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Community Impact Austin
Scooter's Coffee to expand drive-thru coffee shops in North Austin area
Scooter's Coffee serves a variety of beverages that can come hot, iced or blended. (Courtesy Scooter's Coffee) Scooter’s Coffee, a drive-thru coffee shop chain, is expected to open three new locations in Leander, Round Rock and Austin this fall. The company offers a variety of drinks that can be...
Austin inches closer to air conditioning mandates for residences
Today, there's no mandate for housing in Austin to provide air conditioning. (Courtesy Adobe Stock) A new city mandate for air conditioning in all residences is moving closer to final approval, and residents can weigh in on the change in July. What's happening. The city is in the process of...
New Panda Express location coming to San Marcos
Panda Express is known for its American-style Chinese cuisine, including its orange chicken. (Courtesy Panda Express) Panda Express will open in the Aquarena Crossing development in San Marcos sometime next year. This will be the second standalone Panda Express restaurant in San Marcos. Jones Dining Center on the Texas State...
New playground at Rock Hollow Park now open to public
A new playground structure at Rock Hollow Park in Round Rock opened to the public in early July. (Courtesy city of Round Rock) A new playground structure at Rock Hollow Park in Round Rock opened to the public in early July. What happened. The new play structure opened to the...
The Dead Rabbit Irish pub opens on Austin's Sixth Street
The Dead Rabbit serves Irish pub-inspired food and drinks. (Courtesy Nicholas Lee Ruiz) The Dead Rabbit pub opened the doors of its new downtown Austin location on July 4. The New York-based bar and eatery from Managing Partner Jack McGarry offers food and drink menus inspired by Irish culture, with a southern spin.
Teapioca Lounge now open in Hutto
Teapioca Lounge recently opened in Hutto. Teapioca Lounge recently opened in Hutto. The business offers a variety of boba teas, coffee and lemonades. The franchise also sells smoothies, slushies and other frozen treats. Grant joined Community Impact in October 2022 and is the editor for the Round Rock and Pflugerville-Hutto...
Tandoori Lounge aims to serve community and Indian cuisine in South Austin
The butter chicken ($17.49) with garlic naan ($4.99) is a customer favorite. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact) Tucked into a shopping center on West William Cannon Drive, Tandoori Lounge aims to offer a blend of traditional and innovative Indian dishes with quality customer service. Meet the owners. Hamza Ashraf opened Tandoori Lounge...
Maternal care in hospitals expanding in Travis County
Austinite Kellie Connolly gave birth to her daughter at St. David's Medical Center in March 2023. (Courtesy Kellie Connolly) In 2023, for the first time in over a decade, Travis County’s population grew due to the number of people born within its bounds—not because of the people moving there.
San Marcos CISD approves $102.93M in budgeted operating expenditures for FY 2024-25
The San Marcos CISD board approved implementing a school marshal program during its regular meeting on April 17. (Community Impact staff) The San Marcos CISD board of trustees passed an operating budget of $102.93 million in expenditures for fiscal year 2024-25 in June. This leaves the district with a projected...
Gas station and convenience store Snack Stop opens in Georgetown
Gas station and convenience store Snack Shop opened off Westinghouse Road in Georgetown in mid June. (Dana Smyth/Community Impact) Snack Stop, a convenience store and gas station, opened at 1125 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown, in early June. The convenience store features a taqueria, which serves various Mexican foods such as tacos,...
Liberty Hill's Main Street Social closes; to be converted to fire training, administration building
Main Street Social, a food hall in downtown Liberty Hill, closed on May 11. (Courtesy Main Street Social) A food hall and social spot in downtown Liberty Hill closed on May 11. Main Street Social was an indoor food court offering a bar, a space for community gatherings, games and...
Round Rock ISD to hold information sessions for potential board candidates
Round Rock ISD will hold information sessions July 9 and July 23 for community members interested in running for a seat in the November board election. (Brooke Sjoberg/Community Impact) Round Rock ISD will hold information sessions July 9 and July 23 for community members interested in running for a seat...
Here’s how Texas students, families can access free meals this summer
Children ages 18 and younger and students with disabilities up to 21 years old are eligible for the Summer Meals Program. Families do not have to apply, register or provide identification to receive food. (Courtesy Adobe Stock) Around two-thirds of Texas children rely on free or reduced-price lunch during the...
Q&A: Green builder explains what 'net-zero' housing looks like in Central Texas
Most of Build Native's homes utilize hail-resistant solar panels with battery backup systems for extreme winter weather events, Co-founder and President Nick Ryza said.(Courtesy Build Native) Quiet, rolling hills and crystal blue lakes have made the Central Texas region an attractive spot for dozens of new, luxury housing developments, but...
Nonprofit organization Hope Alliance breaks ground on new Leander facility
Construction on Hope Alliance's new Hope Center will officially begin in July. (Zacharia Washington/Community Impact) The Hope Alliance leadership team and local officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the nonprofit's new Hope Center in Leander on June 28. “This is exciting because it's been a long time coming,” CEO Rick...
European-inspired coffee truck opens in San Marcos
Cafe Cortado's coconut cold brew with vanilla sweet cream on top and a chocolate straw. (Amira Van Leeuwen/Community Impact) European-inspired coffee truck—Café Cortado—opened its window at 221 North St., in San Marcos on May 31. The coffee truck, owned by San Marcos local Krendi Harmon, sells European...
CI Foodie: 6 new restaurants now open across the Austin metro
The new Uncle Nicky's location features a revamped Italian menu. (Courtesy Consumable Content) While the Austin metro has no shortage of dining options, here are some recent openings to explore. This list is not comprehensive. South Central Austin. The neighborhood Italian eatery—owned by Nic Yanes, Travis Tober, and brothers Brandon...
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