Austin Commercial Sites helps businesses lease or buy commercial space in East Austin. Tristen Palori and the Austin team of Foresite Commercial Real Estate represent tenants, buyers, landlords, and sellers east of I-35, and tenants and buyers typically pay nothing for representation because the landlord or seller pays the fee.
How East Austin has changed
East Austin went from an overlooked part of the city to one of its most active commercial areas. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, design studios, and creative office users moved in first, followed by mixed-use and office development. Demand for well located space is high, vacancy on the best corridors is low, and good spaces often lease before they hit public listings. East Austin rewards businesses with a clear identity; generic concepts tend to struggle against established local favorites.
Corridor by corridor
East 6th Street and East 7th Street. The core of East Austin’s food, nightlife, and boutique retail scene, close to downtown and busy day and night.
East Cesar Chavez and East Riverside. Cesar Chavez has restaurants and mixed-use buildings near Lady Bird Lake. East Riverside has seen large office and residential development, including a major corporate campus on the lake.
Plaza Saltillo and East 5th. Transit-oriented mixed-use development near the MetroRail line, with ground floor retail and office space above.
East 11th and East 12th Streets. Historic corridors with smaller storefronts and growing restaurant and service activity.
Manor Road and Airport Boulevard. Neighborhood restaurants and services, with Airport Blvd also home to the Austin Community College Highland campus and a variety of older commercial buildings.
Springdale Road and the industrial east. Converted warehouses, creative office campuses, and some of the last remaining flex and light industrial space close to downtown.
Mueller. A planned community on the former airport site with retail, office, and medical uses around Dell Children’s Medical Center.
Who leases here
- Restaurants, bars, and coffee: Still the signature East Austin tenants. See retail space.
- Creative and tech office: Agencies, studios, and startups that want character space close to downtown. See office space.
- Wellness and boutique healthcare: Therapy and mental health practices, physical therapy, aesthetics, and concierge primary care. Mueller also supports traditional medical office. See medical office space.
- Makers and light industrial: Breweries, production kitchens, studios, and service companies. See industrial and flex space.
The fine print in older buildings
Many East Austin buildings are old, and that is where tenants get surprised. Before you sign, we look at:
- Whether the building’s power, plumbing, and HVAC can support your use
- Accessibility and fire code upgrades that a change of use can trigger
- On-site and nearby parking, and whether the city requires it for your use
- Neighborhood limits on hours, sound, and outdoor seating
- Who pays for structural, roof, and system repairs over the lease term
How Austin Commercial Sites helps
We help East Austin tenants and buyers find space, including off-market options, size up the real cost of a build-out, and negotiate improvement allowances and protections. Learn about tenant and buyer representation. East Austin owners can hire us through landlord representation. Contact us to start the search.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What should a restaurant check before leasing in East Austin?
Confirm grease trap, venting, gas, and electrical capacity, parking requirements for the use, and any limits on outdoor seating or amplified sound near homes. In older buildings, these items can cost more than the rent difference between two spaces.
Is there creative office space in East Austin?
Yes. East Austin has a lot of converted warehouses and newer low-rise office buildings that suit agencies, studios, tech startups, and professional firms. Springdale Road, East Cesar Chavez, and the East 5th and 6th Street area have some of the best-known examples.
Is Mueller part of East Austin for commercial real estate?
Mueller is in northeast Austin and is often grouped with East Austin. It is a planned community on the old airport site with its own retail, office, and a major medical presence anchored by Dell Children's Medical Center.
How does I-35 construction affect East Austin properties?
TxDOT has been rebuilding I-35 through central Austin, which affects frontage roads, crossings, and access along the west edge of East Austin. If a site depends on I-35 access or visibility, ask about the construction phasing and the final design near that property.