Clickbait-Style Title: “Upscale Cookware Company Made In Makes a Move South, Leaving Behind an Austin Icon!”
Austin’s Beloved Upscale Cookware Company Made In is Shifting Locations and Poised for the Future
Austin-based upscale cookware company Made In is making a move and shutting its shop on South Congress Avenue while upsizing to a bigger and better headquarters farther south. Founder and CEO Chip Malt has announced the company’s new 8,000-square-foot property at 1005 E. St. Elmo Road, which provides space for cooking classes, an in-house culinary team and YouTube and Instagram posts. The original Made In shop at 1604 S. Congress Ave. “was intended to be a pop-up,” Malt told the American-Statesman, “so it made sense for us to make a clean break.”
Made In’s Closure Comes as Locally Owned Businesses Struggle to Keep Up
The closure of Made In is indicative of a larger struggle impacting other locally owned businesses on South Congress Avenue; rent and property taxes are soaring, forcing multiple businesses to close within the past few years, including Tesoros Trading Company, Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds, and South Congress Books. Longtime South Congress boutique Maya Star has also announced its closure this month, after nearly 30 years at 1508 S. Congress Ave.
The Story Behind Made In: An Austin Success Story
It’s an inspiring story that begins with two young friends, Chip Malt and Jake Kalick, from Boston, who shared a love of cooking and eventually inspired the idea of launching an online culinary company together. In 2019, the two launched Made In as an online cookware startup and went on to raise $5 million in a seed funding round for marketing and expanding their line of carbon steel and stainless steel products. When the duo decided to uproot to Austin, they thought the city’s flourishing food culture and base of consumer brands, like Yeti and Outdoor Voices, would help increase the growth and success of the business.
Next Up for the St. Elmo District: New Tenants and Possibilities for Growth
Made In has found a new home in the St. Elmo District, just south of East Ben White Boulevard, in what is currently one of the hottest South Austin real estate ZIP codes. The area spans 42,000-square-feet and includes apartments, condos, restaurants and a brewery, and the possibilities for growth and development are endless. Upcoming tenants at St. Elmo Public Market at 4329 S. Congress Ave. include Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar+Arcade, offering duckpin bowling and a bar and arcade entertainment center. With new projects and ideas in the works, the district is sure to attract new businesses and customers for years to come.
