1. Axiom East will open at 2200 Webberville Road, Austin, between January and March 2021. The condominium complex will offer one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio units and is being developed by Pearlstone Partners, a real estate investment firm that is also behind projects such as Natiivo Austin and 84 East on Rainey Street.
2. Bento Picnic, a healthy food restaurant located at 2600 E. Cesar Chavez St., opened a new bottle shop in April specializing in natural wine within the store. The shop, Saba San’s, sources wine from small, natural growers and also features a selection of craft beer and sake. Bento Picnic is open for lunch and dinner for takeout and delivery. 512-987-8767. www.bentopicnic.com
3. Cofer & Connelly PLLC, a new law practice focused on criminal defense, family law, and personal injury located at 404 W. 13th St., Austin, began accepting new clients as of late April. Rick Cofer said he and fellow partners Jeffrey Connelly and Barbara Rowan have tried more than 300 cases to a judge and jury combined. 512-200-3801. www.coferconnelly.com
4. Guero’s Taco Bar celebrated its 25th anniversary at its 1412 S. Congress Ave., Austin, location May 7. Rob and Cathy Lippincott opened the restaurant in 1986 and moved to South Congress in 1995. Guero’s is now run by the second generation of Lippincotts, daughters Lyle and Bette. 512-447-7688. www.gueros.com
5. Kirby the Barber opened a second location at 3909 Red River St., Austin, on May 11. The father-and-son barber duo split up when the shop opened following Gov. Greg Abbott’s lifting of restrictions. Kirby Schimmels Jr. is working out of the Brazos Street storefront downtown, and Kirby Schimmels Sr. is working out of a new space in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Schimmels Sr. said additional safety procedures include stopping beard trims temporarily and booking only one customer per hour. www.kirbythebarber.com
6. The annual Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run, one of the largest annual fundraising events each year for The Trail Foundation, will go virtual this year. Race registrants can run the 5K race anytime from June 4—the originally scheduled race date—through July 4, and will receive a bib and a T-shirt. They can then submit their best times online. Maudie’s Too, one of several Maudie’s locations within the Greater Austin area, is at 1212 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin. 512-440-8088. www.maudies.com, www.thetrailfoundation.org
7. Do-Rite BBQ is changing the names of all its locations in late May and early June to Metcalf Barbecue, including the one at 2207 Justin Lane, Ste. D, Austin, next to Lala’s Little Nugget. Owner Lynn Metcalf said the change is a result of a legal challenge from the owners of Do-Rite Donuts based out of Chicago. The barbecue joints were formerly called Stubb’s, but rebranded in 2019 following a separate legal argument. 512-551-2620. www.lalasaustintexas.com
8. Prime Pet opened its new location in March at 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. 102, Austin. Owner Burton Cleveland opened his doors just before the coronavirus pandemic began affecting the Austin economy. Soon after he opened, Cleveland began offering free local pickup and delivery for customers in addition to in-store service. Prime Pet reopened after closing its location at 2505 E. Sixth St., Ste. D, in 2019. 512-220-0557. www.primepetaustin.com
9. The Rolling Rooster opened a new East Austin location in April in the former Victory Grill space at 1104 E. 11th St., Austin. This is the second Austin location for the soul food spot, joining its Wells Branch restaurant. The Rolling Rooster also has a location in San Antonio. 512-401-3515. www.therollingrooster.com
10. Ski Shores Cafe opened its new location at 1608 Barton Springs Road, Austin, on May 1. Both the new location and the original are open for takeout and dine in to 50% capacity, as required by state law. The original Ski Shores opened in 1954 along Lake Austin. 737-222-5600. www.skishoresaustin.com
11. StoryBuilt announced May 6 its Frank development, located at 900 S. First. St., Austin, would expand to include an additional seven townhomes and 23 single-family homes. The new expansion will be known as Frank.West and will be located behind the original mixed-use development of condominiums, office and restaurant space. According to a company spokesperson, the homes will be ready for move-in by the end of the year, and townhomes are ready now. 512-649-1832. www.storybuilt.com
