Read the latest business and community news from Central Texas.

Williamson County

Williamson County sets COVID-19 vaccine locations for next two weeks, continues to roll out plan


Williamson County continues to move forward with its COVID-19 vaccine plan, setting vaccine locations and operating help services, officials said Feb. 8.

Round Rock



Texas State University now offering free COVID-19 testing in Round Rock

The Texas Division of Emergency Management and Texas State University Round Rock are now hosting free COVID-19 testing in the city through the end of April, according to a Feb. 4 city news release.

Georgetown

Specialty Remodelers opens in Georgetown plus more business news


Specialty Remodelers opened in Georgetown in December. The business offers room additions, kitchen and bath remodels, cabinets, flooring and specialty wall finishes.

Leander-Cedar Park

5 restaurants now open or coming soon in Cedar Park, Leander


These five Cedar Park-Leander restaurants have recently opened or are planning to open soon.


Southwest Austin

New mini golf and entertainment center opens in Dripping Springs

Dreamland, a new mini golf, pickleball, arts and entertainment center located at 2770 W. Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs, opened Feb. 5.

Dripping Springs Wild Game Dinner returning virtually; local cafe launching new menu and more South...


The annual Dripping Springs Wild Game Dinner, a local event that raises money for Dripping Springs and Hays County-based charities, will take place virtually this year Feb. 20. Individuals interested in participating in the 31st annual event can place an online order of food as well as raffle tickets through the fundraiser's website or make individual donations.

New Braunfels

Inferno’s Wood Fired Oven & Spirits in New Braunfels bites back with its signature scorpion pepper


The bite. That is what Cary Hamer, owner of Inferno’s Wood Fired Oven & Spirits, said most aptly defines the proprietary flavor at his restaurant. In this case, the bite is brought to patrons by the signature Trinidad scorpion pepper, which is several times hotter than a habañero pepper and positioned at the forefront of the restaurant’s marketing.


Starbucks coming to New Braunfels this fall will include a drive-thru

A new Starbucks location is slated to open in New Braunfels in the fall, according to a Starbucks spokesperson, and it will be the city’s first drive-thru location of the franchise.

Expansion of H-E-B on Walnut Ave. in New Braunfels underway, set for late 2021 completion

The roughly 76,000-square-foot grocery store will be enlarged to 110,000 square feet, according to H-E-B representative Julie Bedingfield.

Central Austin

The Long Play Lounge to pick up where Stay Gold left off and more business updates from East Austin

North Austin craft beer and cocktail spot The Long Play Lounge plans to open a second location on the premises of recently closed East Austin dive bar Stay Gold. According to a representative for The Long Play Lounge, the new 1910 E. Cesar Chavez St. location is tentatively set to open Feb. 15 and will remain under the same management as Stay Gold.

Brian Rash, Ali Linan, Kelsey Thompson, Nicholas Cicale, Lauren Canterberry, Olivia Aldridge and Taylor Girtman contributed to this report.