AUSTIN, Texas — An East Austin grocery store built in the 1930s, Green & White Grocery, received a City of Austin Landmark designation from the Austin City Council on Thursday.
The building was originally owned by Norverto T. Lopez and his wife, Maria de Jesus Lopez, and housed a grocery that sold products imported from Mexico and was famous for its tamales.
John Cazares, Sr. took over after Norverto's death. In the '90s, the building was passed to his son, John Cazares, Jr., who transitioned the business to a botánica.
The historic landmark designation given to the building prevents it from being demolished and ensures that its history will be preserved.
“I’m just glad the story is going to be there – not just for me and my family, but for my customers and the community on the East Side,” Cazares, Jr said. “There will be something familiar that keeps the memory going of what things were like.”
Green & White Grocery is one of several properties in East Austin that has been part of the East Austin Barrio Landmarks Project that honors East Austin's Mexican American cultural heritage.
Cazares Jr. hopes the historic designation will lead to a piece of "Old Austin" being preserved, while also embracing a growing city.
"Austin's a great place, but if you've been here long enough, you know that it's changed a little bit and what's still around is important to people because it still makes [them] feel that Austin is still their home," Cazares, Jr. said.
