Oat Willie’s

I like the product variety that this store offers. However, on every occasion that I am on there buying smoking products, the staff behind the counter is giving subpar customer service. They always seem short with me and when I ask to see an item, they almost make me feel like I am annoying them. I’m not trying to condemn the place because I love the products. I just wish that the customer service was on the same level as the inventory. :)

Love this place. Great people, great service, but god is it hot. It didn’t used to be like this… In fact, walking into the store used to be a pleasant experience, free of any sort of heat-​stroke inducing suana effect they have now. As I type this, I am sweating just thinking about the hydration-​sapping conditions once you pass through those doors. As a regular, I spend my hard earned money to shop in a place that I can breath without any trouble. I fear that if these conditions persist, I will resort to either never shopping there again, or wearing a skiing jacket at all times. The first option seems more likely, but at least if I have a winter coat on at all times I can take it off when I shop at oat willies and it won’t seem so bad.
Sincerely,
A hot headed customer (pun intended)

So, I’m going to Bonnaroo this summer. I’m talking about the music festival on a hot, sweaty, smelly farm in Tennessee with thousands of other sweaty people, where the dust lingers and the air smells perpetually like patchouli and nag champa. It’s a blast.
The boy and I were plotting out how to decorate our campsite and we knew a tapestry or decorative bed sheet was a must in order to block out that summer sun. We tirelessly walked up and down 6^th Street one afternoon to peek into their gift shop/​tobacco shops with no avail. We pretty much realized we needed to get to a head shop or legitimate tobacco shop.
Granted, we’re pretty ignorant when it comes to places like these. We’re not looking into getting sex toys or cook books on how to integrate pot into your favorite recipes. I’d probably confuse a pipe with a pretty glass piece I could string into a unique necklace. I could be guilty of buying one of the pretty wooden boxes and storing something much more innocent, such as earrings or tampons.
So, the boy called the west campus location to inquire about tapestries. The gentleman on the other side was incredibly courteous and mentioned they have a huge variety. We quickly got in the car and drove over.
He was right. Beautiful designs, colors and cultures of handmade woven fabric adorned the whole one side of the store. Aside from the gorgeous selections of full-​king sizes with very reasonable prices, there was a decent clothing selection, pretty jewelry and so on. Both employees were very friendly and knowledgeable. This was refreshing after the pretentiousness of the people from our 6^th street escapade.
Stop in if you have a need for anything from exotic teas to a book dedicated to Austin’s breakfast tacos, hippie clothing and hats, or even bed sheets. You’ll have a fun time browsing, regardless. We settled on two purple star and moon themed sheets.

I don’t know why this is considered «tobacco shop» or «head shop». pipe selection/​bowl selection is very limited and below quality. Staff was rude when I asked a question. Not your typical smoke shop; in fact I think they should more consider themselves a gift or novelty shop.

Wonderful selection of products. they are a little overpriced but it’s worth every cent.

It looks like they had some great products, ie. jewelry, accessories, vintage-​style things but today not a single of the 3 employees spoke to me or acknowledged my presence the entire 15 – 20 mins I was there. BTW, they had NO other customers. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t aware that there was a girl sitting behind the counter because she never spoke as I was browsing the jewelry. Matter of fact, I had to squat down & turn my head upside to get the price of an item (or 2) that was enclosed in the casing. She was directly behind the counter & never once asked if there was something that I wished to see. Maybe its because Im Black or its simply due to your lack of hospitality/​customer service. Either way, you just made it easier for me to not buy something there. Thanks guys!

Very nice and helpful staff. They are patient and will answer questions.

I love this place, it has everything I want in a head shop, the employees are extra chill, sweet and helpful. In fact I would have happily given 5 stars but it was Africa hot in that place. I bitched openly about it but they told me they have to keep it at 80, I would have stuck around to inquire why and maybe browse some more but I was about to pass out, so I bounced. I ll still go back .in the winter.:)

So times when I go in this place. I can not leave I go in and being a Coke Cola Collector they have the neatest stuff. I love Coke Tins the have Betty Boop. ones also,
So I go in make my circle around three times picking up things and carry them, it, close to my heart only to put it back on the second round I look at the bumper stickers but will not put one on my car, Very Austin Sayings, thoughts and
ramblings.
I wish I could just borrow some of the nice smelling stuff only cause
can not tell which is the smell I really like toys are fun hats head toppers are good unless you have a big head.
Clothes is so wanna be the 70 s still cool if I wanted look like I did 40 years ago. except it was made this year. ear rings so cool. Braclets so so so awesome
I think I walked around say wow how cool over 10 times.
did not know little baggie business was what it is was.

Definitely a random head shop. They have all kind of funny/​different knick-​knacks and a really great assortment of rolling papers and pipes. I enjoy coming here because the staff is very friendly and not stuck up, like some employees at other local smoke shops.

I LOVE OAT WILLIES!!! Aside from having great prices, and a good selection of tobacco products, they have a really dope comic book selection too! Not to mention all of the quirky little nick nacks that they carry that have consumed my apartment. :)

While my friend and I were at Polkadots, my husband was at Oat Willies looking to replace the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comics that he lost in Hurricane Ike.
My friend and I hadn’t ever been there before, we met up with him after our cupcake excursion.
I wasn’t expecting much … I haven’t had much need of a «headshop» since high school (whoo, pun!), so I was pleasantly suprised. In addition to the expected items, this store also had nice clothes, jewelry, décor, and items that would make good gifts. As in, things that a non-​stoner/​hippie (like me!) would appreciate. I might go back at some point for incense or bumper stickers.
My husband did find the comics that he was looking for, but he ended up buying an omibus edition for a little more money since they had that.
Like I said, definitely exceeded my expectations. Not just a headshop.

WAY OVERPRICED!!!
GAS PIPE will forever be the number one head shop for me! They did not have much of a selection at all for pipes and as far as water pipes go they did not carry finer made company’s such as Roor. I looked at a few pieces and was blown away by the price and how flimsy the glass was they were made with they would so BREAK at the slightest touch. I feel bad for the college kids in the area who go here and get ripped off BIG TIME!

Not really a review but. .. Michelle, I know what 420 friendly means. What does 620 friendly mean?

What do you need/​want/​crave?
«Onward Thru the Fog» bumper sticker?
A Jesus Christ action figure?
Tie-​dyed wall hangings?
Wooden books that aren’t really books but boxes
where you can hide your. uh. stuff?
Incense?
Large water pipe?
Lamps adorned with frogs?
Intricately detailed little boxes of all shapes and sizes
with tiny little secret compartments
where you can hide your. uh. stuff?
East Indian tapestries?
Smoking accessories?
Clove cigarettes?
A fun place to shop or simply browse?
Magazines?
Paraphernalia for your. uh. stuff?
Albert Einstein action figure?
Imported and domestic cigarettes?
Greeting cards and gypsy skirts?
Novelty items?
Hookah?
East Indian bedsheets?
Ashtray?
Decorated rolling papers?
Quirky, colorful bedding and housewares?
Underground comics?
Animal puppets?
Rolling papers?
The Adventures of Oat Willie comic book?
Employees that are very friendly?
Risqué postcards?
Scented candles?
Well then, my friend, go to Oat Willie’s Campaign Headquarters. Onward thru the fog!!!
O yeah, and a shout out to Jim W for totally ripping off his alphabet list idea. Thanks, bro.

Being sentimental about Austin in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s there will always be a special place in my heart for places like Oat Willie’s. I appreciate it that it is still around — after the Vulcan Gas Company closed, after the Armadillo World Headquarters (and GREAT concert place where now stands a skyscraper bank building) closed, just a lot of cool old places that were unique to Austin.
Oat Willie’s. How did they even stay in business? Maybe because all the other hippiefied shops were gone they got enough business to stay afloat? That’s my guess. I love visiting there. To me it is like walking into a time machine, into the «good olé days» of heads and freaks, underground comic books, gypsy skirts, Eastern Indian bedspreads and wall coverings, incense, books about and for the counterculture, good little gift items and toys for grownups, magazines for the disenfranchised, and a nice funky style and feeling just hanging out there.
I used to wear a perfume oil named Joy that I could only find there. (Not the expensive Joy perfume but one put out by some Krishna company out of idea.) When I wanted a cool bumper sticker that was where I would go. Or cool knick-​knacks with a special flair for my kind of taste.
They have a lot of things and I’ll have to visit quite a few more times before I can remember better what all they have. Great place to shop for gifts — especially for 620 friendly friends or those who are friendly to the 620 crowd.