A popular vintage shop in Central Texas is shutting the doors to its longest-running location, but the business will still be alive in the Capital City.
After more than 20 years, Prototype Vintage is closing its storefront on South Congress Avenue in Austin this week to focus on its newest outpost. Vintage shoppers can visit the beloved store located at 1700 S. Congress Ave. until 7 p.m. today, Monday, June 1. Prototype announced the news on social media that it will be consolidating operations to its new north Austin location, which opened last year.
Prototype co-owners Audrie San Miguel and Emily Larson said their decision to close came after they learned from their property owner that their storefront inside a 110-year-old building required extensive electrical and plumbing updates to modernize operations. The pair explained in an Instagram post that “the sudden, substantial project felt like the right time for us to conclude this Proto chapter.”
“We are so grateful for twenty amazing years on South Congress and are absolutely thrilled to be on North Loop alongside legendary local Austin businesses,” San Miguel and Larson wrote. “We feel like we won the lottery with our North Loop location, and we are so excited for the future!”
The shop’s announcement garnered dozens of comments from shoppers who were sad to see Prototype would be closing, as several longtime businesses have also left South Congress in recent years.
“All the businesses that made South Congress iconic have left or are leaving,” Instagram user ratxchild wrote under Prototype’s post. “I used to walk past Lucy in Disguise, Monkey See, Prototype, New Bohemia, Vulcan Video, Friends of Sound, Uncommon Objects and now we have Hermès, Nike, and Lululemon and all these shops that make it like a shopping plaza in any major city. It’s depressing.”
Austinite @han.slattery added, “Omg! This feels like my family home going away. House to so many memories.” Others like @meanthingkate were excited to see the shop grow in a new location, “I looooove having yall closer to all my fave vintage on north loop! End of an era but congrats.”
Fans of the green Austin store will still be able to sift through vintage clothes and goodies at Prototype’s second location at 123 E. North Loop. The store, which is a renovated 1,400-square-foot space, first opened in December 2025 and will now become Protype’s primary shop.
Although Prototype’s new location won’t be in a touristy area like its original SoCo shop, it will be in a part of Austin that’s known for finding vintage clothes and furniture. Its North Loop store will be attached to Room Service Vintage, a beloved second-hand furniture shop full of hidden gems that was recently acquired by San Miguel.
“With the new 2nd location, we’re excited to expand our brand of sustainable fashion to locals & will fight to keep the independent spirit of the North Loop neighborhood alive,” the pair said on Instagram. “It’s truly an honor to be among other legacy Austin businesses on the block.”
Prototype North Loop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This article originally published at Popular South Congress store stuns by shuttering spot after 20 years in Austin.