1. Frios Gourmet Pops of Austin celebrated its opening Aug. 7 with a ribbon-cutting with members of the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce. Owner Becky Creswell has run the trailer for area events since 2019 and now has a permanent home with the trailer inside a storefront at 31560 RR 12, Ste. 202, Dripping Springs. The popsicle chain has locations in 12 states, and this is the only location in the Austin area. 512-201-0973. www.friospops.com
2. The Bungalow, a furniture and decor store with both new and vintage pieces, opened July 1 at 9410 W. Hwy. 290, Austin. Managed by South Austin resident Diana Holmes, the store sells a mix of furniture, jewelry, clothing, decorations and gifts. 512-635-7657. www.facebook.com/the-bungalow-192887497428810
3. Fitzhugh Brewing is still planning for a fall opening at 15435 Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs. The business will brew its own beers and serve food by PEJ Kitchens, which is affiliated with Poke-E-Jo’s Smokehouse. According to the business, the brewery installed new signage along Fitzhugh Road in early August and a crowler machine to serve beer to go in the future. www.facebook.com/fitzhugh-brewing-105734620960183
4. Vivero Growers Nursery will celebrate its 10th anniversary in September. The nursery owned by Katherine and Michael Caine, located at 12000 Hwy. 290, Austin, offers retail sales of plants to the public as well as a wholesale business supplying materials to Austin landscaping professionals. 512-587-4476. www.viverogrowers.com
5. Moviehouse & Eatery officially reopened its Lantana Place location at 7415 Southwest Parkway, Bldg. 7, Austin, in the first week of August after closing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the reopening, the theater is also offering do-it-yourself meal kits and cocktails to go as well as daily specials with discounted tickets. 512-572-0770. https://sites.themoviehouse.com
6. 24-Hour Fitness announced in June the company had filed for bankruptcy as a result of the “devastating effects” of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a release. The location at 4625 William Cannon Drive, Austin, remains closed according to the company website, as of August. The location in Pflugerville was one of hundreds of locations to close permanently. www.24hourfitness.com
7. P. Terry’s Burger Stand submitted a site plan with the city of Austin on Aug. 6 for a new drive-thru-only location at 8601 S. Congress Ave., Austin. The drive-thru, which is still pending city approval, will be located on a 1.4-acre property just north of the new H-E-B development that opened at the intersection of South Congress and Slaughter Lane in June. The Austin-based chain serves burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes. www.pterrys.com
8. Sweetgreen opened its first Austin location Aug. 12 at 1007 S. Congress Ave., Austin. The salad- and grain bowl-focused restaurant has more than 100 locations nationwide, including two that opened in Houston last year. Sweetgreen will open another Austin location, on The Drag, later this fall. For every meal sold on opening day, Sweetgreen will donate a meal to Caritas of Austin. www.sweetgreen.com
9. In July, Treaty Oak Distillery began selling a bottled, ready-to-drink Old Fashioned cocktail using its Ghost Hill Bourbon, bitters and orange zest, available for purchase online. The distillery and its attached kitchen, Alice’s Restaurant, are located at 16604 Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs, and are open Friday through Sunday from noon-8 p.m. www.treatyoakdistilling.com
10. Two medical providers in South Austin both individually began medical trials in the fight against COVID-19 over the summer.
- In July, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center began enrolling patients in a study that uses the drug Merimepodib as a potential treatment for some COVID-19 cases, thus becoming the first medical center in Texas to participate in the national trial for the treatment, according to the center. St. David’s South Austin Medical Center is located at 901 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin. www.stdavids.com.
- On Aug. 13, Austin Regional Clinic began a trial on a potential COVID-19 vaccine. According to a press release by ARC, the medical provider has recruited 250 local patients in the trial, which intends to “prove the safety and efficacy” of the vaccine compound. “It is the top priority of the United States and the world to find a successful vaccine to prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19,” ARC Clinical Researcher Dr. Gretchen Crook said in the release. ARC has two South Austin locations including at 111 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 312, Austin, and 1807 W. Slaughter Lane, Ste. 490, Austin. www.austinregionalclinic.com
