A small talk session with one of Austin's historical buildings turned into one of their most beloved cafes, Hillside Farmacy.
What inspired you to start your own cafe?
We were living in East Austin, and there were not many cafe options 15 years ago in the area. The crazy thing is that we already had purchased all of the apoacary cabinets that line the walls from an old drug store in Elgin TX. The building's location seemed perfect, it felt like a neighborhood, but close to downtown. The building itself was not in great shape, it had walls breaking up the space into 3 seprated businesses and had sat empty for quite a while. A lot needed to be replaced, the roof, all plumbing, gas lines & electrical. When we met the owners of the building, we learnt about the history of the building, being an old drug store, we knew we wanted to help preserve that piece of history. The restoration of the building took us one year, and in turn, we were honored to receive an award from Preservation Austin. The building is also now an Austin Landmark.
What were you doing before you started your cafe? Did you have a related background or any smaller projects you were doing beforehand to work up to opening a cafe?
My husband & both worked in hospitality during school. We opened a food truck in 2006 while I was working as a graphic designer & Greg was managing a bar.
What is the story behind your cafe’s name?
Hillside Farmacy resides within a historic landmark building dating back to 1949, formerly known as Hillside Drugstore and cherished by the community as a cornerstone of African American history, owned by the esteemed pharmacist, Ulysses "Doc" Young. The restaurant mission is twofold: to pay homage to the storied past of our neighborhood while offering a menu that serves as a homage to the bountiful harvests of Central Texas. We proudly support our local community by sourcing fresh, seasonal ingredients directly from nearby farmers, ranchers, breweries and local artisans.
What is the most loved item on your menu and why do you think that is?
Day time: Our Big Brekkie is a classic. Night: Our roast chicken entree is always such a comfort dsih, the set up changes each season. Currently it is served with polenta, mushrooms from HiFi Myco, capers, lemon fritto, fresh dill from our garden & a chicken demi-glace.
What do you do for yourself to keep things light & fun when business ownership gets tough?
Haha that is tricky, there are so many ups & downs in this industry. Try to remember why we opened, remember the amazing, quirky, talented team of people we employ who have become family. Remember that the space means a lot to many people, all of the celebrations we have shared with our guests, from proposals to baby showers.
What are some ways you’ve found to help work flow when the cafe gets busy?
I try to stay out of the way haha. Our team is so seasoned and professional at this point after being opened over 14 years.
Where do you source your coffee beans and why did you choose to work with them?
We actually just switched to Proud Mary coffee, I try to slip Australian things in when I can (being from Australia originally). When I heard they had opened up a roastery in Austin, I wanted to support them. They focus on ethical, high-quality, and often fruity, complex beans.
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We hope you'll visit Hillside Farmacy, as they are one of our favorite places to eat and drink, with one of the most unique interiors to dine in as well.