White Noise: Ego’s karaoke bar shuts shop in SoCo.

#SoWhItemocentrism?

Another day, another Austin staple pushed out by gentrification. This time, it's Ego's, the beloved karaoke bar that's been a safe space for queer folks and allies since 1979.

"Right now, we're taking it day by day while we wait to see if the landlord is willing to fix all the pipes that keep collapsing, but it's not looking good. They plan on demoing the building at some point, and we're the only business left in that building." - Ego's Instagram post

The bar, a rainbow beacon of resilience, faces an uncertain future due to maintenance disputes with its landlord. The building's pipes are collapsing, and the landlord would rather demo the building than fix them.

This is just the latest in a string of closures on South Congress, aka SoCo, a street that's experiencing a slow-burn business shuffle. Major clothing brands like Reformation, Madewell, and Lululemon have moved in, pushing out homegrown businesses that gave Austin its quirky, unique vibe.

In April, Outdoor Voices suddenly shut all its stores, and in December, Maya Star closed its doors after almost 30 years. Good Company, Sunroom, and Mi Casa have also fallen victim to this culture-erasing "slow-burn".

Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, an Austin-born brand, is the latest to join the colonizers. As these big brands move in, the heart and soul of Austin are being ripped out, one business at a time.

Ego's plans a "last big hurrah" for its potential final day on August 11, and its owner vows to return after renovations. But how long until these corporate giants buy out the rest of the street and push out every last remnant of Austin's unique culture?

Beck "The Woke" Andrew Salgado, covering the whitewashing of Austin, BSalgado@gannett.com.