Read about businesses, restaurants and nonprofits that Community Impact highlighted this year.

1. Austin Salt Cave brings halotherapy, wellness options to South AustinAt Austin Salt Cave, located on East William Cannon Drive, owner Kyle Nigro and manager Mallory Ekhlassi hope to bring more wellness options to South Austin through halotherapy sessions, sound baths, yoga classes, workshops and more.

Austin Salt Cave first opened in Lakeway in 2016 offering halotherapy, a dry salt treatment said to help alleviate allergies, respiratory issues and some skin conditions. Nigro said the practice originated in 19th century Poland when a physician noticed salt miners did not have as many respiratory issues compared to other miners.

“They realized that breathing salt into the air, particularly pharmaceutical grade salt, helps alleviate allergies, bacteria [and] pathogens,” Nigro said.

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2. Austin nonprofit Urban Roots cultivates young leaders, local food accessUrban Roots, a youth-centered nonprofit organization, aims to “grow young minds” to be leaders and give them opportunities to be part of a community-focused solution to local food access.

Urban Roots started around 2008 as part of another nonprofit organization called YouthLaunch, said Sydney Corbin, associate director of youth and education at Urban Roots. It was an after-school program where high school students could work and learn on an urban organic farm.

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3. Andino Artisan Gelato serves up handmade family desserts in South AustinWhen the Bejarano family immigrated to the United States from Bolivia in 2018, the prospect of opening a business seemed daunting, Andino Artisan Gelato owner Carola Bejarano said.

Today, Bejarano owns and operates her own gelato business alongside her husband, Carlos Bejarano, and their sons.

“As you can imagine, opening a new business for the first time in a different country with a different language—it takes a lot,” she said. “Being with family was the most important thing for us.”

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4. Summer Revival brings healthful hometown dining to Dripping SpringsIn a growing city like Dripping Springs, healthful eatery Summer Revival aims to build community through serving familiar foods with fresh twists.

Ian and Becky Atkins have spent their adult careers in the restaurant industry. They owned and operated four restaurants in El Paso, ranging from a family-friendly American restaurant to a Spanish tapas downtown eatery.

Later, they moved to Portland, opened a counter-service taco shop and launched a natural wine label called Flat Brim Wines. After closing the restaurant amidst the pandemic, they returned to their home state of Texas and settled in Dripping Springs with their now 6-year-old daughter, Olive.

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5. Austin toy shop Monkey See, Monkey Do! keeps "DIY funky vibe" alive in South AustinFor 20 years, iconic Austin toy shop Monkey See, Monkey Do! brought a nostalgic kind of funky fun to South Congress Avenue.

In April, owner Brandon Hodge announced the shop’s relocation and, over four days, packed up the shop’s eclectic inventory of novelties and collectibles and moved it to a new home on Menchaca Road.

Monkey See, Monkey Do! reopened at 2810 Menchaca Road on May 2. Hodge hopes the move will see the return of more locally based customers and help the shop return to its “DIY funky vibe” roots.

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6. Swan Songs honors individuals’ last wishes through private end-of-life concertsFounded in Austin in 2005, Swan Songs is dedicated to using music to bring joy and comfort to individuals with a terminal illness or near the end of their lives.

The nonprofit organization hopes to provide meaningful experiences by organizing “musical last wishes” concerts.

In the early ‘90s, Swan Songs CEO and Founder Christine Albert had an experience that inspired her to organize private musical performances for individuals near death.

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7. Woman-owned Natkhat Flavors crafts healthy Indian options in Dripping SpringsAs Dripping Springs community members, owner and head chef Sakshi Joseph and her husband Rajeev Joseph opened Natkhat Flavors in 2022 to provide flavorful, diverse food options during the coronavirus pandemic.

The beloved restaurant was inspired by Sakshi Joseph's adaptations of family recipes, which she started to accommodate her son’s dietary restrictions as a result of his autism and seizure disorders.

The husband and wife duo began dropping off dishes to senior living facilities and friends at hospitals who were unable to leave to buy food in the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

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8. Mi Ranchito offers a "memory of Mexico" in South AustinBetween live oaks and picnic benches, Mi Ranchito sits on approximately two acres of land in South Austin. The family-owned and operated restaurant serves Mexican dishes, drinks and desserts.

The menu at Mi Ranchito features a range of hand-crafted dishes, from tacos, tamales and enchiladas to soups and salads. In addition to the expansive list of savory entrees, Mi Ranchito also offers specialty espresso drinks, aguas frescas and paletas, which are frozen treats made with fresh fruit.

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9. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar celebrates 50 years of creative communityWhat started out as a two-day Christmas market with 50 vendors has bloomed into one of Austin’s must-do holiday experiences. Now featuring over 200 artists, Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is celebrating its fifth decade bringing artists, musicians and community members together, all in one space.

The event first launched at music venue Armadillo World Headquarters in 1976 with 50 vendors with the intent to save the venue from closing.

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10. LEONA Botanical Cafe & Bar celebrates opening in Southwest AustinLEONA Botanical Cafe & Bar has brought a new dining and community experience near the Sunset Valley neighborhood. Featuring Thai cuisine and Mexican dishes alongside specialty coffee and cocktails, the recently launched concept sculpts a local destination for all occasions.

The new space is crafted by the husband-and-wife team of DEE DEE, Lakana and Justin Trubiana, and sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez of Veracruz All Natural.

The two duos first met as food truck neighbors in East Austin in 2018. Justin Trubiana said Reyna Vasquez and Lakana Trubiana bonded over their history as women starting businesses after relocating from different countries.

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