Read business and community news from the Austin area.

Lake Travis-Westlake

TexARTS to launch small-group learning program for 2020-21 school year

TexARTS Association, a nonprofit performing and visual arts organization located at 2300 Lohmans Spur, Lakeway, will launch a new learning program for area students Sept 8. TexARTS Performing Arts School, or T-PAS, will act as a small, arts-based learning program that will meet two days per week.

Austin Retina Associates coming soon to Lakeway



Central Texas’ largest group of retina specialists, Austin Retina Associates, will open its 18th location Sept. 8 at 2501 S. RM 620, Ste. 130, Lakeway. The company has been serving the Central Texas region for more than 40 years.

Round Rock-Pflugerville-Hutto

How Pflugerville is carving out job growth, development opportunities amid pandemic

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit Pflugerville in March, growth and innovation have taken on new meanings in the business community. With local businesses pivoting to curbside pickup and takeout models as well as expanding their service offerings, the Pflugerville business landscape has endured significant change in the five months since.


Georgetown

Georgetown ISD will start technology distribution Aug. 13

Ahead of the start of school, Georgetown ISD will begin distributing technology Aug. 13.

“We know starting this year with three weeks of at-home (remote) instruction will be different, but we are committed to ensuring you have the technology you need to log in and engage in learning everyday with your teachers and fellow students,” GISD Superintendent Fred Brent said in an Aug. 11 newsletter to parents.


Parking spots will turn into expanded outdoor dining space this Labor Day weekend in Georgetown

Georgetown will close select on-street downtown parking Labor Day weekend in order to expand outdoor dining spaces.

Sweet Lemon Kitchen now open for dinner twice a week in Georgetown

Sweet Lemon Kitchen is now offering dinner on Fridays and Saturdays until 8:30 p.m. Entree options include a steak dish, Asian citric shrimp, pork chop and apple chutney, and chicken fettuccini alfredo.


Central Austin

Austin bars scrap for survival during monthslong shutdown


On June 26, after five weeks of being allowed to open their doors, Texas bars had to shut down again. Coronavirus case numbers were surging in Texas; videos were circulating on social media of large crowds packed together at bars, ignoring capacity guidelines; and after underground stings, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission shut down some bars that were not playing by Gov. Greg Abbott's rules.

San Marcos-Buda-Kyle


Coffee veterans brew worldly flavors in San Marcos

Coffee veterans Elizabeth Rios and Leah Molina have supplied San Martians with coffee for nearly 20 years, first as the owners of Jo on the Go and now as co-owners of both Jo’s Cafe and Redbud Roasters, a local coffee roasting company and coffee shop.

Amy Rae Dadamo, Kelsey Thompson, Evelin Garcia, Ali Linan and Sally Grace Holtgrieve contributed to this report.