Saxon Pub is Actually Moving to Mixed-Use St. Elmo Project

Saxon Pub, the 1990s bar and music institution, will be moving into the forthcoming mixed-use development Saint Elmo Public Market on Congress Avenue. The original location on South Lamar will remain open in the meantime. In the works for the new site is a separate listening room for 300 to 400 people and a hotel partnership. Saxon Pub owner Joe Ables previously told Eater that he would "certainly try to keep it as South Austin as I can," of the new iteration.

The St. Elmo project will also house a 40,000 square foot public market. The setup will be like D.C.’s Union Market, Denver’s The Source, and Atlanta’s Krog Street. Food and drink vendors aren’t set yet but expect about 25 to 30 businesses, including retail, St. Elmo managing partner Matthew Spillers told Eater. Indoor and outdoor communal seating, along with rooftop spots, are in the works. The project is looking to partner with a brewery to create a beer garden, too.

The market will take over the existing defunct Office Furniture Now building. New structures will be added around it, including Saxon Pub. Work on the 11.5 acres of land will begin in the middle of next year, with a projected opening date of 2018.

Similarly, also in the works for Austin is food hall Fareground, which is opening in 2017.