“There’s no other place like this in Austin,” The Herb Bar regular Amy Golightly said. “When you come in, you feel at peace. You feel comforted. It’s all about a community that needs to be healed. And especially right now—we need it.”
The Herb Bar, a holistic haven cherished by its customers for nearly 40 years, is moving from its longtime South Austin location to a new home in the eastside neighborhood Cherrywood. The shop, which has been passed down from woman to woman since it first opened its doors in 1986, is set to reopen this month at 3200 Merrie Lynn Ave.
The new space, an old house with a large outdoor area, promises to continue offering the herbs, crystals, candles, and community-focused atmosphere that have made it a local institution.
The Herb Bar began as a simple herb shop with a small room in the back where then-owner Connie Moore grew and sold fresh herbs.
“It's sort of like a little salad bar,” current owner Megen Mundy said. But under the ownership of Twila Willis, who took over several years later, the shop evolved into a holistic destination with a wide range of natural remedies, tarot decks, and spiritual tools.
Willis ran The Herb Bar for nearly 30 years, hiring Mundy when she was in her 20s and new to Austin and holistic therapy. At the time, Mundy never imagined she would one day take the reins of the business, but when the time came, the decision wasn’t easy.
“The Herb Bar is beloved by the community; it’s a staple,” Mundy said. “Last year, we won the Legacy Business Award from Preservation Austin.”
However, rising rent prices and an increasingly expensive cityscape made it impossible to stay in their longtime location.
“The city is changing,” Mundy said. “It’s a bittersweet thing for us, but I’ve come to the idea that The Herb Bar is a concept, not a building.”
The move is a fresh start, and Mundy is optimistic about the new location.
“We have a lot of room to create new memories and magic,” she shared.
The new space will include a large outdoor area for markets and classes, offering the same welcoming vibe that has drawn people in for decades.
Despite the move, loyal customers like Golightly are excited to continue supporting the shop in its new location.
“I’ll definitely travel to the new location,” Golightly said. “It’s just a special place that you can’t find anywhere else.”
Although the apothecary will soon reopen on the east side, Mundy is confident that its spirit will remain the same.
“The Herb Bar is not just a place; it’s a community,” she said.
“When you come in, you feel at peace. You feel comforted. It’s all about a community that needs to be healed.”