1. The Kebab Shop, a California-based Mediterranean restaurant that expanded to Austin in 2019, is planning additional locations in the Central Texas area, including one in the Mueller development at 1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Austin, to open in April or May. The Kebab Shop, which has two Austin locations already open, is also planning to expand to Round Rock and Pflugerville later in the year, according to Chief Marketing Officer Wally Sadat. www.thekebabshop.com
2. Lydia Street Gallery opened Jan. 21 at 1200 E. 11th St., Ste. 109, Austin. The gallery, owned by Deanna Miesch, is currently open by appointment on weekdays and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. during exhibitions. 512-524-1051. www.lydiastreetgallery.com
3. Nexus East, a 352-unit apartment building located at 720 Airport Blvd., Austin, opened in early 2021. The complex from Roscoe Property Management has studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom options ranging from 487 to 1,159 square feet with rents from $956-$2,280 per month. Amenities set to fully open by April include a pool, a two-story fitness center, a rooftop deck, and coworking spaces with conference rooms and offices. 210-987-4395. www.nexuseastaustin.com
4. Rocheli Patisserie opened at 1212 Chicon St., Ste. 102, Austin, in February. Co-founder Nelly Garcia said both the space and the menu were designed as a contemporary touch on classic French styles. Previously, the patisserie operated as a delivery-only service. 512-220-4107. www.rocheli.com
5. Southside Flying Pizza is celebrating 15 years in the community in 2021. The Austin-based chain owned by Art Goldstein—which has a location at 2702 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin—serves scratch-made pizzas, chicken wings, sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. 512-600-6962. www.southsideflyingpizza.com
6. Sunny's Backyard, a bar and vegan restaurant, will open in March at 3526 E. Seventh St., Austin, in the former location of the Hard Luck Lounge. Husband-and-wife owners Charrissa and Merritt Vaughn ran vegan bar Beelman's in downtown Los Angeles before moving to Austin in 2020. The bar, which also features a 3,000-square-foot patio, is named for the couple's rescue terrier, Sunny. www.sunnysbackyardatx.com
