The former Nau’s Enfield Drug and soda fountain in Austin will be redeveloped as part of an incoming five-story project.
Abigail Rosenthal / Chron
Another cherished piece of old Austin is on the verge of disappearing—though not entirely.
Austin-based Zydeco Development plans to build The Westlyn—a $70 million mixed-use hub with residential and retail space—at 1111 W Lynn Street, according to a recent filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The development will incorporate Nau’s Enfield Drug—a now-shuttered old school drug store and diner dating back 75 years.
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But that’s not all. The development site is also home to a 2014 mural from the late Daniel Johnston and a coffee shop housed inside a century-old building. With the project progressing through the pipeline, here’s what’s set to take shape (and to remain) at the site in the Clarksville neighborhood.
The former Anthony’s Laundry and Cleaners and Nau’s Enfield Drug and soda fountain in Austin will be redeveloped as part of an incoming five-story project.
Abigail Rosenthal / Chron
The history of Nau’s
The building at 1115 W. Lynn Street, constructed in 1950, opened in 1951 as two businesses: Anthony’s Laundry and Cleaners under owners Anthony and Alice Colanetta in one half, and as Nau’s Enfield Drug and soda fountain under owners Hilton and Eleanor Nau in the other, according to a 2024 document filed with the Historical Landmark Commission.
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In 1971, pharmacist Lambert Labay purchased the name and everything inside the store. The business remained in his family until its closure in 2023.
In 2019, the diner closed due to staffing issues, reopening in February 2020, but struggling to stay open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Eater Austin. However, Laura Lambay told the Austin American-Statesman Nau’s closure was ultimately due to the building owners’ decision to sell the property, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Zydeco Development purchased the Nau’s site, plus the additional adjacent parcels, later that fall.
On Tuesday, Zydeco Development declined Chron’s request for comment on The Westlyn project details.
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A Daniel Johnston mural at 1115 W. Lynn Street in Austin will be preserved as part of an incoming development.
Abigail Rosenthal / Chron
The story behind Johnston’s mural
In 2014, Daniel Johnston, an iconic Austin musician and artist, painted the superhero mural on the side of the Nau’s building, accompanied by the phrase ‘Love is the question, Love is the answer.’
The release was the first time Johnston had debuted any public art in more than 20 years, according to KUT News. The project was completed in partnership with GSD&M as part of a campaign to raise money for Superhero Kids—an organization providing financial support to families of kids at Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center.
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Johnston, who died in 2019 at age 58, is largely remembered as a cult figure in indie music whose legacy also lives on through his hand-drawn artwork, including the famed ‘Hi, How Are You’ mural at 21st and Guadalupe streets in Austin.
In 2024, Miro Rivera Architects, the design team behind The Westlyn, agreed to preserve the mural on the side of Nau’s as part of the new development, according to the Austin Monitor.
Caffe Medici, now Medici Roasting, opened at the 1101 W. Lynn St. property in 2006. The home will be preserved as part of an incoming five-story development.
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What’s to come and what’s to go?
While details submitted to the TDLR are subject to change, crews could break ground along W. Lynn Street in January, with construction lasting through January 2029. The project will feature 48,800 square feet of structured parking, 102,900 square-feet of multifamily residential and amenities and 13,400 square-feet of retail tenant finish-out space.
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The proposed structure is five stories with a flat roof, horizontally oriented full-height windows, transparent screening, a roof deck and stucco cladding, according to the Historical Landmark Commission document.
“The new building wraps the existing house at 1101 West Lynn Street, with outdoor seating terraces unifying the two structures,” the document reads.
Caffe Medici, now Medici Roasting, opened at the 1101 W. Lynn St. property in 2006. The coffee shop is housed in a building that dates back to 1903 and previously served as an accounting office, a beauty salon and a boutique.
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The other existing buildings will be demolished, except for the brick wall featuring Johnston’s mural. The deteriorating front of Nau’s will be reconstructed with matching materials, including the canopy, and historic-age signage will also be retained.