![]() “I think sometimes that local section can get lost in the mix. “We’re not like other record stores, where they have to stock everything from around the world,” he says. Additionally, he and Almaraz take an anti-consignment approach when stocking vinyl, buying artists’ physical media up front instead of only paying them for the records that sell. “Anything that takes up space sonically in the state, I want to have represented on that wall,” he says.Ĭommunity Garden is the only record store in Austin that exclusively sells Texas-based music, according to Harcrow’s knowledge. Riti DJs at Community Garden on June 3 (Photo by Wayne Lim) Spotted on the shelves: Cactus Lee’s Perfect Middle Hall and saliYah’s No End & No Beginning. ![]() Beyond his label’s merch, Harcrow curates a selection of local CBD products, community-sourced zines, and music from additional Texas artists and labels. On the retail side, Community Garden’s pop-up shop offers a sizable selection of Growth in Decay goodies, ranging from logo tees and tapes to 12” records. “You’re able to dig deeper into your catalog and go through the crates a little further than you normally would.” “Going into the night, a lot of the play at clubs or bars, and I think this is a nice break from that,” Almaraz says of CG’s listening room element. Musical guests so far include Lucía Beyond, Riti, Kowboy, and DJ Al G. That wasn’t something that we planned, like, ‘Hey, we’re going to spin records all day,’ but it’s been a fun way to get to know everyone a little bit better.”Įvery weekend during the evenings, Harcrow and Almaraz invite local DJs to spin at Community Garden. “It’s been nice, whether we’re having homies DJ or even just all the people who work here throwing on records throughout the day. “We’re not a club environment, so the blending isn’t as important as whenever you’re on a dancefloor,” Harcrow explains. Whereas Almaraz initially considered Spotify to soundtrack the plush living room vibe of Community Garden, the co-owners ultimately settled upon vinyl, putting the cafe’s carefully designed DJ booth to full-time use. Harcrow and Almaraz, both veteran DJs in the local scene, call the incorporation of music within the space a no-brainer. The vinyl selection at Community Garden (Photo by Wayne Lim) I realized that those two are a really strong foundation to build the space upon.” ![]() “I knew that I was doing the açaí bowl thing well, and I also knew that there was a lot of strength in the community that had been built around the label. “There’s a lot going on under this roof,” the label founder says of his new, plant-filled social hub. The cassette-focused platform has fostered underground producers and artists, including Corduroi, Kinder, and saliYah, since 2016. The free-form listening room also offers a DJ booth, patio seating, and a retail corner for Texas music and Harcrow’s electronic record label, Growth in Decay. Since launching Coconut Club in 2019 (the Warehouse District building of which is planned for development on an unconfirmed timeline alongside Oilcan Harry’s), the duo have also opened Paradise Palace dance club in Houston.Ĭommunity Garden functions as a hybrid space, blending açaí bowls until 4pm, and serving up vinyl DJ sets in a wine bar setting during the evenings. ![]() The cafe, open Tuesday through Sunday, marks co-owner and general manager Harcrow’s first foray into the hospitality world, and the latest venture from Coconut Club co-founders Brian Almaraz and Cole Evans. Those bowls comprise the heart of Harcrow’s music-oriented Community Garden, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood along Cedar Avenue. “Contrary to popular belief of, ‘Oh, this was created for the internet, this is very Instagrammable,’ it wasn’t anything in the name of hype on the internet,” says James Harcrow, referring to the vibrant, smiley-faced smoothie bowls he crafts at his newly opened Eastside cafe. Community Garden opened at 1401 Cedar Ave.
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