Austin’s iconic landmark Oat Willies is going out of business

Austin’s weirdness continues to fade as the ultimate hangout iconic Austin head shop Oat Willie’s After 56 years in East Oltorf, he is finally giving up.

The smoke shop waving the white flag represents more than just a closing. Its brand, atmosphere and products embodied the aura of old Austin in a way few remaining institutions could.

As another Cap City original closes its doors, what makes Oat Willie’s so special is how to view its final days open and which similar establishments have closed in the city.

An Austin anchor store with the highest standards

Claiming to be the original Austin head store, Oat Willie’s opened on 29th Street in 1968 with an interesting story behind its name.

Oat Willie was a cartoon creation used as a sideshow when Austin ran for mayor in the 1960s. Although Willie was not elected mayor, he would become the namesake of Doug Brown and George Majewski’s new shop.

The store was known for selling pipes, rolling papers, lighters, paraphernalia and other unusual items. The business hit a snag in the 1980s when the Texas Legislature passed a series of laws trying to ban the sale of the paraphernalia.

This was a boon in the short term as customers scrambled to buy the things they needed. The store eventually adjusted the names and offerings of products in its store to comply with the law and continued to thrive.

Oat Willie once had three locations in Austin, but they began to close in the last decade.

Now, the last remaining location in Oltorf is closing its doors, but it’s not offering the same deals to Austinites as before. This includes 50% off clothing, jewelry, toys, candles and books, as well as 30% off pipes, bedding and more.

Growing list of lost Austin favorites

Oat Willie’s is the latest institution to join the growing list of Austin staples. These are not around anymore. In 2023 alone, Z’Tejas on West Sixth Street, an emblem of 1990s Austin dining; Opal Divine’s, which has been operating in Austin for 23 years; and Taco Ranch, a branch of P. Terry’s, are all closed.

Moreover, favorites like Mangia Pizza, Threadgill’s And Austin Antique Mall He called for his resignation, much to the chagrin of many long-time residents.

The Austin American-Statesman reached out to the owners of Oat Willie for comment.

Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American Statesman. To share additional tips or insights salgado, Email [email protected].