We featured 11 businesses this year. Which have you been to?

Click the business name for the full story.

February

Co-Work at Bob Rainey Farms

Growing up on his grandparents’ North Carolina tobacco farm, Michael Rainey said he saw the benefit of having a single place where a person could live, work, and have fun with friends and family.


March

Georgetown Bikeology

Hawk Harris had been the manager of AJ’s Cyclery’s Georgetown location on Williams Drive for about five years when the shop’s owner decided to close the location to focus on his main store in North Austin.

April


Georgetown Barbershop

When Esin Lau moved to Georgetown seven years ago, she said she struggled to find an old-fashioned barbershop that would hire her, so she decided to open one of her own.

May

Urban Cottage Home & Gift


Before Carrie McGraw and Cameo McGraw-Horton opened Urban Cottage Home & Gift in November, the two spent decades running their own retail businesses in different parts of the country.

June

Fathom Academy

After spending much of his life in water as an athlete, a dolphin trainer and a Navy diver—followed by time as a film producer—Barton Bollfrass decided to combine the two worlds of water training and immersive film sets to build the only indoor facility designed for swift-water rescue training in the world in Georgetown.


July

Shake’s Frozen Custard

Faith Thomas began working at Shake’s Frozen Custard when she was 15 years old. She served sundaes, ice cream sandwiches and other treats through high school, left and then returned as manager in 2017. At the beginning of this year, she bought the shop.

August


Renken Dentistry

While Dr. Josh Renken helps patients build healthy smiles every day, he also helps people with developmental differences find a job in a world where they otherwise might not.

September

South Fork Fun, Food and Brew

When Mai Lan Bradford found herself with extra land on her hands, she knew she wanted to open a food truck park.

October

309 Coffee

What started as an off-handed idea turned into a reality for six church friends in February.

November

18 Carrot Bakery

Fall is in full swing at 18 Carrot Bakery. Georgetown Square strollers may catch notes of pumpkin, apple or cherry pies; English toffee; caramel corn; homemade chocolates; or the shop’s signature carrot cake.

December

La Plaza Meat Market

Ana Montes, the owner of La Plaza Meat Market, said she was inspired to open a grocery store that offered Mexican products when she and her friends and family would have to drive to Round Rock or Austin to find items needed to cook Hispanic meals.