Now open
FirstLight Home Care
The home care agency is now open and serving Hays County and its surrounding areas. FirstLight Home Care’s services include senior, personal, veteran, dementia, companion and respite care. The business can also provide specialty services, such as disability care or family care.
- Opened in September
- www.firstlighthomecare.com
A Johnny Cash-themed dive bar opened its second location in Driftwood, offering a selection of beer, whiskey and cocktails. Mean Eyed Cat can still be found in the Clarksville neighborhood in Austin, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in September.
- Opened Nov. 21
- 8750 W. RR 150, Bldg. 100, Driftwood
- www.themeaneyedcat.com
The new restaurant owned by Matt Dodson, Kathy Dodson, Doug Young and Katie Young is now open in Driftwood. Dodson said Whiskey Ridge is a "love letter to Texas cuisine and spirits." The restaurant offers fresh Gulf Coast seafood, locally sourced meats and an extensive, curated selection of whiskey and Texas distilled spirits.
- Opened Nov. 11
- 8750 W. RR 150, Bldg. 300, Driftwood
- www.whiskeyridgetx.com
Austin Skyline Juniors
The volleyball club will open a training facility in Dripping Springs in early 2025. The new space will host camps, clinics, small group training and other volleyball programs. A training area for speed, agility and strength practice will also be available at the new facility.
- Opening in January
- 4955 Bell Springs Road, Unit 2, Dripping Springs
- www.austinskylinejuniorsvolleyball.com
The juice bar will be joining the array of businesses in the Belterra Village Shopping Center, offering a variety of smoothies and customers can add nutrition enhancers, such as whey protein, to their drink. The location will be owned by franchisee Liezel Reyes, replacing what was previously SquareRut Kava Bar.
- Opening in January
- 164 Belterra Village Way, Ste. Y300, Austin
- www.smoothieking.com
Wife-and-husband duo Nichole and Matt Street are moving their local business to downtown Dripping Springs in early December. Originally opened in September 2022, the team operated out of their house. The business offers services for fencing, railings, and standard and automated gates. Freedom Fence and Gates is moving next to Rustic Roots Hair Salon off Old Fitzhugh Road.
- Opening in early December
- 215 Old Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs
- www.freedomfenceandgates.com
Texas Hills Financial Group
The wealth management firm celebrated its relocation to the Arbor Center in Dripping Springs on Nov. 15. The new space will allow the firm to hire more financial advisers and establish their footprint in Dripping Springs, said Nick Vuicich, marketing director and owner Melody Kump’s son. Texas Hills Financial Group offers financial services from retirement, estate and tax planning. The firm also offers financial advising services to small businesses.
- Relocated in April
- 800 W. Hwy. 290, Ste. D-200, Dripping Springs
- www.texashillsfinancialgroup.com
Jackie Hodge, owner, opened the full-service hair salon at a new location in early November. The salon, which has been open for nine years, offers services such as haircuts, highlights, coloring and balayage. The business hosts a fundraiser, Giving Back to Our Roots, to support local charities, though it was postponed this year due to the move. The salon was formerly at 700 Old Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs.
- Relocated Nov. 11
- 215 Old Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs
Amy's Ice Creams
The Austin-based ice cream shop celebrated 40 years of business in November. Amy's was founded in 1984 by Amy Simmons and serves ice cream across Austin, Houston and San Antonio. The Dripping Springs location opened in April.
- 12400 Hwy. 290, Ste. 450, Austin
- www.amysicecreams.com