Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Martin
Hi Leslie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started Bouldin in 200o. with the help of a friend Lisa Goodell. I opened Bouldin because I noticed at this time that small funky local businesses were being replace by stark corporations and it as important to me to keep the creative DYI side of the city alive. Originally I just wanted a community meeting space that would inspire people, We started out as more of a coffeehouse with a small food menu and decided to keep the menu vegetarian as I had been a long time vegetarian and it just felt right. Overtime, most people came that came to Bouldin ordered food and we became a busy restaurant trying to function in a tiny old building. I loved the vibe of the space but it was starting fall apart and every part of it was too small. As much as the space meant to me, it was just becoming too hard and burnout was creeping in,
I was afforded the opportunity to take over the current space at 1900 South First Street and it was something I couldn’t pass up. I still wanted to be the same community focused place Bouldin was originally but in a space designed to be the full blown restaurant we had become. It took a while for Bouldin 2.0 to find it’s grove and change can be hard but things are great now. We have a great staff, the space is filled with art and laughter, our food is better than ever and we up on our 25th year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was difficult at the old space keeping up with the maintenance and working without a walk-in. It was also mostly outside seating so that came with it’s challenges. The move was totally worth it but it was rough. I think I underestimated how different it would be and it took a while to get things running smoothly. I honestly though for a minute that I had made a mistake as some of our regulars thought we lost what made us Bouldin. It hurt and I was afraid that the community we built was broken. There were many sleepless nights, but with the help of my staff we built it all back and more. The main struggle now is keeping up with property taxes and keeping up with the high cost of living in general for the restaurant, the guests, and the staff we take care of.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bouldin is progressive minded cafe in Austin, Texas. We strive to keep our food affordable and to have a diverse clientele. We are the top rated vegetarian restaurant and have grown in to a mostly vegan cafe over time. Our claim to fame is that we attract a lot of non vegan/vegetarian people and its a pleasure exposing to both our food and our culture. We have a soft spot for the underdog and like to use the restaurant as a platform to do good in the city. We love the small net work of small homegrown businesses in Austin and belief in their importance. When you come into Bouldin we want you to feel something unique that just might feel like home.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
People make it worth it, Just being a business owner is not enough for me. When things get tough, its the people that keep me going. Hold them close.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ww.bouldincreekcafe.com
- Instagram: bouldincreekcafeatx
- Facebook: Bouldin Creek Cafe
