Three Austin mom and pop shops make national list

Three Austin stores have made America’s Favorite Mom and Pop Shops, a list curated by Yelp and Entrepreneur Media.

The list has 150 independently owned and operated stores from across the country, using factors such as the total volume and ranking of reviews. It had 10 categories of small businesses, including food, restaurants, nightlife, travel, home and local services, and arts and entertainment.

The three Austin shops that made the list were:

• The Original Pinballz Arcade, 8940 Research Blvd.

• Texas Electrical Connect.

• Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden, 121 Pickle Road.

The Original Pinballz Arcade has remained an Austin staple since it was established in 2010, with three locations sprinkled throughout the city. The original location has more than 125 pinball machines but also features new and classic video games, providing something for everyone. The arcade also claims to have the largest collection of pinball machines in Texas. The original location has more than 600 reviews on Yelp, with a 4.4 star rating.

Texas Electrical Connect, a Latinx family-owned and -operated company in business for more than 10 years, offers an array of electrical-based services, such as wiring installation, outlet installation, air conditioning repair and more. The business has more than 65 reviews, with 4.9 stars on Yelp.

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden features an abundance of drinking options – specialty coffee, locally brewed beer and cocktails – with live music and food trucks in a garden setting. According to the company website, “Cosmic is not just a bar or cafe, it’s a sustainability-focused gathering space where our guests can disconnect from their normal routine, have fun, enjoy unique experiences and reconnect with friends, natural spaces, community and themselves.” Cosmic received a platinum rating for sustainability efforts and a chicken coop composting system. It also has biological ponds and sustainable water features. Cosmic has more than 600 reviews, with a 4.6 rating on Yelp.

AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE Pinballz has three locations sprinkled throughout Austin. They feature new and classic video games as well as pinball machines.

SARA DIGGINS/AMERICAN-STATESMAN Singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen takes the stage to perform a free pop-up show at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden in South Austin in 2022.