January: Strength & Dignity Wellness provides Georgetown, Cedar Park women pelvic floor therapy
Owner Katie Castillo founded Strength & Dignity Wellness in order to help women, especially those in pregnancy and postpartum, improve their pelvic floor health.
Castillo said pelvic floor therapy treats several conditions, including incontinence, the loss of control of the bladder or an increase in frequency or urgency of urination; pelvic organ prolapse, where the uterus or bladder descends, often after childbirth; constipation; chronic urinary tract infections; and painful intercourse, she said.
Castillo tailors her treatments to the individual goals of her patients. Pelvic floor therapy work begins with a consultation and can include breath work, stretching and strength building exercises.
Castillo said she takes a full-body approach to pelvic health, talking to patients about hydration, their protein intake and getting enough sleep.
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At Whiskers Luxury Cat Boarding, cats of all kinds and personalities can find a home away from home while their owners are away for extended periods.
In March 2014, co-owner Jennifer Miller opened the cat boarding business with her daughter-in-law Twyla Miller, who had a background in rescuing wild animals and has been a self-proclaimed animal lover her whole life.
The business offers cat boarding services for a minimum of two days and as long as the entire summer.
Cats from the same family share rooms, and room sizes range from small to playroom. The company has a team of four who care for each cat guest by feeding them, giving medication, offering snuggles and engaging in interactive play time.
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March: Georgetown-based Katï Coffee roastery blends community together
The business’ vision is to be the supplier of choice for specialty roasted coffee in Williamson County.
Owner Mirian Diop sources coffee beans from around the world and prepares them for customers using a Probat roasting machine.
Katï Coffee uses specialty beans, meaning they’re farmed to a higher standard, Diop said. Customers can purchase beans from 9 different countries.
“Coffee is an art, but it’s also a science,” Diop said. “I’m a scientist at heart.”
In a nod to her native country, Diop named her company Katï, which means "knowledge" in Lelemi, the language of a village in Ghana. Knowledge applied well is wisdom, Diop said, which is also why she chose an owl as the company’s logo.
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Whether community members are looking for a way to express love, sympathy or gratitude, The Flower Box in downtown Georgetown provides a range of floral arrangements, plants and gifts to produce a physical manifestation of one’s feelings. Founded in 1972 by Patricia Taylor, the business continues to sculpt a one-stop shop for all occasions.
Co-owner Deniese O’Neill purchased the business from its previous owner, Susie Ramos, with her husband, Jim O’Neill, in 2011.
As the daughter of a florist, O’Neill knew her way around the business since she was young. She started working at The Flower Box in 2003 as a counter helper and delivery driver and worked her way into different roles from there.
“I just love making people happy,” O’Neill said. “Flowers are ancient. They’ve been around forever and they’ve always told a story.”
In addition to floral arrangements, customers can purchase a variety of gifts for different occasions from housewarming and weddings gifts to sympathy packages and appreciation gifts. Plants, wine, decor and candy are also available.
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May: Kilwins blends historic charm with sweet treats in Georgetown
Kilwins offers a number of sweets made in-house, including fudge, waffle cones and caramel corn, said co-owner Amber Kurkowski, who manages the shop alongside Michelle Baran.
Every Kilwins franchise owner can create their own ice cream unique to the town they’re in, Kurkowski said. The San Gabriel Mud flavor is a Georgetown special, and includes vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and rich caramel.
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June: Groove House offers high-energy classes to build Georgetown's fitness community
Combining her experiences with Pilates, ballroom dance and nursing, founder Crystal Pablo has made it her mission to provide personalized fitness experiences in Georgetown through the opening of Groove House.
The studio features a range of class types including group dance cardio, cardio mat fitness, Pilates circuit, power Pilates, weights and workshops. Clients can schedule sessions which focus on using a reformer, a tower, mats and equipment.
Some classes are more relaxed, focusing on breath work, while others are fast paced, involving holds and pulses.
The studio is also adding a recovery room, which will include red-light therapy and a sauna.
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The Vera Gallery opened in Georgetown to showcase American artist Vera Neumann’s archives, as well as local artists' work.
Georgetown residents Christina and Greg Sharp opened the gallery at the beginning of summer in the downtown square, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Together, they serve as the business's owners, but prefer to be known as caretakers of Neumann’s work and legacy.
Neumann was born in 1907 and was a watercolor and gouache artist in New York. She was known for her floral designs and patterns, which appeared on bed linens, towels, scarves and other high-end textiles in homes across the country.
The gallery shows some of Neumann’s estimated 13,000 original paintings, serigraph silkscreen prints, sketches and 20,000 vintage silk scarf samples.
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September: Poppy Quilt N Sew unites quilters in Georgetown, across the country
Michelle Bailey, the owner of Poppy Quilt N Sew in Georgetown, started quilting 15 years ago.
As she honed her craft, Bailey started selling T-shirt quilts and teaching classes at Poppy Quilt N Sew. She is now the store's owner, after acquiring the business in 2017.
The store offers quilting services, fabrics, and patterns. Poppy Quilt N Sew also sells long-arm quilting machines, sewing machines and embroidery machines—all of which can be serviced on site by certified technicians.
Bailey also has in person and virtual classes and clubs at the store, which help build community. Locals can sign up for beginner instruction; technique-specific classes; and events, such as Sip n Sew where customers can socialize after hours.
October: Flower Bells offers floral design, gifts for any occasion
Susan Stone first began arranging wedding florals four years ago out of her home, letting one of her hobbies turn into a business.
Stone harnessed her creativity, and love of antiques, floral design and human connection to open her own storefront, Flower Bells, in downtown Georgetown in September 2024.
Stone offers custom arranging, premade arrangements ready for pick up, and a variety of modern and vintage vases.
She encourages patrons to visit the store and create their own bouquets from the options available—including fresh and dried flowers, feathers and embellishments.
Flower Bells also has a subscription model, which Stone refers to as a prescription, where Austin-area residents can pick up a custom arrangement weekly or monthly. No two arrangements are ever the same, Stone said.
December: Brass Peacock brings immersive experience to Georgetown with 1930s speakeasy
Brass Peacock is a 1933 concept bar that marries Prohibition-inspired cocktails with live jazz and curated historical decor. At the center of the speakeasy is the salvaged and reconfigured bartop from The Brown Bar in Austin. Behind the bar, bar manager Patrick Nikel reimagines classic cocktails with modern twists and techniques.
Visitors can tell if the speakeasy is open by going to the side entrance of the building and checking if the neon light is on. Patrons of City Post Chophouse can secure a spot downstairs at Brass Peacock by telling their server or noting it on their reservation.
The space hosts live music every night, with solos and duos performing on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and full bands performing on Fridays and Saturdays.
Another feature of the speakeasy is a cigar lounge, with its own ventilation system and cigar lockers. Visitors must have a membership to enter the lounge, but becoming a member is as simple as purchasing a cigar, owner Kevin Cummins said.
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