Read the latest business and community news from the Central Texas area.
Round Rock
'Fear the Walking Dead' filming to cause Round Rock road detours
Chisholm Trail Road will close between Old Settlers Boulevard and Hwy. 79 on Feb. 2 for filming of the AMC television series "Fear the Walking Dead," the city of Round Rock announced. The closure will run from 7 a.m.-9 p.m., per the release.
Round Rock ISD offering free COVID-19 testing to staff, students
Free rapid COVID-19 testing will be available for Round Rock ISD staff and students beginning Feb. 2, according to a news release.
Southwest Austin
South Austin's Pizzeria Grata serves up Neapolitan pies from an unexpected location
Pizzeria Grata’s brick oven, small kitchen and a few bar seats are tucked into the back of Beatniks Market & Cafe on Menchaca Road in South Austin. Owner Diego Batista said in the last year since opening in December 2019, neighborhood residents have not only found the pizzeria, but they have also helped it thrive in a time when most restaurants are going through extreme challenges.
Carnivero highlights plants with healthy appetites
Drew Martinez opened nursery Carnivero in Southwest Austin, where he and a team of five employees sell the rare plant life.
Central Austin
Local Austin restaurants second guess downtown
B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub has seen its fair share of national and global crises over its 20 years in operation, but 2020 marked the year the locally owned downtown bar would meet its defeat.
Longtime Austin business Turquoise Trading Post pays homage to the American Southwest
Turquoise Trading Post owner Jim Williamson fell in love with art as a kid growing in New Mexico in the 1970s. In 1994, he left his job as a nonprofit fundraiser to follow that passion, and, as he said, “to stop working.” More than 26 years later, Williamson is still selling art and jewelry from the American Southwest.
Vegan, gluten-free bakery Zucchini Kill mixes pastries with punk
The women behind North Loop bakery Zucchini Kill say they want a revolution— “dessert-style.” That means a bakery that carries out the values of co-owners Jessica Freda and Cece Loessin in pastry form, with vegan recipes and compostable packaging.
Northwest Austin
Z'Tejas opens deck for dining and 4 new restaurants in Northwest Austin
Local restaurant group Z’Tejas in early January opened a new patio space at its location at the Arboretum, located at 9400 A Arboretum Blvd., Austin.
Statewide
Q&A: Vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez shares facts, dispels myths about COVID-19 vaccines
To promote accurate information, Fort Bend County Judge KP George hosted a virtual question-and-answer event with Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine.
Morgan Theophil, Claire Ricke, Kelsey Thompson, Jack Flagler, Christopher Neely, Nicholas Cicale, Olivia Aldridge and Iain Oldman contributed to this report.
