Love Where You Live – Saltillo Rises

On the Bones of Austin’s Industrial Past.

Words by Chris Ferguson & Janine Stankus| Photos by Eric Morales & Baptiste Despois

In the early 1900s, the six-block stretch between 4th and 5th streets, just east of I-35, became an industrial shipping hub that ignited Austin’s economic growth. Today, the last-standing remnants of the city’s first rail yard have been transformed into a new gathering space that reflects that growth and respects its history.

The two former warehouses at 1300 & 1304 East 4th Street were chosen as the home for Cosmic Saltillo, sister cafe to South Austin’s beloved Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden. Paul Oveisi, partner in Cosmic Hospitality Group, says the site was an instant fit. “The Cosmic concept isn’t ideal for a typical strip mall or run-of-the-mill storefront,” explains Paul. “We like the weird and funky spots that we can restore, beautify, and create natural environments.”

The buildings earned their “weird and funky” reputation over the course of a century-
plus. Built sometime before 1912, they were first used for fuel storage by Texas Oil Company (now Texaco), and later Firestone and Shell. Around 1976, artist Lorlei Brown reimagined the industrial buildings as a cultural hub, using the main building as her own art studio and leasing out other spaces to musicians and artists. “The spot was a frequent site of some cool, underground shows in the ‘90s and early 2000s,” remembers Paul—including a few South by Southwest showcases. But in its more recent years, the colorfully graffitied, and somewhat disheveled, buildings sat largely vacant—until Cosmic lovingly restored the place and officially opened its doors in September 2023. “We really wanted to preserve the history and architecture of the two buildings,” says Paul of the revitalization project, “which was challenging, expensive, and time-consuming—but an imperative for us.”

Cosmic partnered with architect Clayton Korte to preserve the original structures, including the original brick holding walls that housed oil barrels coming off trains in the 1900s. They repurposed damaged concrete into pavers and preserved the original wood floorboards and ceiling joists. The buildings’ corrugated steel siding, still donned in decades of street art, is now interrupted by posterior glass panels that project a buzzy glow into the central courtyard.

The team worked closely with Ten Eyck Landscape Architects and the crew at Spencer Landscaping to preserve much of the site’s native plant species. They also created new gardens and wildlife habitats, plus a water feature—all of which are central to the Cosmic concept.

At the back of the property looms a revamped 30-foot tower that conveys guests to a deck above the main coffeeshop and bar. This rooftop hang offers views of the new Cosmic “kingdom,” as well as Austin’s ever-shifting skyline.

Paul, an Austin native, hopes the project stands as a tribute to his city. “I do feel some sense of responsibility to preserve that old Austin feel, and we try to do that organically, not forced,” he says of the space. But inclusivity is also central to their vision. “I have incredibly fond memories of old Austin,” he reminisces, “but I also embrace all the incredible new energy.”

Contact:
1300 E 4th St.
cosmichospitalitygroup.com
@cosmicsaltillo

What Vintage Wine & Books used to be…
Vintage Wine and Books is housed in the historic Haehnel Building, built in 1875, which has assumed a number of identities over the centuries: a saloon, a grocery store, a residence, a wine shop, and before Vintage, a law firm. Perhaps most famously, it was Shorty’s Bar run by Eugene “Shorty” Bonner from the 1960s to the 1980s. With Shorty’s efforts, the building received its historical designation in 1985, but he ended up losing the building to the city in 1991. In 2001, the Austin Revitalization Authority swept in with a hefty budget to restore the building to its full glory. Less officially, word on the street says that, at one point, it was a brothel, and it’s also haunted to this
day by friendly ghosts.

Do you know the story behind victory grill?
Before legends like B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, and Gatemouth Brown graced these stages, Victory Grill was a simple gathering place for Black soldiers returning from World War II (hence the name). Owner Johnny Holmes built the performance area in 1949, just in time for the grill to become a hot spot on the burgeoning blues circuit.