Austinist: FactoryPeople Bows Out

$money

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:08:45 -0600

I bet ol'pap could make more money working at Factory People...

ol'pappy

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:37:00 -0600

Now will you please get your nose out of my ass so I can stop thinking about this shit and we can talk abotu Factory People and how much it sucks or rocks depending on how much or little imagination or money you have?

ol'pappy

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:34:02 -0600

This has nothing to do with Factory People so I don't even know why I'm getting into it or how it's any of your busines, but healthcare is expensive, especially if you're as fucked up as I am. And what seems almost more expensive than health care? Health Insurance. If the idiots in Washington would get their shit together and make health care or health insurance affordable for everyone I wouldn't have to make crap wages just so I can get health insurance at a rate I can afford. since I am not old enough or fucked up enough yet to get medicare/medicaid. But that's not the point. The point is, I make what should be enough to get by and afford a few little luxuries. But greedy rich people keep insisting on "restoring" (knocking the character right out of) affordable homes or destroying them so they can make even more money and hoard it like Midus and be greedy little fat pigs. If I can barely afford to house, feed, clothe, and keep myself warm in the winter and cool in the summer, what about all the really old people on pensions and the young mothers making $5.15 and hour at the McDonalds? Where are the opportunites for them? Like I said, I'm lucky. In fact, I am so lucky I can't get anyone else to hire my lucky ass because there are plenty of people needing jobs in this town and nobody wants to hire someone that's already got a job making more than minimum wage and had benefits. The reason I am angry is that I'm finding it hard to get by and I am not even in the deepest shit.

Stan

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:15:42 -0600

$20k/year is $10/hour. My friends aren't married and they live alone. Like I said, they make about $35k-$45/year, so probably twice as much as Ol'Pap. I know this sounds harsh Pap, but maybe you should be looking for another job instead of playing on Austinist while at work. $10/hour is less than what Rudy's BBQ pays, so I don't know why you're working for some lawyer and hating it (judging from your comments at other points on this site) instead of carving BBQ (and possibly hating it, but at least being paid better).

ol'pappy

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:42:38 -0600

I know I exaggerated about how much rent costs. It's only about 2/3 of my pay maybe? But really - it seems like I'd be able to have a shot at something in this town if the damn landlords would put a cap of say $600/month for a goddamn efficiency.

ol'pappy

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:38:02 -0600

I don't know how your friends do it either. I don't know how I can live in an apartment complex with 50 Mexican families with at least 4 kids in each of them and a baby on the way and the moms never work and somehow they survive. I don't know why 3/4 of every paycheck has to go to my dump of an apartment complex and yet - it's the cheapest thing I can find and it's not even Central. I don't know how it all works out. Maybe your friends have rich parents and they help them out. Maybe they're married and two folks of working age and abilities are better than one. I have no idea where the money goes but for me it goes straight from the bank and into my landlord's wallet. Like I've said here before, I should be making enough to get by - about $20,000 a year give or take - but it's not. And it's getting worse every time I have to move because the landlord is raising the rent and I am on the verge of dropping out of society cause what's the point when I'm holding on by a thread and I'm one of the lucky ones?

Stan

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:47:19 -0600

I'm really interested in how Ol'Pappy works for a lawyer and makes so little money that he can't afford ANYTHING at all. I've got friends who make $40k in this city who save a little money every month, have a decent new car (Honda Civic or something similar), have internet and/or cable at home, pay a few hundred bucks a month towards a college loan, and still manage to buy more than ramen noodles. Oh, and yes, they live in relatively small 1 bedroom apartments in central Austin. I'm not saying it's impossible for Ol'Pappy to be in his situation, but I'm confused. What's the point of working 40 hours a week for a lawyer if you can't afford ANYTHING?

M1EK

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:22:42 -0600

"I don't know why building an obscene amount of condos is driving rental prices through the roof here, D1CK, I just know it is" I also know that your posts here are making it rain. I don't know how, but I just know they are. So please, keep it up. My flowers is lookin' FANTASTIC.

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:57:44 -0600

Ok, I had to read it five times and buy some meth from your 5th grader to smoke, but I think I got it. 1st the easy stuff - I wouldn't call you that because 1.) republican isn't a bad word like you think it is and 2.) you don't seem like the kind of guy that would dress nice. You seem like a slobby old fart and that's why I kinda liked you despite it all, D1CK. 2nd - I don't know where this is coming from but if you don't know what you're talking about you need to keep your lips zipped. I don't know why building an obscene amount of condos is driving rental prices through the roof here, D1CK, I just know it is and it's whack and the counsel(not that they give a shit or can relate to the real world any more than you, D1CK) needs to get off their fat content asses and do something to help people that cannot afford even the most shitty of the tiny efficiancies because working 40 hours a week is not enough to pay rent in this town and feed yourselves. Not that this has SHIT to do with Factory People you numbskull. But maybe you'll say something that ties it together. I won't be able to respond to it until tomorrow though because I have to return to my efficiency on my bus and read my book since I can't afford internet OR cable TV with the way rent prices are going so try not to think too hard about me and how much you love me while you're blogging away, D1CK, ok?

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:48:42 -0600

If you're gonna preach at me, D1CK, speaka da englis. I can't comprehend what you're saying.

M1EK

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:05:31 -0600

I think the "weirdest" thing about paleoliberal no-growthers like ol'pappy is how they somehow think adding supply of a particular item drives up price of existing supplies of that item (all other things remaining equal), despite what even the most marxist of people learned about economics a long time ago. I wonder how much weed you actually have to smoke before that starts making sense. Go ahead, call me a Banana Republican too. I do have some bananas in my not-quite-Hyde-Park bungalow, and a fluffy white dog, and, uh, I voted Republican for state-level offices a few times before the Clinton impeachment.

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:56:28 -0600

And yeah, buy my own definition of the spirit of keeping Austin weird, you can say they were doing that but there's a difference. They not only were ripping people off and cheating them by putting expenseive price tags on clothing that obviously is not worth it in this universe, but they fought the spirit of keeping austin weird by bringing in this socialite keeping-up-with-the-Hiltons atmosphere to a town that never asked for it.

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:51:15 -0600

"keeping austin weird" is stupid. despite that, part of the spirit that "keeping austin weird" invokes is people doing shit for themselves and learning through that and expressing themselves creatively and sometimes making something god-awful but feeling good about themselves for doing it and putting it our there and learning through it all rather than paying some stuck-up bitches to sell you something that makes you big headed because you paid WAY too much for it.

birdy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:35:00 -0600

first of all, everyone keeps bringing up the term "keep austin weird" - but don't you think that Factory People is part of what is keeping austin weird? what other Locally owned and operated store in austin brings clothes from all over the world, as well as art and music, and brings it into the community? just because the clothes are not in your price range (or mine) is not justification to hate on factory people. i often travel to LA and New York and have found that in most cases, the prices for the exact same item are cheaper at FP. i think what austin needs is for people to stop being so negative. after all- they are just clothes!

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:39:41 -0600

And while I'm haivng a nice time, can anyonw explain to me why this butt ugly t-shirt is on SALE for $100? http://factorypeople.com/index.php?item=1236&osCsid=b05008e0bd3d803da9b64ad23f794ff1

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:22:31 -0600

But still, it feels good to know that Austin People won't support Factory People.

ol'pappy

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:19:49 -0600

Living well is not the best revenge. Not feeling the need to get revenge on everyone that disagrees with you is the best revenge. And you need to stop stalking me, please. It creeps me out.

lahipster

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:52:37 -0600

china sweat shop most of your cloths you sell where made in a sweat shop

wrong

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:40:55 -0600

wrong lahipster. the clothes carried at FP are designed and made by independent designers, not in sweat shops. you really think there are no sweat shops in downtown LA? hahahaha just a small sample of what FP carries or has carried... 3.1 by Phillip Lim, 5EP, Acne Jeans, Alpha Industries, Andrea Brueckner, Anna Sui, Antik Denim, A.P.C., Bellekat, Bread and Butter, Cacharel, Can't Skate, Carolina K, Cerealart, Charlotte Ronson, Christopher Ryan, Chulo Pony, Clarendon, Cloak, Crate, Debbie Shuchat, Development, Dirty Librarian Chains, D.L. & Co., Duckie Brown, Earnest Sewn, Easel, Edwin, Elegantly Waisted, Eley Kishimoto, Energie, Estuay, Etienne Ozeki, Eugenia Kim, Everett Parker, Evisu, Fornarina, Fred Perry, Frost French, F-Troupe, Gary Graham, Gingko Press, Gsus, Habitual, Heatherette, Helen Wang, Helmut Lang, H Fredriksson, ICR vs Deth Killers , Initium, Iosselliani, Jack Blue, Jean-Michel Cazabat, Jean Paul Da'mage, Jenny Han, Just Another Rich Kid, Karen Zambos, Keanan Duffty, Kidrobot, Kristen Lee, Linda Farrow Vintage, M. Carter, Mhi, Nice Collective, Nike, No Mas, Obedient Sons, Oliver Spencer, Philip Treacy, PRPS, Rapp and Posavek, Sass & Bide, Scott Langton, Simply Ettie, Society for Rational Dress, Surface to Air, Surface to Air Black Label, Tamsen, Taverniti So, Terry De Havilland, United Bamboo, White, Yanuk, Yo! Japan, Yoko Devereaux hardly sweat shop designers. do your research next time.

lahipster

Wed, 30 May 2007 22:32:01 -0600

most of your stuff was made in a sweat shop american apparel is made in downtown la

lahipster

Wed, 30 May 2007 22:23:23 -0600

1325 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704 USA american apparel is taking over the space with cheaper clothing hello austin

orchard

Wed, 30 May 2007 03:03:25 -0600

You pegged me pappy. I am very rich. Very, very rich. But not with money. With joy for life and and a life full of people and things that I love. I work two jobs doing work that makes me happy AND helps people, never facing the risk of becoming bitter and cynical like you. I can shop wherever I want because I am smart and frugle. The upside of working two jobs (right now I take home under $35,000 a year in earnings) is that I make enough money to save a bit, donate to needy causes, pay my bills and shop for things that I like. Apparently I am willing to work harder than you. I live in a beautiful neighborhood in a $570 (large) apartment, so apparently I am also willing to look harder for a good place to live than you. I volunteer often for organizations that help less-privledged folks and I donate regularly to the charity shops. You are a self-described asshole and are proud of being a hater. I know you don't see it, but your unhappy life is a self-fulfilled prophecy. Girls don't hang around cynical, bitter, asshole haters for very long. I guess "living well" is right... that must explain your mood.

living well is the best revenge

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:01:56 -0600

FactoryPeople - still the king of the comments page! They must be doing something right to have affected you so deeply. Four years is a hell of a long time to be offended by a tee shirt... Still no girlfriend eh, pappy?

Wes

Tue, 29 May 2007 22:59:52 -0600

shilli works for the devil.

shilli

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:57:34 -0600

I disagree with you on the economics, Pappy. I don't think building expensive condos drives up the price of housing any more than Factory People's existence drives up the price of t-shirts at Goodwill. I think the fact that Factory People adds $65 t-shirts to the overall t-shirt supply reduces the demand for other t-shirts and lowers the cost of t-shirts overall. I think when Factory People closes, there will be more people scouring Goodwill racks for T's, reducing their supply and increasing their price, as you indicated earlier. I think the same thing about condos. I think if enough condos are built, it will increase the supply of condos, so that the price of condos will drop. I think the thing that is going to make Austin an unaffordable place to live is if we don't build those condos and the supply is limited, so the condos that we have are hyper-expensive, which is where I think we are now. Personally, my salary isn't based on how much good I do in the world, or what kind of influence I have, or your dreams. It is based on how much people with money are willing to pay me for my time. If we lived in a dream world, I would have chosen a different career (blogger comes to mind).

Ryan

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:56:56 -0600

ol'pappy, I enjoy your posts mostly but you are way off on goodwill. I realize you might mean all this in jest, but I will go ahead and correct you anyway. In reality the majority of the organization helps unemployed and under-employed individuals such as yourself (from what I gather) find better jobs - not necessarily at their stores. The stores do provide jobs for some, but mainly it funds their other activities. That is to say, they help people with their resumes, finding child care, interviewing skills and finding a job. Check it out by googling Austin Goodwill and then employment services. Maybe they could help you find a job with a living wage - and I say that seriously and without a hint of snark.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:37:42 -0600

Stan - try reading for a change instead of scanning. Your eyes might hurt but your brain will thank you.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:34:22 -0600

I called you a Banana Republican because it's my pet name for people that dress nice and think conservatively. And I mean no offence by that. It just is. I just think it's conservative thinking to let the prosperous prosper and drive away poor people without looking out for them. Celebrating that there are really really expensive condos downtown that only the elite can afford which drive up the price per square foot all over the city and not thinking that the people that keep this city running - from the Austin Energy employees to the waiters at Las Manitas to the people watching babies at whatever the hell a childcare place is - are going to have to move to Dallas or San An to find an economical place to live. This is meant to be personal though: I know a few lawyers, and I don't know a single one that should be making more or works harder or has more influence on the world than a teacher. In my dream-world, teachers make way more than lawyers, hell, roofers make more than lawyers, but then again, you'd be making more than pop-stars so you'd be able to afford a nice double-wide trailer as a lawyer. In my dream world, someone in my position makes nothing because that's what they deserve helping out a lawyer that would rather play golf than deal with document production.

Stan

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:32:40 -0600

Pap- I don't see why you're comparing Goodwill and the Salvation Army. They are different entities with clearly deliniated different business strategies and missions. If you don't like Goodwill, bring your junk to Salvation Army to donate. But, don't hold it against people who go to Goodwill and support (on purpose or not) its objective by buying shit from them.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 17:15:18 -0600

AND ANOTHER THING! Goodwills in other cities aren't nearly as expensive as the ones here. In other cities in Texas they have half off days and dollar days. Sure they're helping people get jobs that really need them and can't find them, but honestly, you feel exploited working for Goodwill. Like everyone is doing you a favor to let you work 10 hour days 7 days a week so they can hold you up and say, "See what good we do?". Salvation Army has more recognizable influence in this city. How many homeless shelters does Goodwill have? None. I've volunteered at the Salvation Army and it's not the best place to get a meal or a bed or drop off your kids and pick up a clean shirt so you can look for a job but at least it's there and it's open to anyone and it's visible which is more than I can say for what I've seen Goodwill do.

shilli

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:55:51 -0600

I'm a lawyer. Hard at work behind a desk all day. But, I knew what I signed up for and I don't complain about it. I get paid what I expected to get paid when I took the job. No one is taking advantage of me. I worked some shitty jobs before I went to college (some harder than others), then I worked as an engineer, then I went to law school. I work harder as a lawyer than I did before. When I said I was lucky, part of what I meant is that I am lucky enough to have been able to put myself in the position that I am in, but I still put myself here. I'm not sure what you mean by "Banana Republican," but I can't imagine any meaning that would align with the stances I take on this blog. My goal here is mainly to promote New Urbanism in Austin. Republicans tend to promote surburban sprawl. Banana Repulicans tend to promote right-wing dictatorships in Central America.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:42:25 -0600

I have worked at Goodwill and trust me when I say you do not want to work there. It sucks. Worst job I have ever had. Those people are unreasonable, the management sucks, they don't care if you're about to die of heat exhaustion or have worked a month straight and just want one day off. I'd never ever EVER work there again. Oh yeah, and the pay sucked too.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:36:02 -0600

I never said you were an asshole, I said I was an asshole since that's the best way to classify myself in all this "hipster/hippy/douchbag/yuppie" bullshit. But despite all the personal information, I still see you as a Banana Republican from the stances you seem to take on here. And in my experience, the hardest workers get paid the least. But maybe I'm wrong. Are you a carpender? A daycare teacher? Do you stand behind a ledge at the HEB scanning groceries all day long? Or is it a hard-work-at-a-desk type job? That's what I do. A whole lot of crap like reading documents all day long. It's law-work. Supposed to be done by a lawyer. But the lawyer I work for would rather play than work so he pays me a barely sustainable wage to do everything for him.

shilli

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:35:57 -0600

I know it isn't the manliest handle, but I'm comfortable with that. http://www.austinist.com/staff.php#Shilli

Stan

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:31:10 -0600

Shilli is a dude?

shilli

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:16:29 -0600

"Shilli, that’s exactly how I envision you, based on the ideas you present here. Sitting at home in your Hyde Park bungalow, sipping a decaf iced mocha frappe latte and petting your golden retriever while your two oldest kids are watching the baby (i.e. outside smoking crack with the bums in the alleyway)." Pretty close. I actually live in a 1950's house in Deep Eddy, not a bungalow in Hyde Park. I drink regular coffee (but I prefer good beans). Half-and-half, with no sugar. No kids and no dog, but I have a kid on the way. I actually had a golden retriever when I was a kid. My wife and I go to the Town Lake Animal Center a lot, but will probably stop when it moves. If I was going to get a dog, I think I'd like to get a black poodle. I've never bought anything at Factory People, but I like their stuff in the abstract and went by this weekend to see if I could get a good deal on anything I liked. I didn't come away with anything. I almost bought a Yoshitomo Nara sculpture, but they were out of the one I liked and weren't discounting them anyway. If I am buying that style clothes, I tend to prefer Service Menswear and Metropark (especially for Obey stuff). I don't buy clothes at J. Crew, Abercrombie, or Goodwill. Also, as Dave Chapelle would say, I'm rich, biatch. Not George Bush rich (or Dave Chapelle rich), but certainly $35 t-shirt rich. Part of that is because I am lucky. Part is because I work hard and have made earning money a priority. But, I'm not an asshole.

Patrick C.

Tue, 29 May 2007 16:09:32 -0600

Someday this city is completely going to collapse under the weight of its various cliques' hubris. We're all guilty, really.

Stan

Tue, 29 May 2007 15:51:51 -0600

Last time I checked, Goodwill existed not to provide clothes and other used goods at a discount, but to provide jobs for the otherwise unemployable with a livable wage. You can read all about Goodwill's mission and how they operate at Goodwill dot org. If you want cheap goods, go to St. Vincent De Paul (I would assume), the Salvation Army, or garage sales. Those businesses exist to sell goods to people who can't afford them. For Goodwill to succeed as an organization, the more rich people that shop there, the better. And, if you're having trouble finding a decent paying job, maybe you should apply at Goodwill.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 15:00:14 -0600

To clarify why I don't want you shopping at Goodwill, orchard: Let's say I go into St. Vincent De Paul looking for a bookshelf. I'm gonna have about $10.00 at the most to spend on one because I am cheap and I don't make a lot of money and a huge portion of my paycheck goes towards rent for my shitty apartment. So let's say I ride the 1M down there and find me a nice little bookshelf and it's $25. Obviously I am not going to buy that shelf because it's not within my budget. But let's say 10 more poor people go and look at that shelf and all of them go, "No, not now. Too much money." All of us thinking it's too expensive gets wiped out when a rich person like yourself goes into that store and squeals, "ONLY $25! I'LL TAKE TWO!". Same thing is going on with housing. Rich people are getting richer. The middle class is making $80,000 a year. And the working class isn't making a damn penny higher. And yet, housing, rent, everything is going up up up to fit what YOU will pay even if the majority of people in the world can't afford a $1000 one bedroom on North Lamar and Rundburg. So please, stop spending money in poor people stores.

odam

Tue, 29 May 2007 14:40:02 -0600

keep austin whiny and self-important. i know, i know, whining about whiners, tres ironic. suck it.

Cory

Tue, 29 May 2007 14:30:58 -0600

ol'pappy. Bravo. There is something inherently wrong with a store selling $80 t-shirts that look like the $3 t-shirts from Goodwill. It reaks of class warfare, elitism. Cool doesn't cost $80 a t-shirt. I believe Andy Warhol himself would not shop at Factory People.

ol'pappy

Tue, 29 May 2007 11:59:39 -0600

Shilli, that’s exactly how I envision you, based on the ideas you present here. Sitting at home in your Hyde Park bungalow, sipping a decaf iced mocha frappe latte and petting your golden retriever while your two oldest kids are watching the baby (i.e. outside smoking crack with the bums in the alleyway). To me, the opposite of Factory People is someone like me who goes to Goodwill and Savers to buy authentic vintage t-shirts instead of paying $88 for one at Factory People. Orchard, please don’t shop at Goodwill if you can afford Barneys and Neiman Marcus and all that shit. Goodwill in this town is too fucking expensive already and nothing makes me want to take a rock to a windshield more than getting off the bus and seeing a BMW parked in front of the Salvation Army or Thrift Town or whathaveyou. High fives to the haters. FP, hope I don’t see you laters you rich assmunches. At least I know I’m an asshole.

Grape Ape

Tue, 29 May 2007 09:50:06 -0600

LOL- get it right; it's "hipster douchebag" - douchebag hipsters are a totally different breed. They are known to hipster douchebags, as wannabe hipster douchebags, hence why they are called douchebag hipsters - they only spend $200 on jeans. Maybe one of the Keep Austin Weird hippie non-bathing, frisbee throwing folks could straighten this out for you better, but this is how I understand it. What in the hell are the middle people in this city called - Hippiester Doucheweirds?

haha

Tue, 29 May 2007 02:04:57 -0600

this fight is pretty hilarious, but the term "douchebag hipster" is hysterical.

craig

Mon, 28 May 2007 14:42:03 -0600

I observe that those who don't like the independant designer type clothes that a store like Fac Ppl specializes in, or who don't feel it is a priority to spend their money on that type of style, are the ones who mostly take the elitist and disdainful stance... although it seems most people would assume it is the other way around. I sort of agree, but I don't think the clothes have much to do with it. I think its more an attitude thing. There's always elitist douchebags in every segment of society. Many people feel a need to belong to some kind of group or culture, and some take it to the extreme of "well mine is better than yours". This is true of the 'hipster' element, the "keep austin weird" element and every other one. FactoryPeople was the sort of mecca of the austin hipsters and I think this is why it attracts criticism from those who for whatever reason, really hate hipsters. I'm sure not everyone agrees with me on that though. I've been to a few parties there and while there were definitely some snotty kids whom I wondered "what will you do when all this goes out of style?", for the most part, I just don't think its that big of a deal.

orchard

Mon, 28 May 2007 13:50:39 -0600

I observe that those who don't like the independant designer type clothes that a store like Fac Ppl specializes in, or who don't feel it is a priority to spend their money on that type of style, are the ones who mostly take the elitist and disdainful stance... although it seems most people would assume it is the other way around. I find it funny... this theory that where people shop might be due their political leanings - but I suppose it's possible for some. I shop Goodwill to Barneys, Walmart (oh, no!) to Factory People, Neiman's to Target, Old Navy to By George, Cream Vintage to Urban Outfitters... there's good stuff everywhere and there's also crap everywhere. It just depends on what you like, and what you are willing to spend your money on. I wonder if that hints at my political leanings/world view/socio-economic status? You are so right Steph, "when it comes right down to it, it's needle and thread and fabric, and what people do with the money they earn is their own damn business." Good luck Factory People. I will miss you but will look for you online...

craig

Mon, 28 May 2007 13:28:12 -0600

"Perhaps we should have separate drinking fountains for the people who shop at J.Crew and the people who shop at Factory People?" The more things change, the more they stay the same. The "you think you're better than me?, well i'll tell you why i'm better than you..." people are just 2 sides of the same ugly coin. The fact it involves clothing establishments is just juvenile.

Wes

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:35:54 -0600

Thanks for bringing some much needed perspective to the conversation, oh, steph.

oh, steph

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:21:33 -0600

It's f-ing clothing people. I realize that where people shop does allude to their political leanings/world view/socio-economic status, etc., but when it comes right down to it, it's needle and thread and fabric, and what people do with the money they earn is their own damn business. Perhaps we should have separate drinking fountains for the people who shop at J.Crew and the people who shop at Factory People?

shilli

Mon, 28 May 2007 10:51:24 -0600

I agree, Stan. I would describe the opposite of Factory People as SUV driving/cul-de-sac living/J. Crew wearing/"wish they would put an Abercrombie in here instead of this weird shit" thinking suburbanistas.

Anon

Mon, 28 May 2007 09:49:35 -0600

Its a way for the hipster douchebag community to lash back. Neither side admits there is a middle ground of normality.

Stan

Mon, 28 May 2007 01:00:11 -0600

Why is the opposite of Factory People always described as some sort of "Keep Austin Weird"/Birkenstock wearing/Hippie/Frisbee Golf lifestyle?

Wes

Sun, 27 May 2007 11:53:44 -0600

"It's the future people, the future." Please, tell me more about this "forward thinking online" business model. I may want to invest some venture capital in this "dot com" thing. ;-)

friendofthefactory

Sun, 27 May 2007 02:34:31 -0600

As a friend and fan of the Factory, I know for a fact that they have a very successful business model... they are changing course from brick and mortar to online because it is just plain smart. Why pay for 4 walls when you don't have to. They have a huge online presence and that is the progression of what they have spent 3.5 years establishing. None of you narrow-minded folks would understand that. It's the future people, the future. They will have an online store and a traveling store, one that will set up a few times a year in cities where the demographic will go wiggy for them! It's forward thinking, creative and brilliant. And they will have more time for family, friends, travel, and other creative ventures. I am envious. It sounds like the good life to me! And I wish them all the best... you nay-sayers and malcontents are just jealous. Go get yourself a good idea and make it successful. But I guess that would mean actually working instead of smoking weed, pawning your TV, signing up to be guinea pigs for drug studies at PPD, and hanging out at Bouldin Creek Coffee House...

bastage

Sun, 27 May 2007 01:30:04 -0600

"cowards will always say shit online" The irony is delicious.

the truth.

Sat, 26 May 2007 18:26:20 -0600

cowards will always say shit online. much love and respect to thomas and le. maybe all you "keep austin weird" a**holes can team up & open a birkenstock and crocs store at that location. frisbee golf accessory shop? who are you going to hate now?

Anon

Sat, 26 May 2007 16:27:25 -0600

You also have to wonder, were they really losing money or did they just rip off so many people that they can now move on. BTW - you can't create a lifestyle in 3.5 years. Most just call that an unsuccessful business. Good thing you had high goals.

Anon

Sat, 26 May 2007 16:24:29 -0600

Just think, if they would have actually gotten a permit and not broken the law during SXSW they would probably be staying open. Hopefully someone who actually understands the people of this city and doesn't cater to the hipster douchebag community that amounts to about 10% of it can move into this space. The word hypocrite comes to mind when reading this too. During SXSW, weren't they saying how committed they were to this? I guess all the ex and booze at Coachella straightened them out. We'll make sure to put you up there with other historical Austin landmarks such as Tambaleo.

notlazyjustdontcare

Sat, 26 May 2007 15:25:20 -0600

Am I the only one who read the entire post and couldn't tell what kind of store this was? What a letdown. I thought I'd be able to buy a lifestyle at their online store.

Brendan

Sat, 26 May 2007 14:12:43 -0600

The best thing about the domain is Martin + Osa. Its reasonabily priced and the fabrics are awesome. Think bananna republic / J Crew but all the stuff are just very comfortable classics no logos or dressy stuff. The staff is really nice and they have a fridge full of Fiji for these hot days.

Wes

Sat, 26 May 2007 11:20:44 -0600

Translation: We were losing money hand over fist. “While taking a much-needed break at the Coachella Music Festival a few weeks ago, we realized just how much the store, website and parties have taken over our lives”, said Le. “It got to the point where we were having to juggle our family life with the shop way too much and something had to give.”

David

Sat, 26 May 2007 10:10:54 -0600

I walked around the domain last night and it was empty as usual. I just dont think these developers understand Austin....There are alot of people that can afford to shop there but dont.

Jennifer

Fri, 25 May 2007 20:56:29 -0600

I could only afford a few T-shirts (on sale, of course). I'm never going to spend $300 on a cotton dress but it was still fun to look around. The "shop kids" were always helpful to me and took time to chat.

Stan

Fri, 25 May 2007 18:46:32 -0600

Maybe Just Guns can reopen now.

therichest

Fri, 25 May 2007 18:25:52 -0600

how is the domain doing, anyway? i feel like everybody went once for the novelty and it's going to die out soon. but maybe i could be wrong. after i saw a $1000 skirt at neiman marcus, though, i think i'll stay away for fear they'll charge me for breathing on something expensive.

David

Fri, 25 May 2007 18:11:00 -0600

How about Factory People stay open and close second street and the domain!!! This city is beggining to look like Dallas all that's missing is the big hair!

Reynard

Fri, 25 May 2007 17:09:33 -0600

the real question is... where shall I get my cheap cheap mondays?

reynard

Fri, 25 May 2007 17:08:42 -0600

(more appropriate) where shall I get my cheap cheap mondays?

heyzeus

Fri, 25 May 2007 16:41:38 -0600

but...where shall I get my $300 jeans and blazers with silkscreened images of stuff?