The Fika Table
Since 2020, The Fika Table has used Nordic baking to create community bonds on full stomachs.
Owner Laura Galos connected with her Finnish roots during the coronavirus outbreak. Galos said she was reminded of early memories of baking traditional pulla bread with her grandmother and she was inspired to use this to connect with the community during isolation.
The restaurant features Nordic baked goods and snacks. Some must-try menu items include Swedish cardamom buns made with fresh ground cardamom and pearl sugar and Nordic seed crisps, Galos said.
Read the full story by Reporter Dacia Garcia.
Bandito’s
Paulette Jimenez and Josias Ocampo have created a strong network of collectibles enthusiasts from far and wide since opening a physical collectibles store, Bandito’s, in 2023.
The partnership hopes to continue growing their community base and providing an inclusive space for individuals interested in starting their collectible journey as well as seasoned collectors.
Bandito’s sells collectibles such as Funko Pop figurines, packs of trading cards, single trading cards, comic books, dice and more. The store works with Rob’s Retro Repair to offer clients repair services for hardware and service repair and game cartridge battery replacement.
Bandito’s also hosts multiple tournaments a week with zero entrance fee featuring a variety of trading card games such as Lorcana, Pokémon and Star Wars: Unlimited.
Read the full story by Reporter Dacia Garcia.
BBQ Outfitters
Despite working in real estate, Layne Mayfield and his wife, Kristin, never expected to become business owners themselves. That was until November 2021 when they purchased BBQ Outfitters from its previous owner Bob Carroll and made the move from Dallas to Northwest Austin.
The store is full of all the grilling equipment one can imagine—from grills and smokers to patio furniture and more.
While some changes have been made, the couple said they still wanted to keep the atmosphere that made people love the store for 24 years before they bought it.
Read the full story by Reporter Dacia Garcia.
Impact Martial Arts
Martial arts beginners and experts alike have been practicing under Impact Martial Arts owner and head instructor Greg Fisher since 2001.
The Northwest Austin martial arts studio teaches the sport to students age 3 and older with a focus on building their self esteem, confidence and self-defense abilities.
Impact Martial Arts students are a mix of ages and skill sets, with a focus on children and their families. Fisher said there are a wide range of students from all walks of life, with some on the autism spectrum, working through attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or simply needing some physical activity.
Read the full story by Reporter Brittany Anderson.
The Children's Center of Austin
Since 1999, the locally owned and family-operated preschool and child care facility has grown to offer a range of early education programs with individualized curricula, after-school programs and more.
Two campuses are available in the Austin area, and both feature controlled access in and out of the facility, separate classrooms and shaded playgrounds as well as areas for art, swimming and other extracurricular activities, according to its website.
CCOA also offers after-school programs for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, where they are given a healthy snack and opportunities to do homework, spend time in the art studio, go to the gym, participate in STEM-based activities and more.
Read the full story by Reporter Amanda Cutshall.
Austin Strings
Since 2001, Lori Faerber-Iacoletti and her daughter Brieann Chapple have curated Austin Strings to provide high-quality, one-of-a-kind service specializing in orchestral stringed instrument repairs, restorations, rentals and lessons for musicians of all ages and skill levels—no strings attached.
Both masters of their craft, Faerber-Iacoletti and Chapple are classically trained to play, restore and repair a range of bowed stringed instruments, including the violin, viola, cello and bass.
In addition to repairs and restorations, the luthiers at Austin Strings offer instrument rentals. Both in-person and virtual private music lessons are also available at Austin Strings.
Read the full story by Reporter Amanda Cutshall.
Vintage Wine Storage
With a combination of business experience and a passion for wine, founder of Vintage Wine Storage Gabe Anderson uncorked affordable wine storage options with a few perks.
Storage prices in the 13,000-square-foot facility vary depending on locker size and extras, such as inventory management, bottle inspections and more.
Complimentary daily visitation logs, and the option to have bottles shipped directly to Vintage Wine Storage, are other perks.
An on-site tasting room affords the opportunity to pop a bottle from the client’s private collection, which can be retrieved by staff who will provide glasses and a bottle opener.
Read the full story by Reporter Amanda Cutshall.
Contoro Robotics
In the wake of nationwide shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, Contoro Robotics Founder and CEO Youngmok Yun turned to artificial intelligence as a way to create stability in future supply chains.
Initially born out of a technology he helped develop and commercialize for hand and arm rehabilitation under Harmonic Robotics, Yun has forged a new path in warehouse operations with technology that could dramatically alter the industry: humanoid robots.
Founded in 2022, Contoro Robotics is a startup focused on automating the warehouse industry. The North Austin startup relies on the marriage of artificial and human intelligence in an effort to create reliable supply chains.
Read the full story by Editor Grace Dickens.
