Bridget Dunlap continues to gamble on success in Austin

Dunlap's success story began when she opened Lustre Pearl on Rainey Street in 2009. She had opened Pearl in Houston, but then moved to Austin where the project was reborn under her alter-ego name, she said. During her time in the industry, she has witnessed Austin transform.

"Everything has changed," Dunlap said. "I think within the past four years everything has changed dramatically. Aside from the traffic, the people, there's not much land anymore in Central Austin. Almost every aspect of what it used to be has changed. I'm not one of the ones who's going to say it's for the worst."

[caption id="attachment_116221" align="alignright" width="460"] Bridget Dunlap in Lustre Pearl East beneath a sign that reads, "Here, everything is good" in French.[/caption]

Much of that change has bled over to East Austin because of low prices and land availability. However, Dunlap said the neighborhood is not happy about the change, but that change has so far been inevitable, she said.

"I don't think you can stop progress. I mean, there were a lot of people angry with me upset with me over Lustre on Rainey, too," Dunlap said. "When you have [thousands of] people coming here a year how can you stop that? How can you stop people from growing and getting into different neighborhoods and what not. You can't stop it. It's too big."

With the challenges of permitting, high costs and finding land, Dunlap said she is very grateful for those who have supported and enjoyed her work.

"I’m very grateful and have a lot of gratitude for the success that I have had. I thank everybody that does like what we’ve done," Dunlap said. "There is no guarantee for success anywhere in anyone's life, no matter how hard you work."