In a heartfelt farewell, the iconic 800-pound dinosaur known as Mangiasaurus was relocated from the Wheatsville Co-Op’s Guadalupe location to its South Lamar store. This event drew dozens of Austinites who gathered to bid adieu to the beloved sculpture, which had been a fixture atop the Guadalupe co-op since 2007.
The closure of the Guadalupe store marked the end of a 45-year chapter in Central Austin, driven by a combination of declining sales, rising rent, and uncertainty regarding ongoing construction in the area. Tanya Carney, the general manager of Wheatsville, expressed the challenges faced by local businesses under increasing economic pressures.
Despite the somber occasion, the store’s final day was celebrated with community spirit. Onlookers gathered in the parking lot to witness the dinosaur’s descent from the roof and its transportation to the new location.
“I think it’s a good show for the community,” said Trevor Moore, who watched as the dinosaur was loaded onto a truck. “These things mean something.”
Mangiasaurus first made its home at Wheatsville in 2007, after the closure of Mangia Pizza, which had originally housed the green dinosaur mascot. While intended as a temporary arrangement, the dinosaur quickly became a cherished landmark for the area.
“You have to reflect on what it means to have a giant dinosaur that was removed from a pizza place, placed on this grocery store, and now is being moved to their other location,” Moore noted, highlighting the symbolic significance of the dinosaur’s journey.
To commemorate its final day, Wheatsville Guadalupe served dinosaur-shaped cookies, offered a 30% discount on all nonalcoholic items, and provided free coffee for a year at the South Lamar location to anyone purchasing a T-shirt.
“Just think about how much you spend on coffee every year,” remarked Caleb Morton, a longtime employee, as he assisted customers at the register.
Wheatsville had previously announced plans to close the Guadalupe location in 2024, allowing staff members time to prepare for the transition. “We kind of got two years to process it,” Morton explained. “So I’ll probably cry today, but I’ve had my time to process.”
Employees from the Guadalupe store were offered positions at Wheatsville South Lamar, easing the transition. “It’s not like we’ve lost our job,” Morton added. “We’re just moving from our childhood home to another home.”
