Posted: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:58 AM - 12,086 Readers

By: Jarrod Wise

For more than two decades, 'The Oasis' has been a place to grab a cold drink and watch from high above the hilltop as the sun sets over Lake Travis. But now, it's a place to shop, browse art and even grab a coffee.

"We have an Austin Java . We have an Uncle Billy's barbecue . We have Soleil , which is seafood and pasta. We have Texas Treasures, which is fine furniture and antiques from around the world. We have Blue Genie , which is about 40 to 50 local artists," said Beau Theriot.

Theriot owns 'The Oasis,' and has added about 80,000 square feet in leasable retail space near the original restaurant. Over half a dozen spots have already been filled.

"We have about 20 more spaces to lease," Theriot said.

Plans for a motorcycle shop, a longhorn chocolate store and a University of Texas COOP business are also in the works.

"We're not after mall-type stores. We're after local artists and artisans, mom and pop operations," Theriot said. "We also have plans for a sixty-room lodge across the street with beautiful lake views.That will be coming the next two years. Even more growth. There's still more things to come."

"When I first opened in '82 this place was just a little beer garden on the hill," he said.

The restaurant itself is about 40,000 square feet and holds about 2,500 customers. It's about the same size as the original restaurant, which burned to the ground in 2005.

"Lightning struck us in the middle of the night, in the middle of a big storm. In four hours, it burned to the ground. Pretty horrible event," Theriot said.

The additional retail development was already planned even before the destructive fire.

"We just had to put them on hold," Theriot said.

"Tremendously different. A lot more build-up. More traffic. More houses," said Lennard Leenders.

Leenders sat outside on the large, open patio Monday afternoon with his family. It was the first time he's been back to the Oasis in nearly 20 years.

"Looks great," he said.

"It's nice. I think they've done a really good job," said Helena Gonzalez, who was snacking on yogurt on some lounge chairs in the 'shopping village' with her husband.

"Definitely a place I think people will come and visit, outside of just going to 'The Oasis'," said Helena's husband Joah Gonzalez.

*  Story Contributed by: Jarrod Wise