Nestled in the heart of Austin a few blocks from downtown, Fair Market Austin is a striking reinvention of a 1950s Quonset-hut warehouse. The venue’s grand vaulted ceilings and exposed steel armatures evoke both industrial charm and modern versatility. Built in 1952 by the Steck Co., a major Austin publisher and printer, the hut is in East Austin next to the historic Houston and Texas Central Railway. The hut remains a little piece of East Austin’s history, and the storied space embodies the creative, independent spirit of the city.
The hut warehouse and adjoining lawn are “almost unmatched locally in sheer size,” says Laurel White, managing director at Fair Market Austin. The property has 12,000 square feet of flexible warehouse space connected to a 10,000-square-foot lawn, she adds. The warehouse accommodates 450 attendees for a seated dinner, 600 theater-style, and up to 1,000 for a cocktail reception.
With minimal fixed decor and a spacious layout, Fair Market Austin invites planners to get creative with their event setups. The space can be scaled easily and customized to suit gatherings of all sizes, scopes, and industries. “The venue offers a blank canvas for dreaming up event plans in a building full of existing character,” says White. “Whether the event is a sophisticated seated dinner or a funky, themed corporate reception, Fair Market’s backdrop can support the vision.”
Fair Market is near several notable Austin destinations, including the Austin Convention Center (currently closed for renovations), Sixth Street Historic District, and the Texas State Capitol. White describes the neighborhood as very walkable, with many bars, breweries, and restaurants. She adds, “It is the perfect spot for providing attendees a taste of what Austin has to offer.”
