Roam

I’m the first, and probably last, person to review this place. The store owner of Roam informed me that this lot, which also includes a Soup Peddler, has been bought. In its place will be a luxury hotel, which Austin desperately needs more of, obviously.
The treasures I found: a Kazuri bead necklace for a dear friend that she’ll love, handmade by disenfranchised women in Kenya; a Tom Jones record, $ 3; The Beatles’ «Hey Jude» record, $ 15; a lovely, heavy beige antique lamp, $ 25. I didn’t buy the lamp or half of the store, as I would have wanted to, but I said I’d definitely be back. That’s when the news of the hotel-​building came down. There are so many knick knacks and gifts here, for your mom, your pal, or me and me and me. It’s such a sweet spot to have next to the Golden Slipper and other gems. It’s kind of soul-​crushing to know that places like this can’t exist here anymore.
The gal did mention that they do music and the occasional pop-​up sale over at Indian Paintbrush on Manchaca. That’s right, you creative heartbeats of Austin — keep taking your joy further and further away from the center of town until you’re hardly able to contribute to this city’s vibe anymore. Whatever that manbun vibe is about anymore.
But hey, it’s critical that Austin makes more money, and puts more money into the pockets of the people who already have most of that money. This being near Bouldin Creek means you’ll never be able to eat there again (you can barely get your foot in now most weekends). Whatever. Reporting live from Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World where one can no longer be loud or cool or weird anymore, I’m Deji M.