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VINTAGE SOUL TX
Shop scene diversifies in Dripping Springs
As Dripping Springs continues to grow and diversify, so too does its shopping scene.
In what was once a sleepy little town, stores of all kinds have popped up. In pockets along Mercer Street and Belterra, in strip malls and stand alones, locals and visitors can find clothing, jewelry, home goods and much more. No matter the occasion, the shops in Dripping Springs — and nearby Driftwood — have got you covered.
Many of Dripping Springs’ signature stores and boutiques are located on or around Mercer Street, creating a quaint community in the heart of historic Dripping Springs.
“Mercer Street was home to some of the first businesses in Dripping Springs and many of the storefronts have remained unchanged for decades,” says Pam Owens, president and CEO of the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau. “Downtown, you will find unique and eclectic shops and businesses full of energy, entertainment and accessibility for folks of all ages.”
Vintage Soul TX, a women’s boutique established in 2012, is right in the middle of
VINTAGE SOUL TX
it all.
Julie Crawford, owner of Vintage Soul, says her passion for fun, comfortable and stylish pieces without breaking the bank is what continues to set Vintage Soul apart from other boutiques.
“Our goal is to help you strive to be the best version of yourself and have fun doing it,” she continues. “From stylish out ts that make you feel good, to great jewelry that will make you feel pulled together, to being a part of the richness of true friendships within our walls at the shop and beyond in our social media world — we want you to be here and to be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
In addition to women’s clothing and accessories, Vintage Soul also sells gifts, stationery and home goods.
While stores like Vintage Soul cover the basics, other stores in Dripping Springs are a bit more specialized. Dripping Springs Chocolate Company, a family-run chocolate and gift shop o of U.S. Highway 290, is exactly that.
“Several years ago, we went on a family mission trip to Nicaragua,” said Tracey Wilson, co-owner of DSCC with her husband Bob. “During this trip, we saw the poverty and the need for jobs to strengthen the economy. After much searching, discussion and evaluating the local markets in central Texas, we decided that a chocolate company using ethically sourced beans was a great way to support the local economies.”
Wilson and her family quickly devoted themselves to learning everything they could about chocolate, creating their own mini chocolate factory in Dripping Springs establishing a business around ethically sourced, raw cacao beans from Nicaragua, Ecuador and Venezuela.
“We are bean-to-bark, craft chocolate makers,” Wilson explained. “ at varies a little bit from chocolatiers. ere’s some overlap, but rather than taking chocolate and making confections, we take cocoa beans and make chocolate. Most of what we’re making is into bars, but we do also make some into barks and other fun things.”
DSCC, which creates “Chocolate with a Mission,” sells primarily dark, artisan chocolate — with seasonal o erings such as “Pecan Pumpkin Pie Spice” and “Candy Cane.” ey also partner with local businesses, such as Westcave Cellars, to produce items such as wine-infused chocolate.
Unique as their products may be, DSCC isn’t the only family-run, artisan game in town. Texas Hill Country Olive Company, on the north end of Dripping Springs o of Fitzhugh Road, brings its own high-quality products to the Hill Country community.
Run by father-daughter duo Cara and John Gambini, the olive oil company was rst established in 2008 with the intent of bringing a little bit of their Italian heritage to the region.
“We fell in love with this area,” John says. “ e romance of the Hill Country was what grabbed me, reminding me of Sicily and Tuscany with its sloped hills and limestone soil.”
Together, the Gambinis established an 17acre, old-style orchard, keeping a low density and hand-picking their olives. Beginning with their Terra Verde Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the pair started selling at farmers markets and festivals in 2010. Now, over a decade later, the brand sells over a dozen extra virgin olive oils and infused olive oil blends, as well as barrelaged balsamic vinegar and various olive-related products, including table olives, olive oil dips and olive-oil based spa products.
“We’re always creating something new, experimenting with sta and trying customer suggestions,” said John. “We’re both really proud of the creativity shown over the years, and that creativity continues today. We really take our time testing and taste-testing to ensure we continue to produce award-winning products.” e rst award-winning producer of EVOO in Texas and the rst certi ed organic olive orchard in Texas, Texas Hill Country Olive Company has won awards internationally every year since 2010, competing in the United States, Italy, Germany, France and Japan. eir products can be purchased in retailers throughout the Dripping Springs area, as well as online or in-person directly through their store. eir Fitzhugh location also o ers tours, a gift shop and a restaurant with a carefully crafted, seasonal menu.
“We’re a place for food, learning and relaxation,” said Cara. “We really pride ourselves on our customer service, and we have an awesome team of sta waiting to welcome you.”
DRIPPING SPRINGS CHOCOLATE CO PHOTO BY ROBERT WILSON
2 MOONS ART LOFT 400 W Hwy 290 512-296-2308 2moonsartloft.com
THE ART GARAGE 11190 Circle Dr., Ste 202 Austin, TX 78736 512-852-9900 theartgarageaustin.com
THE BEESWAX CO. 120 Frog Pond Ln, Bldg A-100 512-829-5586 beeswaxco.com
BELTERRA VILLAGE Hwy 290W & Belterra Dr. Austin, TX 78737 512-219-7717 danlyproperties.com/belterra-village
BREED AND COMPANY 166 Hargraves Dr., B100 Austin, TX 78737 512-828-3510 shop.breedandco.com
CARVED STONE, INC. 5300 Bell Springs Rd. 512-858-5665 carved-stone.com
COWGIRLS & LACE/LE RAGGE RUGGS 1111 Hwy 290 W 512-894-0350 cowgirlsandlace.com
CURATED COTTAGE 330 W. Mercer Street 512-894-2324 facebook.com/CuratedCottageDS
DRIPPING SPRINGS CHOCOLATE COMPANY 391 Sportsplex Drive, Ste C 512-894-8002 dschocolateco.com
Shopping
DRIPPING SPRINGS FLOWERS 220 W Hwy 290 512-858-7625 drippingspringsflowers.com
DRIPPING SPRINGS PHARMACY WELLNESS & COMPOUNDING 100 Commons, Ste. 1 512-858-7935 drippingspringspharmacy.com
FARMHOUSE CORTALE 330 W Mercer St 512-829-5028 facebook.com
FRESH NATIVE 28101 Ranch Road 12 512-858-5300 facebook.com/FreshNativeTX
GALLERY OF THE REPUBLIC 2600 Hwy 290 E 512-472-7701 galleryoftherepublic.com
HAUS OF JAYNE 766 Old Fitzhugh Rd 512-648-7420 hausofjayne.com
HEB 598 E Hwy 290 512-858-2972 heb.com
HIGH COTTON AT THE BARN 130 Schoolhouse Ridge Rd Driftwood, TX 78619 512-423-1963 highcottonhomedesign.com
HILL COUNTRY SENIOR CENTER 1310 Hwy 290 W 512-858-4663 HCseniorcenter.org HOME SWEET HOME 296 Mercer St 512-695-2777
JAM MOM BABY KIDS 750-B Old Fitzhugh Rd 512-894-2198 jambabykids.com
JUNIPER TREE MARKET 301 W Mercer St 737-733-2138 junipertreemarket.com
LIVING FELT 2440 E Highway 290, Ste E1 512-892-2099 livingfelt.com
MAIN PLACE LIGHTING 31560 RR 12 unit 203 562-676-7660 shopmainplacelighting.com
MARS BEADS AND FOURTH ROCK RECORDS 400 W Hwy 290 512-213-5417 marsbeads.com
MERCER ST ART 330 W Mercer St, Suite 6 512-894-2236 facebook.com/MercerStArt
MONOGRAMMING & ETC. 120 Frog Pond Lane, Bldg 3, Ste 100A 512-894-4061 monogrammingetc.com
OPAL AESTHETICS & WELLNESS 206 W Mercer St 512-601-0092 opalmedspa.com
PANACHE 330 W Mercer St 512-829-4877 panachehillcountry.com
REVEL WILDE 330 W Mercer Street, Ste 1 512-858-7401 revelwilde.com
THE RURAL HOME 104 W. Mercer St 512-983-6168 theruralhome.com
SACRED MOON HERBS 305 Mercer St 512-858-7305 sacredmoonherbs.com
THE SATED SHEEP 100 Commons Rd, Ste 5 512-829-4607 satedsheep.com SOL’STICE GARDEN EXPRESSIONS 4230 Hwy 290 W 512-569-0175 solsticegardens.com
STARRS ON MERCER 209 Mercer Street 512-858-4100 shopwithstarrs.com
TEXAS DANCE SUPPLY 13834 Sawyer Ranch Blvd 512-692-9211 texasdancesupply.com
TEXAS HILL COUNTRY OLIVE CO. 2530 W Fitzhugh Rd 512-607-6512 texashillcountryoliveco.com
TMOBILE|GPMOBILE 136 Drifting Wind Run 512-858-6640
TOMLINSON’S FEED 164 Belterra Village Way 737-484-0107 tomlinsons.com
TRIPLE S FEED AND GENERAL STORE 2111 US 290 512-894-0344 triplesfeedstore.com
TWIN LIQUORS 598 E. Highway 290, Suite 200 512-858-7744 twinliquors.com
VIK JEWELERS 598 E. Hwy 290, Ste 240 512-858-1234 vikjewelers.com
VINTAGE SOUL 302 Mercer St. 512-567-5934 vintagesoultx.com
WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED OF DRIPPING SPRINGS 333 E. Hwy 290 Suite 405 512-829-4782 drippingsprings.wbu.com
