{"id":129319,"date":"2026-01-19T18:29:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T18:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/129319\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T18:29:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T18:29:44","slug":"tomo-mags-bus-opens-austin-store-with-local-coffee-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/129319\/","title":{"rendered":"Tomo Mags bus opens Austin store with local coffee shop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Austin’s roaming newsstand Tomo Mags<\/a> \u2014 which sells books out of a signature blue bus \u2014 is moving up in the world. Its new brick-and-mortar bookstore and partner coffee shop, Cielito Lindo<\/a>, are celebrating their grand opening Thursday, January 22, at 411 Brazos Street, #101. A ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10-11 am with the Downtown Austin Alliance and the Austin Chamber of Commerce will mark the occasion.<\/p>\n

Tomo Mags started<\/a> in 2015 in Houston, on a decommissioned school bus. Founder Vico Puentes hit the ground running \u2014 or driving \u2014 visiting shopping centers, galleries, universities, caf\u00e9s, and more. It toted artsy independent magazines about fashion, photography, design, erotica, and even some comparatively normie selections like The Economist and New York Magazine. <\/p>\n

The journey so far has included an earlier stationary space<\/a> that later closed <\/a>(and another one that reopened<\/a>), a pause for several years<\/a>, and a “bittersweet” move to Austin<\/a> in 2025.<\/p>\n

\"Tomo The collection has a lot more room to expand in this new space.Photo courtesy of the Downtown Austin Alliance<\/p>\n

The new shop offers more of the same: a wide selection of magazines and art books alongside studio tools like pens and notebooks, merch, and fashionable accessories. It’s been in a soft-opening phase since mid-December. Cielito Lindo, which opened<\/a> in a coffee pot-shaped trailer in Manor in spring 2025, also kicked off its soft opening in the space a few days. Both the Tomo bus and Cielito’s trailer will continue operating.<\/p>\n

Even though both businesses are relatively new to Austin, Puentes has deep personal connections with the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore opening TOMO mags, I worked in downtown Austin for the last six years, and I\u2019ve seen such an incredible evolution in what it feels like for the people who work and live here, as well as the visitors passing through,\u201d said Puentes in a press release.<\/p>\n

\"Tomo Cafe tables are great for flipping through new finds with Cielito Lindo’s signature horchata latte.Photo courtesy of the Downtown Austin Alliance<\/p>\n

Driving around town to make sales may sound like a fast-paced existence, but Puentes hopes visitors to Tomo can slow down when they visit, enjoying the physical experience and maybe even creating a personal art archive over time. Part of that includes getting to know<\/a> the artists filling the shelves.<\/p>\n

“With TOMO mags, our goal is to create a place people can come back to regularly to slow down, find inspiration, and leave with something special, or a gift that actually feels thoughtful,” he said. “We\u2019re already meeting people from all over the world, and we\u2019re proud to host them and share recommendations that help them experience Austin beyond just downtown, while also spotlighting the creative community and local businesses that make this city so special.\u201d<\/p>\n