Central Texas is about to say goodbye to a culinary cornerstone. Salt & Time, a pioneer in the Austin food scene renowned for its in-house butchered local meats, will cease operations this upcoming Saturday, July 6. The establishment, which has been a fixture since its opening in 2013, will pass on the torch to a new player in the ethical food market. According to Austin Eater, Radius Butcher & Grocery is slated to take over the current location later in the year with a clear commitment to sustainable, locally sourced products.
The transition comes not as a result of being priced out, which is a common narrative in Austin's quickly evolving commercial landscape, but rather due to other factors. "This has been one of the main passions and projects of my life," Ben Runkle, Salt & Time's co-owner and co-founder expressed in a poignant note, "So certainly not an easy decision to make, but ultimately I think there was not a lot of ambiguity about whether or not it was the right decision to make for us," Runkle told MySA. A failed investment to the tune of nearly $200,000 on the St. Elmo Public Market, which never materialized, along with other financial and personal reasons, were cited to have led to the decision of Salt & Time to cease operations.
Radius Butcher & Grocery aims to preserve the ethical ethos of its predecessor while expanding on its vision. Kevin Fishner and Joe Saenz, the duo behind Radius, plan to offer a variety of goods ranging from pastured meats to organic grains and produce, not to mention specialty items like sauces and spices that feature a local Austin flavor. "Salt & Time has been a pillar of the Austin farm-to-table community for over a decade, and we hope to honor and extend that legacy," stated Fishner in a press release obtained by Austin Eater.
Radius Butcher & Grocery is expected to open its doors towards the end of 2024 at the familiar East Seventh Street location, as per the Austin Eater.
