East Austin warehouse home to odd neighbors

AUSTIN – When U.S. Food Services vacated a massive 250,000-sf warehouse in East Austin, Peter Barlin saw an opportunity. He purchased the property and has been using it to accommodate more than 20 businesses of vast variety. The facility will be opening in the fall on Springdale Road near Airport Boulevard this fall.

There are breweries, tech start-ups, BBQ makers and even a mushroom farm. The space is also set to become home to a 600-seat theater for the Austin Art Authority.

By carefully curating and selecting businesses that will be successful and good neighbors in a space — and charging about $1 per sf to make sure starter businesses aren’t priced out — Barlin’s developments have an energy and buzz that’s rare in most new mixed-use developments.

The available and high cost of office space is one of the few challenges to businesses in Austin.