Meet Jade Place | Restaurant Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jade Place and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jade, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The businesses we have started filled gaps of things we were missing from home. Living in Williamsburg Brooklyn twenty years ago, we recognized a demand for Tex-Mex cuisine, which my husband, a native Texan, deeply missed. This led to the inception of our first venture “El Diablo Tacos”. Interestingly, a decade later, while residing in Austin, Texas, we found ourselves yearning for the vibrant New York bistros known for their all-day breakfasts, oysters, and exceptional cocktails. This inspired the creation of Hillside Farmacy in Austin.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Hillside Farmacy is not just a restaurant; it is rooted in the essence of farm-to-table dining and a celebration of local heritage. Tucked away in the heart of East Austin, Hillside Farmacy resides within a historic landmark building dating back to 1949, formerly known as Hillside Drugstore and cherished by the community as a cornerstone of African American history, still owned by the family of Austin’s first African-American pharmacist, Ulysses “Doc” Young. The restaurant mission is twofold: to pay homage to the past of our neighborhood while offering a menu that celebrates the harvests of Central Texas. Embracing the farm-to-table philosophy, we proudly support our local community by sourcing fresh, seasonal ingredients directly from nearby farmers, ranchers, breweries and artisans.

History is being demolished to make way for condos. My husband and I embarked on the restoration journey of the building located at 1209 E11th St., constructed in 1949. Our vision was to transform the run-down, dilapidated building back into a place of gathering and love for the community. We were honored to receive a Preservation Austin Award, a testament to our dedication to preserving the cultural legacy and buildings of past for our neighborhood. However, the maintenance of the building remains an ongoing endeavor. In addition to addressing regular wear and tear issues, we have been confronted with a series of break-ins, totaling nine since the onset COVID-19. We have been opened 12 years, small business owning it’s not always pretty, but a mixture of strength and stubbornness helps.

With each meal served and every connection made, we are privileged to be able to continue contribute to our community’s story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh this is fun!

Breakfast tacos from Mi Madres

Barton Springs for a swim

Day trip to Lockhart for BBQ

Hitting some vintage shops Blackfeather, Charm School & Moss

Sunset on the lake

Fonda San Miguel for Mexican.

The Continental Club for a show

Night adventures would mostly liking end at Sahara Lounge dancing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our friends and family, that didn’t tell us we were crazy to be buying an old Airborne Express delivery truck in 2005 to turn into a taco truck ourselves, even though they would have thought it.

Website: https://hillsidefarmacy.com

Instagram: @hillside_farmacy

Facebook: @hillsidefarmacy