Mi Casa

Austin pointedly has a trendy handful of third world country folk art shops.
Hippy roots produce ironically expensive retail. Bookending South Congress, with a similar store, Tesoros, Mi Casa is smaller with perhaps more of a focus on Mexican religious art works like Milagros crosses (which start around $ 20), altars and paintings of catholic saints (which start around $ 100).
Mi Casa feels focused, if exploitative of its
Inexpensive third world finds with 100% markups. The place feels charmingly holy,
and especially when I found a 5×8 handwoven Moroccan rug for $ 300.
«I bought that on my last trip there.» The manager Bruce said with a soft loving whirl of mixed memories in his head.
As I unfolded the rug and laid it out on the floor, he briefed me on its details.
I couldn’t have found a better rug at pottery barn. We reminisced about the old Austin and then he held the rug for me while I walked around South Congress.
«You got a really good deal on that rug.»
He farewelled with a mysterious mix of kindness and sadness.
«I’m glad you get to have it.»
with a bit of angelic omnipotence.
Treasures still exist in the new big box store of A-​TX.

If you like Mexican art or décor, check this place out. Lots of folk art, Catholic stuff (saints, crucifixes) and Mexican pottery to brighten your home! Conveniently on the S. Congress shopping strip.

I love South Congress shopping and travel frequently from NC to get my Austin fix. This store has interesting items and agree with others that some are overpriced. I was close to purchasing a wall hanging and when I asked the non-​customer service agent to look at another one to decide, she said, «well, we’re closing in a few minutes». So, I left. Won’t go back.

They have an excellent array of Mexican art and interesting things for your home. The guys at the counter were very friendly and engaging with us, it was nice to talk with them, even if it was only for a few.
The atmosphere is welcoming and prices are reasonable. The quality of some of the art is really nice, authentic and unique, not everything is high end but its not throw away stuff like most stores carry around here. I would really recommend to check them out if you are hanging out on Congress, its worth it.

Very cool store if you are into Mexican culture and art. They had a lot of interesting pieces. I was a little turned off by the employee behind the counter though-​he didn’t even say hi to us when we walked in, and just sat behind the counter with headphones on looking at his phone. Didn’t even look up once. I mean I don’t need someone hovering over me while I shop but a nice hello and asking if we needed help with anything would have been appreciated. He just looked like he didn’t care about his job at all. Other than that, wonderful store. I will be back.

Got a few cool paintings here for pretty cheap. They’re pretty crappy quality but will look nice hanging in our living room for a while. Service here is nonexistent but if you like to shop in peace this is the shop for you.

Ah, the wonderful folk-​art, antique and religious art store— It’s perfect for the person that’s difficult, no impossible to shop for.
But even better is the man behind the counter. The guy knows the history of the artifacts, along with their culture. He sells the story along with the artifacts. And that makes it all worth it.
Gracias.

I came in to check out the antiques they were selling. When you walk in it is definitely like a normal antique store where pretty much everything is everywhere. They sell a lot of religious relics like crosses, rosaries, candles, and old Latin influence furniture that is placed around the store. They also love Frida and skeleton pictures. They had this one of the Beatles but it was too much. Got to be careful when walking through because you can easily bump into something and destory it.

love this store. bought a few unique items here. Day of the Dead and Our Lady of Guadaloupe reign here… lots of icons. sacred hearts… cool tiles.

Cute store with some unique items. I do have to agree with some of the other reviews in regards to some of the items being over priced though. You can find similar items at other stores around town that will be cheaper in price.

Interesting store with lots of day of the dead merchandise, but the prices are a little high. There are better stores to shop on SoCo.

Do you remember that scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts walks down Rodeo Drive with a bunch of cash to buy clothes? She goes into a shop and asks the price of a few items and the store clerk responds, «That’s VERY expensive.» Julia Robert’s character leaves the store slightly humiliated.
Now, imagine a 37 year-​old woman goes into Mi Casa. She’s well put-​together and fairly obviously neither a tourist nor a hooker. She’s carrying a designer purse, damn it… (Anyway) Said woman looks around and sees a few things she is interested in. She politely asks the store clerk, «There are a few pieces I’m interested in and wanted to find out the prices?» Splice in the store clerk from Pretty Woman (but make her Hispanic). I, errr… The woman wanted to know about 3 pieces of artwork — all variations of Our Lady of Guadalupe paintings. Said woman has actually wanted such a painting for some time now. The rude store clerk actually says multiple times, «THOSE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.»
As much as I’d like to go back into Mi Casa hefting two huge pictures of the Virgin Mary (like Moses holding up the 2 tablets of the 10 Commandments) and say — «BIG MISTAKE LADY, BIG MISTAKE, HUGE…», that isn’t going to happen. I’m writing this instead to say, «You work in a retail shop. Your job is to sale the items in the store. Don’t treat your patrons shitty and they won’t write bad reviews on Unilocal».

I love to go into Mi Casa every time I am in the area. They have so many beautiful hand crafted pieces of art to admire. Every time I am in there something new or something I just had not noticed before catches my eye. I do love to go and look, but I rarely ever purchase items from this store. Everything in this place is very pricey. It is a very crowded and cramped space with lots of breakables, so I never go when it is busy and I would not take kids.

I just read some reviews that described the owner in a creepy, negative light. I’d like to say that I’ve had nothing but positive experiences in this delightful store full of yummy scents, sounds and sights. Like Susie G, I love the orange spice potpourri, and keep a bowl of it on my table so’s mi casa smells like Mi Casa do, too. I’ve raved about it to the owner and very nice lady behind the counter, and she has been kind enough to GIVE me a lil bottle of the oil one can refresh the potpourri with.
The hubster and I always do a drive-​by when we’re in the area and usually end up buying something, like the coolest switchplates ever (I especially love El Borracho), or something groovy for the dining room table. Even when we don’t make a purchase, we walk around and breathe deeply, enjoying the atmosphere.

This is a beautiful store filled with mexican art, décor, and homewares. I used to live in San Diego and frequented Mexico quite a bit, and this stuff is like some of the stuff you can get in the higher end stores in Mexico.
Each section is separated out into themes… crosses, day of the dead, frida kahlo, etc.
The prices were reasonable, but since I was traveling, I didn’t pick anything up.

Used to like this store… I was in with my wife and her elderly parents over Thanksgiving to give them a tour of our funky and friendly Soco area. I was walking through one of their rooms with my father-​in-​law when something falls off the wall in another room… the irate young clerk cornered us and asks what we did… my father-​in-​law and I were baffled as she ran to get the hobbit-​like middle-​aged owner, who then proceeded to yell and berate us both for five minutes, insisting that we pay for the damage, all of this in front of other customers!
I escorted my elderly father-​in-​law out of the store, who was now confused and upset, and headed back in to give this little troll a piece of my mind. I asked the guy why he thought I would make up such an elaborate lie in front of my own father-​in-​law just to avoid paying for some crappy marked-​up piece of clay. I even offered to pay for the stupid thing just to prove how unnecessary this whole scene was! By this time the idiot owner was so irate that he and his salesclerk are screaming at the top of their lungs about how my father-​in-​law and I are liars and bad people, to boot. He wouldn’t take my money… he obviously just wanted to continue to play out a short-​person complex ego-​trip game at this point.
I had to walk away to keep myself from stomping on this bearded midget’s throat! I will never, ever step foot in that place as long as I live. If you don’t enjoy being publicly humiliated or berated, do yourself a favor and avoid this place!

This is a cool folk art store in the middle of South Congress. I found a chess board in this store made of onyx that I thought was especially nice. I might have to go back and get it. It was very affordable in my opinion. Each piece was hand carved.
I also really liked that this store had a lot of little rooms here and there to check out in the back. They had some gorgeous but expensive items back there. I will always stop in when I am shopping in the area.

The items in this shop are beautiful and pretty well-​priced. So why only 2 stars? The guy behind the counter coughed and sniffled the entire time we were there. I thought I was going to get swine flu. He looked more like a roadie than a store clerk, and could not have been more bored with himself. I even tried to make eye contact to say hello and he looked right past me. Creepy.
I should have told him to blow his nose and go home. Then I could have browsed in peace. Too bad this guy ruined my visit to Mi Casa. Maybe next time.

So maybe I’m the only one that loved the potpourri?
Nice smells. Stuff EVERYWHERE, I couldn’t take it all in piece by piece, I just took in the whole store at one glance. Nice art, some cool furniture pieces. I liked the music.
I guess since I’m not a connoisseur of art, music or potpourri, I’m pleasantly surprised when everything seems to mesh together.
I thought this store did I fine job of that.
I agree, the setup of the store with many stores flowing into one another was a bit strange. I walked into feathers and ended up at Mi Casa, but it makes for an entertaining wandering experience. Just don’t wander too far with another shops merchandise. They dont seems to like that too much.

Walk into Mi Casa and be blown away by the overpowering smell of their signature potpourri bags. Homemade daily, the orange-​cinnamon scent infiltrates every corner of the grand store and will likely infiltrate your clothing and nostrils as well. It’s a pleasant smell… it’s just a bit much.
Aromas aside, the antique/​furniture/​collectibles shop is a tribute to Latin America and presents a potpourri of product. They are a proud gallery, displaying Mexican and South American art, as well as pottery, woodwork, bronzes, and religious/​historic artifacts. (Their website says it best:
.) There is a strong vibe of piety here — many of their items for sale are religious in nature.
In general, Mi Casa appears to be a labor of love. The store is cluttered and occasionally overcrowded, but it’s clear that the Luedeke family cares very much about presenting a quality product. You might strike gold here, you might not. The prices are moderately expensive. But, wandering through their many rooms will not be a waste of your time. There’s plenty to look at, the music is bright, and you’ll smell good when you leave.
Mi Casa is a trip for the senses.