Swiss company Bajs Kissa has leased out the property it purchased at 1506 Congress Ave. Locally owned costume shop Lucy in Disguise previously occupied the building for 38-years and was a mainstay of the ever changing South Congress District. Now, the year-round costume shop has been replaced by the seasonal costume shop Spirit of Halloween.
The latest move is another slap in the face of old Austin says Tom Wilkensondon. “I saw Stevie Ray play on top of a pallet fire at the Armadillo!” laments the Enfield resident who lived near the store in the 80’s but sold his home during the tech boom. Some, however, see it as progress and part of Austin’s continual growth from a sleepy college town to a proper Texas city.
“What did you expect?” Real-estate investor Donovan Von Grummymich remarked. “Congress [South Congress Avenue] was once nothing but crackheads and hookers now its filled with multimillion dollar properties. Cities grow. If you want to live near old venues and restaurants buy the cheap property on the shitty side of town.” Mayor Kirk Adler even remarked on the change: “At least the rentals are cheap and don’t smell as bad. In the end, this is a good thing for our citizens”
Representatives from the California based Spirit of Halloween Corporation commented on the opening with excitement noting their Barbie Movie costumes should be a hit this year and mesh well with the crowd living and shopping around South Congress. Some localized costumes include Longhorn football gear and Austin FC kits which can be returned after the season (or a bad loss).
Spirit of Halloween opens in late August and will occupy the property until November 1st.
