedroom in her apartment in 2002. Today, that business brings in an annual revenue of over $360 million. Their headquarters are located in Austin to this day; on South Lamar boulevard.
• YETI – YETI is an American outdoor brand founded in 2006 by brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders. They opened their flagship location in 2017, and though they are now sold at thousands of retailers all over the world, the original flagship location continues to be an embodiment of the brand’s (and Austin’s) culture.

Advertising & Marketing

Though advertising and marketing agencies are not technically brands, they function as support for other brands. And we’re counting that as a win in Austin’s book.

• GSD&M – GSD&M was founded in 1971 by a group of UT Austin graduates. Today, they continue to pioneer the ad world with top-notch creative deliverables and big-name clients. With 515 employees and an annual revenue of $88.7 million, they still call Austin their home.
• T3 – Though T3 was founded in 1989 in Austin, Texas, it has since opened offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Atlanta. Their estimated revenue is $96.3 million annually.

To-Do List: Bringing The Next Big Business To Austin

Whether your passion lies in the restaurant industry, technology, apparel, and accessories, or any product and service sector where you can let your unique ideas shine, Austin is the place for you. The proof is in the pudding – with so many successful companies finding their roots in Austin, Texas, what’s stopping you from doing the same?

Oh, and while you’re here, why not take care of your accommodations by reaching out to Dochen Realtors? We’d be happy to help you find your dream home!