Old Bakery & Emporium
Old Bakery & Emporium
4.5
Speciality & Gift ShopsArt GalleriesHistoric SitesArt MuseumsHistory Museums
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
Located in the heart of Austin by the Capital building, the Old Bakery & Emporium was built by Swedish immigrants in 1876 and operated as a bakery. Today, this historic building serves as a history museum, artisan emporium, and art gallery that exclusively features the work of local artists over the age of 50.
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
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4.5
24 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
3
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
NorthStar15812
San Antonio Tx1 contribution
I found some Wonderful handmade items and lovely art work. Truly texas souveniers abound at very reasonable prices. Beautiful artwork and wonderful baby quilts I even found a pair of knitted comboy baby boots. I happened to make it there for lunch and I was pleasently surprised by the low price on their lunch special. Try the chicken salad it's the best. It is a wonderful program created for Senior Citizens to sell their crafts in exchange for volunteering.
Written 8 April 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lainy325
Greeley, CO40 contributions
Oct 2016
What a delightful shop! A wide range of QUALITY handmade art and craft items, made by "seniors" over age 50. There's also a free art gallery upstairs, and a small museum area. We bought some beautiful dessert/appetizer plates that are very unique.
Written 17 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LauraBee
Austin, TX68 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
This is a lovely little place about a long block from the capitol. It's a bit inauspicious and it bills itself as a visitor's center, mini-museum upstairs and a crafts market with all the artisans local residents over 50. Okay, I'm over 50, and I'm NOT a senior citizen . . . yet.
The people staffing the shop are generous with their time and information and stories. No, there's no food or drink anymore, but you may find some fun Texas trinkets at reasonable prices and you can even bring your dog, if he or she is well-behaved. That's always a big plus for us, as we often have our small dog with us and did this day. She was a hit.
We also found the upstairs museum very informative of the area and history of the building.
The people staffing the shop are generous with their time and information and stories. No, there's no food or drink anymore, but you may find some fun Texas trinkets at reasonable prices and you can even bring your dog, if he or she is well-behaved. That's always a big plus for us, as we often have our small dog with us and did this day. She was a hit.
We also found the upstairs museum very informative of the area and history of the building.
Written 18 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeahPhiladelphia_PA
Philadelphia, PA149 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
This beautiful antique building houses a visitor center, mini museum and an art gallery highlighting the work of elder craftspeople. It's all wonderful but I was especially impressed with the variety of outstanding "craft/art" items on display and for sale. Jewelry, art, fabric design, clothing, baby items, furnishings......all were in abundance and most were well executed and affordable. I fell in love with the quilts, both large and small and that did not stop me from marveling at the jewelry and ....well, everything else. There are two floors and so many treasures to discover. For me, this was the most unexpected rewarding experience of my 4 days in Austin.
Written 12 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jolmar
Austin1 contribution
By chance, I stopped in the Old Bakery and Emporium on Congress Ave. and found a fantistic place to shop and dine. ( Great lunch specials) As I walked in the door, I was greeted by a volunteer and was given a history of the building as well as a review of all the merchandise hand crafted by Senior citizens. A must stop while in Austin, Texas
Written 5 October 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Historically this was a bakery, but is now an Emporium. As it is designated as a Historical Building the name can't be changed.
Written 17 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marlene B
Deweyville, UT157 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
We did not expect to find a jewel in the rough in the Old Bakery. We saw the best of local, handmade art and crafts. The staff could not have been more helpful and we found everything we needed to satisfy our shopping for friends and relatives. Don't miss this little shop if you are in downtown Austin. The most unique items.
Written 25 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Agmedman
30 contributions
Maybe it's just me, but I expected some fresh bread. Lots of original handmade Texas items for purchase and antiques to view but that's about it.
Written 23 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Historically this was a bakery, but is now an Emporium. As it is designated as a Historical Building the name can't be changed.
Written 17 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dougmatt8
Austin2 contributions
Found this place several years ago. It offers top quality handcrafted items made by area senior citizens, and a terrfic lunch: soup and sandwich for about $4.25. It's right downtown, and easy to get to. Highly recommended.
Written 21 May 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Historically this was a bakery, but is now an Emporium. As it is designated as a Historical Building the name can't be changed.
Written 17 January 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Spaghettigal
Austin, TX1 contribution
The Old Bakery & Emporium in Austin, TX is a really neat
place to shop for something unusual, for yourself or a gift.
All the crafts are made by Austin's Senior citizens and
they also volunteer their time, to keep the place
going. My husband and I both enjoyed our visit there.
place to shop for something unusual, for yourself or a gift.
All the crafts are made by Austin's Senior citizens and
they also volunteer their time, to keep the place
going. My husband and I both enjoyed our visit there.
Written 6 October 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bedfordmom2
greater boston area439 contributions
Nov 2019 • Business
I was thrilled to find a beautiful glass earrings and necklace. Very reasonably priced and would have been 2-3x in downtown boutiques. All the employees volunteer their time to show their work. They were so nice. Nice crafts at fair prices.It was the only place that I bought things during my stay. a block away from the capital.
Written 21 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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