Read the latest business and community news from Central Texas.
Round Rock-Pflugerville-Hutto
Chick-fil-A opens Round Rock location on Palm Valley Blvd.
Chick-fil-A opened a new location at 2350 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, on July 1. The fast-food chain serves chicken sandwiches, chicken nuggets, waffle fries and breakfast items.
Round Rock Fire Department hosting summer fan drive for residents in need
The Round Rock Fire Department is hosting a fan drive through August to help provide heat relief to vulnerable communities.
In writing 'The Hutto Hippo,' children's author pays it forward to HISD students
The folklore of how Hutto's hippo mascot came to be reached new audiences through children's author Wendy Larson's release of "The Hutto Hippo" in March 2019.
Round Rock-based AYRO expands electric vehicle manufacturing facility
Round Rock-based manufacturer AYRO doubled its facility space during a relocation and expansion, according to a July 2 Round Rock Chamber news release. The company specializes in advance electric vehicle manufacturing.
Jersey Mike's Subs opens second Round Rock location
Jersey Mike's Subs opened a storefront at 3800 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Ste. 120, Round Rock, on July 1, staff confirmed. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the location's dine-in portion will be closed for public use, but patrons can order in-person for takeout orders.
12 things to do in Round Rock, Pflugerville this July
From supporting local artisans to spending a day at the ballpark, here are 12 things to see and do in Round Rock and Pflugerville this July.
Central Austin
Central Texas Food bank announces four drives in July
Since the coronavirus pandemic began affecting the Austin community, the Central Texas Food Bank has held free drive-thru food distribution events to help feed residents in need.
The events will continue in July with four events, including two at Nelson Field in Northeast Austin.
Canopy by Hilton now open on West Sixth Street
Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown opened July 1 at 604 W. Sixth St., Austin. The six-floor, 140-room hotel will include a restaurant and bar, Verbena, from chef Nic Yanes of Juniper and Uncle Nicky's.
Monger's Market + Kitchen moving to former Vino Vino spot in Hyde Park
Monger's Market + Kitchen will relocate in July to 4119 Guadalupe St., Austin, from its former location at 2401 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin.
Neighborhood Sushi from McGuire Moorman Hospitality now open on South Congress
Neighborhood Sushi opened June 18 at 1716 South Congress Ave., Austin. The new sushi spot is the latest opening from the McGuire Moorman Hospitality group, which also operates restaurants such as Perla's Oyster Bar and Elizabeth Street Cafe.
Business closings in Central Austin: Be More Pacific, Daruma Ramen, Troublemaker will not reopen
The hospitality, service and live music businesses have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus. In late May, Red River Street music venues Plush and Barracuda both announced their permanent closures. These five businesses recently announced they have no plans to reopen.
Whole Foods opens Plaza Saltillo location
Whole Foods opened its East Austin store on June 29. The new store is located at 910 E. Fifth St., Ste. 100, Austin, in the Plaza Saltillo development.
Garden Seventeen opens its doors in North Central Austin
Garden Seventeen, a greenhouse and garden store located at 604 Williams St., Austin, opened on June 21. The new store comes from owner Rodney Stoutenger, who started Native Edge Landscape in North Austin in 2008.
Try Hard Coffee now open in East Austin
Try Hard Coffee opened June 20 with service on the front patio of its space at 1115 E. 11th St., Austin. The new coffee shop offers a food menu including pastries and tacos. The brick-and-mortar spot will undergo construction throughout the summer before opening the inside.
Austin shuts down main greenbelts, all programs and amenities through July; parks, trails will remain open
After the Fourth of July weekend, the city of Austin's main greenbelts, park programming and amenities will remain shut down through the rest of July in an effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, which has tightened its grip on Austin in recent weeks. Parks and trails will remain open.
Leander-Cedar Park
Leander ISD graduations changed to family-only
The class of 2020 at Leander ISD’s six high schools will no longer be able to celebrate commencement with their classmates.
LISD has changed its graduation format to a family-only, videotaped experience July 9-11 in Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, according to a news release.
Bloc Cycle celebrates first anniversary in Cedar Park
Bloc Cycle, an indoor cycling studio, will reach its one-year anniversary July 8. The studio will hold an anniversary party July 11 with two outdoor rides at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and one indoor ride at 10:30 a.m.
Interior design business Daley Home + Design relocates to Cedar Park
Daley Home + Design moved from Georgetown to 3000 Polar Lane, Ste. 301, in Cedar Park in June, according to manager and co-founder Kasey Van Daley.
Georgetown
Georgetown updates mask order to require face coverings in public
All people age 10 and older in Georgetown are required to wear face coverings while in public, with some exceptions, according to updated orders issued July 3 by Mayor Dale Ross.
Family Emergency Room streamlines COVID-19 testing services for Williamson County residents
Family Emergency room has taken over coronavirus testing for Williamson County, officials announced July 6.
Southwest Austin
Cascades at Onion Creek Apartments to bring affordable housing to South Austin
Cascades at Onion Creek Apartments, a 264-unit multi-family development, is on its way to 2333 Cascades Avenue, Austin, located between Onion Creek and the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on the northbound side of I-35.
Construction begins on new fire and EMS station in Southwest Austin
The new station will serve as a joint location of the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County Emergency Services, one of five new "high priority stations" situated to emergency response times in key areas of Austin and Travis County following a May 2018 Austin City Council resolution.
Roundup: 5 Southwest Austin businesses celebrating anniversaries in July
The following five businesses in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs will be hitting milestone anniversaries in July.
Lake Travis-Westlake
Baylor Scott & White Clinic-Bee Cave is now open
Baylor Scott & White Clinic-Bee Cave opened June 29 at 16018 W. Hwy. 71, Bee Cave.
The full-service primary care clinic was designed to serve the growing medical needs of the Bee Cave and West Austin communities, according to a press release from Baylor Scott & White.
Four Points restaurants Tea Haus and Me So Poke reopen following COVID-19 shutdowns
Tea Haus reopened in June following COVID-19 shutdowns at 10815 FM 2222, Ste. 207, Austin. The cafe, selling Taiwanese boba milk tea and coffee, first opened in February but closed a month later due to the pandemic.
New Braunfels
San Antonio Street bridge to reopen July 15
According to a press release, the San Antonio Street bridge will reopen to traffic July 15. The bridge has been under construction since it closed on Sept. 3, 2019.
Northwest Austin
Domain Northside Apple store in North Austin temporarily closing doors
Apple Inc. has temporarily closed its store in Domain Northside at 3121 Palm Way, Austin, as a precaution to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
San Marcos-Buda-Kyle
Cheatham Street Flats now open in San Marcos
Cheatham Street Flats, a student apartment complex located at 401 S. Guadalupe St., San Marcos, opened May 1.
Taylor Jackson Buchanan, Kelsey Thompson, Jack Flagler, Christopher Neely, Taylor Girtman, Brian Perdue, Sally Grace Holtgrieve, Ali Linan, Olivia Aldridge, Nicholas Cicale, Amy Rae Dadamo, Lauren Canterberry, Iain Oldman and Evelin Garcia contributed to this report.
