1. Harlem Theater
Longtime Austinites, Sam Alexander and Pearl Cox, talk on the importance of the black-owned Harlem Theater to the youth of color in East Austin and the potential future of the Harlem Theater.
Location: 1800 E 12th Steet Austin, TX 78702
2. Victory Grill – Harold McMillan
To share an oral history of the Victory Grill, E4 Creative Mentors Jadzia Padilla, Jennifer Chavez, and Karina Mata interviewed Harold McMillan.
Location: 1104 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
3. L. C. Anderson High School
L. C. Anderson High School first opened its doors in 1889 on the corner of San Marcos and East 11th Street and became Austin’s only African American high school. Although it moved locations multiple times, L.C. Anderson served black students until 1971, when it was shut down as part of desegregation efforts.
Location: 900 Thompson St, Austin, TX 78702
4. Jumpolin
Jumpolin is a pinata and party store that captured the hearts and minds of the East Austin community for over 20 years and was owned by the Lejarazu family. In late 2014, the Lejarazus faced harassment from their landlord which unfortunately escalated to Jumpolin’s demolition in February 2015. This story quickly received national attention and […]
Location: 1401 E Cesar Chavez St
5. Leal’s Tires
Originally located at the corner of East Cesar Chavez and Chicon Street, Leal’s Tires boasted bright yellow paint and beautiful murals with homages to Aztec culture. Leal’s was known for having affordable services and working with customers when they didn’t have money to pay in full. Leal’s eventually relocated to far East 7th Street after […]
Location: 1900 E Cesar Chavez
6. Hillside Drugstore
Headed by Ulysses Young, known cordially as Doc Young, the Hillside Drugstore began providing various medicines and remedies to East Austin residents in 1949. Young relocated his home just behind the phramacy with the intention of continuing his work with the city’s few Black pharamcists. It now stands as a restaurant under the same name, […]
Location: 1209 E 11th St,
7. Dollhouse Barbershop
Roosevelt “Bubba” Stewart cut hair at the Dollhouse Barber Shop on Rosewood Avenue in East Austin. Bubba ran the Dollhouse Barbershop for more than forty years until rising rents and dwindling customers forced him to close. Roosevelt “Bubba” Stewart (1933-2018), East Austin native and lifelong owner of Stewart’s Doll House Barber Shop at 1811 Rosewood […]
Location: 1811 Rosewood Avenue