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Austin's indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier

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We checked in with Brandon Hodge, owner of toy store <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Monkey See, Monkey Do" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/MonkeySeeMonkeyDoAustin/" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/MonkeySeeMonkeyDoAustin/" target="_blank">Monkey See, Monkey Do</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Big Top" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bigtopcandyshop.com/" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bigtopcandyshop.com/" target="_blank">Big Top</a>, a candy shop on South Congress Avenue, about the state of retail in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/signup/austin" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/signup/austin" target="_self">Austin</a>.Why it matters: In a city that has long promoted <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local buying" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/12/02/gift-guide-local-items-for-everyone-on-your-list" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/12/02/gift-guide-local-items-for-everyone-on-your-list" target="_self">local buying</a>, homegrown retailers have to navigate a landscape of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="higher rents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2021/10/12/austin-skyrocketing-rents-housing" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2021/10/12/austin-skyrocketing-rents-housing" target="_self">higher rents</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="luxe chain stores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/05/30/south-congress-business-closures-change" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/05/30/south-congress-business-closures-change" target="_self">luxe chain stores</a>, geopolitical issues like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tariffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/03/04/trump-tariffs-texas-austin-trade-war" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/03/04/trump-tariffs-texas-austin-trade-war" target="_self">tariffs</a> and ongoing competition from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online sellers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/12/axios-event-technology-retail-personalization" data-vars-content-id="d1bfbb56-0565-445b-a011-feb0bc392886" data-vars-headline="Austin&#x27;s indie retailers adapt as South Congress gets pricier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/12/axios-event-technology-retail-personalization" target="_self">online sellers</a>.