The following list is in order of most page views.
Costco builds new store, gas station in Cypress along Grand Parkway
Costco filed plans to construct a new wholesale warehouse and gas station off of the Grand Parkway in Cypress, according to Sept. 5 records from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
According to the TDLR filings, Costco will begin construction of the new $64.5 million store at the beginning of March, with an estimated completion date in November 2026. The $3.3 million gas station is also set to be completed in the same timeline, per the architectural records.
Revisit the story.
Trader Joe’s opens first Cypress store in Towne Lake
After months of anticipation, the Cypress Trader Joe's officially opened its doors Dec. 18, according to Community Impact.
Community Impact initially reported a “Specialty Grocer” project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in November 2024. The filing announced a 15,021-square-foot building would be constructed this year at 9715 Towne Lake Parkway, Cypress, for $2.5 million.
See the original story.
Portillo’s to serve Chicago-style hot dogs, sandwiches in Willowbrook area
The Willowbrook location is one of the brand's first "Restaurant of the Future" designs and features a pickup area and double drive-thru lane, according to a Jan. 7 news release.
The 6,000-square-foot building sports a rustic, Southwest garage theme and offers seating for about 130 guests inside plus seating for an additional 40 guests on the outdoor patio.
Portillo's celebrated its grand opening Jan. 14, according to Community Impact.
Discover more details.
The Cheesecake Factory set to open mid-November in Cypress
The Cheesecake Factory officials confirmed via email the new location near the Houston Premium Outlets has plans to open on Nov. 18 and is looking to hire over 270 staff members.
Community Impact later reported the restaurant’s official opening in November. Specialties offered at the new location include Thai stir fried noodles, fish tacos and chicken piccata.
Learn more.
Bridgeland announces 40 acres of new parks, green spaces in Cypress
Bridgeland, an 11,500-acre master-planned community in Cypress, is adding nearly 40 acres of parks, green spaces and recreational areas to its Creekland Village and Prairieland Village communities, according to an April 1 news release.
The projects are expected to attract around 300 migratory bird species while also providing residents with new lifestyle amenities to enjoy year-round, per the release. Projects include:
- Mariposa Park
- Sunfish Park
- Turtle Cove
- Lily Pad Park
- Mosaic Park
- Terrapin Park
Walmart to open newly built location in Cypress in 2025
Walmart officials confirmed the construction with Community Impact in September 2024, and the new store opened to the Cypress community April 30.
According to Community Impact, the new location offers:
- Online pickup and delivery operations, with 45 dedicated parking stalls
- A walk-in fuel station with eight pumps that service 16 customers at a time
- A pharmacy with a health services room, pharmacy drive-thru and vision center
- Enhanced apparel with baby, home, and pet departments
- A full grocery offering
- A mother’s room
- An auto care center
Round1 coming soon to Willowbrook Mall
Willowbrook Mall officials announced late 2024 Round1’s plans to open a new location at the former Sears building. The arcade officially opened its doors Dec. 20, Community Impact previously reported.
Round1 has more than 100 crane machines, arcade games, professional-grade billiards, karaoke and bowling, per its website.
Find out more.
La La Land Kind Cafe to replace Land of a Thousand Hills in Cypress
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee & Bakery, located at the Boardwalk at Towne Lake, closed its doors Nov. 30 after nearly 10 years serving the community, owner Melinda Bodukoglu said. The business is set to be replaced by coffee chain La La Land Cafe, according to an Oct. 27 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
La La Land Kind Cafe is expected to move into the tenant space at 9935 Barker Cypress Road, Ste. 130, Cypress by February 2026, according to the TDLR filing.
Take a closer look.
Cy-Fair ISD to launch virtual learning programs starting fall 2026
Cy-Fair ISD will offer three virtual learning options to students in fourth and fifth grade and ninth through 12th grade for the 2026-27 academic year, according to a Nov. 6 presentation to the board of trustees.
According to the presentation, students interested in enrolling in the new Virtual Pathways Program can choose between three online options:
- Full-time and primarily asynchronous learning through the Virtual Academy, available to students in fourth and fifth grade and ninth through 12th grade
- Partially remote Flex Learning with one to two classes completed asynchronously, available to students in 11th and 12th grade
- Tuition-based supplemental courses taken outside of the scheduled school day, available to all high school students
Meet the Cypress family featured on ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’
Through a collaboration effort between ABC's “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and homebuilder Taylor Morrison, 1,000 volunteers and 150 Taylor Morrison employees built a new home in the Mason Woods community for a local family.
Former Katy-area residents Regina and Maurice Elrod said they lost their home to a fire in August 2023 along with their pet cat and Maurice Elrod’s mother. After the disaster, the couple heard about the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” reboot and applied in hopes of rebuilding their lives.
Continue reading to find out more.
