Saying Goodbye to the City Store

Well, of all the complaints you can make about the city, message discipline ain't one. Minutes after a motion from Brewster McCracken shitcanned the Austin City Store – the gift shop in City Hall requiring subsidies to stay afloat (this after it was revealed the city's since-departed Chief Financial Officer's wife landed a consulting gig opening the place – how hard was it to line up some plush armadillos and Leslie magnets?) – the city sent out a press release announcing the store will close its doors forever Sept. 29. Can this be the beginning of the end of Enron on the Colorado?

The presser:

The Austin City Store will formally close its doors following normal business hours on Saturday, Sept.29. The store’s closure follows a unanimous vote today by the City Council to eliminate funding for the store in the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.

Through the end of this month, the City Store will work to sell its existing inventory of Austin-focused items. When the store closes its doors, the remaining inventory will be sent to the Austin Convention Center where items will be sold at kiosks during major events.

The Austin City Store, located at the northwest corner of Austin City Hall (301 W. Second Street), has operated in the thriving Second Street Retail District since December of last year. Featuring more than 1,400 square feet of shopping space, it was designed to spotlight products that promote City services and Austin’s history, cultures and environment.

The Austin City Store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Customer parking is available in the Austin City Hall parking garage.