Prior to 1960, Congress avenue was the center of retail and commerce for the City of Austin. Over the last 5 decades, Congress Avenue has been in a steady state of decline as city residents increasingly looked to suburbs for shopping and commerce. Today, there are only 13 retail business on the prime central stretch between the Capital and the lake.IMAGE: Congress Avenue was the heart of commerce in the 1940sWith the creation of the thriving second street district and the arrival of a new breed of downtown condo residents, Congress avenue may be . . .