The saga over whether Austin novelty retailer Planet K will be allowed to open its new location and display public art on the side of the old Trading Post building on Highway 71 in the city of Bee Cave – aka Mall City – continued last week with Travis County civil court Judge Tim Sulak signing a temporary injunction forbidding Bee Cave from ticketing Planet K’s owner or employees for “engaging in temporary retail sales operations,” or for the “currently displayed protected art or signage” on the side of the building. The entire dustup has been going on for nearly a year now. Apparently the folks in Galleria Town don’t care for the independent novelty retailer and have been stonewalling Planet K’s owner, Michael Kleinman, from securing the permits necessary to finish the store’s remodel; in the meantime, the business has been operating from the building’s porch. Sulak set a trial date on the merits of the case for May. We’re sure this is Bee Cave taxpayer money well spent.
This article appears in March 16 • 2012.