Read about 10 featured businesses, nonprofits in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs

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

1. Austin Salt Cave brings halotherapy, wellness options to South Austin

Austin Salt Cave relocated to South Austin from Lakeway in 2023. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)

At 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.

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

1. Austin Salt Cave brings halotherapy, wellness options to South Austin

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

Read the full article.

2. Austin nonprofit Urban Roots cultivates young leaders, local food access

Urban Roots started around 2008 as an afterschool program where high school students could work and learn on an urban organic farm. (Courtesy Joshua Guardado)

Urban 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.

Find out more.

3. Andino Artisan Gelato serves up handmade family desserts in South Austin

Andino Artisan Gelato has a location in the Barton Creek Square food court. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)

When 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.”

Get the full scoop.

4. Summer Revival brings healthful hometown dining to Dripping Springs

Summer Revival serves a variety of salads, sandwiches and grain bowls. (Courtesy Summer Revival)

In 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.

Get more details.

5. Austin toy shop Monkey See, Monkey Do! keeps "DIY funky vibe" alive in South Austin

Brandon Hodge owns Monkey See, Monkey Do!. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)

For 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.

Learn more.

6. Swan Songs honors individuals’ last wishes through private end-of-life concerts

Swan Songs organizes private concerts for individuals with a terminal illness or near the end of their lives. (Photo by Liz Moskowitz, courtesy of Swan Songs)

Founded 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.

Get more information.

7. Woman-owned Natkhat Flavors crafts healthy Indian options in Dripping Springs

Natkhat Flavors serves a mix of entrees with various meats as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. (Dacia Garcia/Community Impact)

As 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.

Discover more.

8. Mi Ranchito offers a "memory of Mexico" in South Austin

Mi Ranchito is owned by Celio and Leticia Najera, and their daughter Erika Najera. (Sienna Wight/Community Impact)

Between 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.

Go beyond the headlines.

9. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar celebrates 50 years of creative community

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar will begin its 50th season featuring nearly 200 artists and live music at Palmer Events Center. (Courtesy Armadillo Christmas Bazaar)

What 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.

Read the full story.

10. LEONA Botanical Cafe & Bar celebrates opening in Southwest Austin

Diners can order Thai fried chicken, pork dumplings, torts, tacos and more. (Courtesy LEONA Botanical Cafe & Bar/Photo by Taylor Elliot)

LEONA 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.

Read about 10 featured businesses, nonprofits in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs

More Business news from Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs

Velocity Credit Union opens a new branch off Brodie Lane

More from Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs

Texas includes minimal data center info in state water plan, citing ‘limited data’

More from Austin

Dirty soda drink shop to open in San Marcos

Closer to care: Bastrop explores path to full-service hospital

The local news you want, every day, in your inbox for free.

Austin

Dallas - Fort Worth

Houston

Bryan - College Station

San Antonio

Read about 10 featured businesses, nonprofits in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs

More Business news from Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs

Velocity Credit Union opens a new branch off Brodie Lane

More from Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs

Texas includes minimal data center info in state water plan, citing ‘limited data’

More from Austin

Dirty soda drink shop to open in San Marcos

Closer to care: Bastrop explores path to full-service hospital

The Airway Dentists opens South Austin clinic for teeth, jaw issues

PAWS Shelter of Central Texas to close Kyle location

Hello Sweetie, a gift and candy shop, coming to Barton Creek Mall this summer

Onion Creek bridge, downtown Liberty Hill, Sunbird Ranch: Check out trending Austin-area stories

Lagoon-anchored Leander Springs development advances to Leander City Council