Sugar Land - Missouri City Edition | May2025

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Sugar Land Missouri City Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 9 MAY 10JUNE 10, 2025

Sugar Land’s $4.5M bid brings business incubator to region Plugging in

BY AUBREY VOGEL

A contest to win $1 million hosted by the U.S. and Canadian departments of defense spurred a group of University of Toronto students to engineer anti-drone technology aimed at deterring the ying objects. The team placed second with its acoustic technology in mid-2024, but the idea got the group more than just the prize money, Prandtl Dynamics CEO Parth Mahendru said. The startup was one of 10 companies chosen for the inaugural Plug and Play cohort with the city of Sugar Land, which invested $4.5 million in the business incubator’s regional agship location. Plug and Play aims to provide free mentorship, resources and nancial assistance to startups. “We have an incredible ecosystem that’s never been given a platform for success,” said Elizabeth Hu, executive director of economic development for Sugar Land.

CONTINUED ON 12

From left: Anna Poletaeva, chief operating officer of Prandtl Dynamics, and CEO Parth Mahendru test their prototype aimed at deterring drones using acoustics. The team is one of 10 companies selected for Sugar

Also in this issue

Impacts: Check out the menu at Dubai-based Shaghf Cafe’s rst Texas location (Page 6)

Government: Read about Joe Zimmerman’s time serving as Sugar Land mayor (Page 10)

Land’s first cohort with business incubator Plug and Play. (Courtesy Prandtl Dynamics)

COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS Close to Home

At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, we provide comprehensive, expert care for mild to severe neurological conditions. With innovative and advanced treatment options, our doctors collaborate across specialties to meet each patient’s unique needs — from diagnosis and treatment through recovery. Our team of experts treats a variety of conditions, including: • Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) • Aneurysms • Brain tumors • Headaches and migraines • Epilepsy and seizures • Multiple sclerosis • Neuromuscular disorders • Neuropathy • Parkinson’s disease and tremors • Sleep disorders • Spinal disorders • Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)

To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code , visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.276.8999 .

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

JUNETEENTH JUBILEE 2025

Sugar Land-area residents have access to high-quality neurological care, close to home. At Mischer Neuroscience Associates - Sugar Land, our affiliated neurologists and neurosurgeons evaluate and manage a wide range of neurological conditions, from the common to the complex. So, we can offer care that’s customized for you. Advanced neurological care for Sugar Land.

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Board Certified Gastroenterologist Gregory L. Shannon, MD

17510 West Grand Parkway South, Suite 220. Sugar Land, TX 77479 www.GregoryShannonMD.com Call 281-201-1338 Today to Schedule an Appointment

SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Impacts

3 Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu The Brazilian jiujitsu academy offers training for adults and children in group classes and private lessons. • Opened March 15 • 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Ste. 950, Missouri City • www.renzograciemissouricity.com 4 Pizza Twist The eatery uses 100% halal meat and offers Indian fusion pizzas. These include tandoori and curry chicken pizzas; pizzas with naan crust; and spicy beef lamb kabob pizzas. • Opened March 28 • 3370 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • www.pizzatwist.com 5 FireHorse Saloon The locally-owned venue has a 1,700-square-foot dance floor, sound and lighting systems, and a 40-foot 6 Scenthound The business offers service packages, such as the basic hygiene or barber package, as well as tooth plaque reduction and shedding treatments. • Opened April 18 • 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. 105C, Sugar Land • www.scenthound.com 7 Sneak-a-Pic The business provides expecting mothers and their loved ones high-quality 2D, 3D, 4D and HD-Live ultrasound imaging; gender determining as early as six weeks into pregnancy; luxury spa services, such as prenatal massages; and maternity classes. • Opened April 21 • 7102 Tarrington Ave., Ste. 902, Sugar Land • www.sneakapic.com 8 Torchy’s Tacos The fast-casual Tex-Mex eatery offers a variety of tacos, salsa, guacamole, queso, burritos and salads. • Opened April 23 illuminated bar. • Opened April 2 • 501 Murphy Road, Ste. 400, Stafford • www.firehorsesaloon.com

W . B E L L F O R T A

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FOUNTAIN LAKE DR.

90A

CURRENT LN.

Missouri City

We’re serious about math

PROMENADE WAY

1092

99 TOLL

TELFAIR AVE.

TARRINGTON AVE.

Sugar Land

COMMONWEALTH B

99 TOLL

K W Y .

KITTY HOLLOW PARK

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MAP NOT TO SCALE

SIENNA CROSSING DR.

Kids who learn to love math gain confidence for a successful year. Mathnasium students learn from highly trained instructors in a fun and engaging environment. As their skills increase, they grow in confidence not just in math, but in all their subjects. Now open 1 24 Hour Pickle The 24/7 pickleball entertainment venue features a sauna, a pro shop, lounge and snack bar.

• www.24hourpickle.com

2 Sami’s Gyro House The eatery serves authentic gyro platters, gyro sandwiches and entrees such as chicken tikka. • Opened in mid-March

• Opened in early February • 11717 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land

• 9461 W. Bellfort Ave. A, Houston • https://samisgyrohouse.toast.site

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

• 9004 Sienna Crossing Drive, Ste. 100, Missouri City • www.torchystacos.com

• 11388 Fountain Lake Drive, Stafford • www.singaspizzas.com

Now open

9 Hopdoddy Burger Bar The Austin-based restaurant offers a range of handcrafted, specialty burgers, salad bowls, craft beers, wine, cocktails, and boozy and regular milkshakes. • Opened April 29 • 12333 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 300, Stafford • www.hopdoddy.com 10 Color Me Mine Seasoned and amateur artists can select from a wide range of pottery pieces and color pallets to produce a one-of-a-kind creation. Meanwhile, knowledgeable staff offer guests guidance and tips throughout the process. It is set to open after press time. • Opened May 7 • 1875 Hwy. 6, Ste. 900, Sugar Land • www.colormemine.com 1st Response Family Clinic The clinic launched its 1st Response Mobile Clinic to provide care for Houston-area firefighters with comprehensive lab work; annual physical assessments; stress and pulmonary function tests; vision, hearing and mental health screenings; and ultrasound screening for organ abnormalities and cardiac function. • Opened March 28 • https://frfclinic.com GreenPal The business launched same- or next-day service to clients within Missouri City limits and the surrounding 10-mile radius. The app provides contactless services. • Opened April 15 • www.yourgreenpal.com/tx/missouri-city-lawn-care

12 Black Rock Coffee Bar The Oregon-based chain will offer hot and iced coffee beverages, teas, smoothies and energy drinks. • Opening by early third quarter of 2025 • 11123 W. Airport Blvd., Stafford • www.br.coffee 13 Cava The Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant will serve rice and grain bowls that customers can customize with proteins such as falafel, harissa honey chicken and spicy lamb meatballs. • Opening in late 2025 • 11317 Current Lane, Stafford • www.cava.com 14 Quest Diagnostic The nationwide diagnostic testing company offers lab services and data-driven solutions to support informed health care decisions. • Opening in late 2025 • University Boulevard and LJ Parkway, Sugar Land • www.questdiagnostics.com 15 Dumont Creamery & Cafe The family-founded ice cream brand is now one of India’s leading manufacturers known for over 250 flavors crafted with global ingredients. • Opening in late 2025 • 4734 LJ Parkway, Ste. 300, Sugar Land • www.dumont.us

17 Shaghf Cafe The Dubai-based franchise has a menu boasting more than 60 drink combinations as well as desserts, including tarts, cakes and Dubai chocolate with shredded kunafa. Drinks vary from Arabic-style coffee and frappuccinos to specialty non-caffeinated items, such as the Lemon Breeze Strawberry beverage. • Opened April 17 • 350 Promenade Way, Ste 100, Sugar Land • Instagram: Shaghf Sugar Land

• www.daveandbusters.com

18 Freddy’s The fast-casual restaurant serves made-to-order burgers and beef hot dogs, fish and chicken sandwiches, patty melts, french fries, onion rings, shakes and ice cream sundaes. The national burger chain is expected to be under construction from June through December, according to TDLR project information. • 10411 Hwy. 6 S., Missouri City • www.freddys.com

What’s next

16 Dave & Buster’s The restaurant and entertainment business could come to Sugar Land, according to a project information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The business has a variety of arcade games, pool tables, food and beverages. Construction

Coming soon

11 Singas Famous Pizza The New York-based business will offer handmade pizzas, pasta dishes and sandwiches crafted with fresh ingredients. • Opening in late 2025

could begin in June and end in December. • 19900 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY AUBREY VOGEL

$1.31M design contract underway for voter- approved animal shelter At an April 15 meeting, Sugar Land City Coun- cil approved a $1.31 million design agreement with PGAL Inc. for the city’s animal shelter. The $20 million shelter will be located in Imperial Park along Hwy. 90A, said Lane Wolf, senior manager of vertical construction for Sugar Land. The details The 26,000-square-foot building will be able to house 80 dogs and 122 cats, up from the existing shelter that holds 31 dogs and 64 cats, Wolf said. The design contract includes schematic design for the building and on-site parking, construction documents and administration, and surveying, per agenda documents. The funding A $9 million shelter was initially approved by voters in the November 2019 bond, although rising construction costs and changes in animal care standards increased the shelter cost by $11.36 million, city officials previously said. Firefighters to receive 6% pay increase Missouri City City Council approved the second reading of the firefighter pay plan ordinance at an April 21 meeting to ensure the city is retaining and recruiting qualified staff. The first reading was approved at an April 7 meeting. The last pay increase for firefighters was approved by City Council last May following the results of a 2023 salary study. The study results showed the majority of Missouri City employee salaries were at the bottom of the region. A closer look The ordinance increases the annual base for firefighters from $61,936 to $64,104, which is up nearly 26.8% since 2022, per agenda documents. The raises were set to go into effect May 4, after press time.

Construction to begin on all-abilities park The Galaxy All Abilities Park is moving forward after delays following high bid numbers, county officials said. At two April meetings, Fort Bend County commissioners approved construction contracts for the park. A closer look The nearly $1.7 million space-themed park aims to be accessible for all children, includ- ing those with disabilities. The 1.29-acre park’s features will include sensory walls, interactive equipment and tactile elements. The park is funded by the county’s 2020 and 2023 parks bonds, county officials previ- ously said. The Sugar Land park is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, officials said in an email.

New animal shelter site

Shelter features include:

An adoption area

Workstations

Holding and isolation areas Staff and volunteer locker room

Laundry and food storage

Breakroom

SOURCE: SUGAR LAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The shelter will now be paid for with a combina- tion of funds from the 2019 and 2024 bonds, and $2.4 million in fundraising from the city’s Animal

Advisory Board. Looking ahead

Design will take place throughout the rest of this year, with construction expected to begin in early 2026, Wolf said. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in early 2027.

R I

Lexington Commons development to bring medical offices, retail near Smart Financial Centre

At an April 15 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance to rezone 8.041 acres from a single-family residential district to a planned development district for the proposed Lexington Commons development. The development from Planned Community Developers would be located in Telfair near Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land Senior Planner Jessica Echols said. The property is adjacent to the recently announced University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. A closer look The mixed-use site will be developed in two phases including: • Phase 1: two office buildings and a parking garage • Phase 2: an office building and a parking garage

The development will feature:

A centrally- located pedestrian plaza

Professional and medical offices

Restaurants and retail

SOURCE: SUGAR LAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next? Construction on the first phase is anticipated to begin this fall, PCD officials said. “We’ve heard from residents about their desire for walkable professional and retail space near Telfair, and we’re excited to bring Lexington Commons to meet this need,” PCD President Don Janssen said.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Government

BY AUBREY VOGEL

Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman reflects on 9 years of service Despite serving on various Sugar Land boards and City Council, Mayor Joe Zimmerman said he never saw himself running for mayor. But when the spot opened in June 2016 after former Mayor James Thompson termed out, Zimmerman thought he was the best man for the job, so he threw his hat in the ring. Now nine years later, Zimmerman’s mayoral term will end this summer following the outcome of the May 3 election, where six candidates are vying for the role. The election is after press time and could go to a June 7 runoff. The results During Zimmerman’s three terms as mayor—the maximum allowed by the city—he focused on five commitments he made on the campaign trail: public

safety, infrastructure, economic development, rede- velopment, and financial strength and transparency. “I think we’ve done a good job of setting the vision. Council was comfortable with the vision, staff executed the vision and here we are now—nine years later—and I think we’re in a really good spot,” he said. Offering input As a new mayor steps in to lead the city, Zimmerman said he encourages the individual to get to know the staff and build relationships across the Houston region and beyond. Additionally, Zimmerman said it’s important for the new mayor and council members to learn the city’s budgeting process, as it will be one of the first big projects ahead of council’s approval in September. What happens next? Until his time as mayor is over, Zimmerman said he is focused on serving the citizens of Sugar Land. Although following the completion of his duties, he said he will focus on his work for Turner and Townsend, a project management company that

AUBREY VOGEL/COMMUNITY IMPACT

focuses on school districts. As for his political future, Zimmerman said he doesn’t have his eye on a government role, although if one were to present itself that would be a family decision to decide to run.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Education

BY VALERIA ESCOBAR

Trustees pass contested gender identity policy Fort Bend ISD’s new gender identity policy will require staff to notify parents if a student uses another pronoun, name or gender identity that doesn’t align with their birth-assigned sex. Following over an hour of public comment, the FBISD board of trustees approved the new policy in a 5-2 vote at the April 14 board meeting. Trustees Angie Hanan and Shirley Rose-Gilliam dissented. However, trustees who approved the policy said it solidifies existing procedures and ensures family involvement in their child’s life. The overview During public comment, nearly 40 parents, students, teachers and community members shared their opposition to the policy, many referencing the heightened risks of suicide among transgender youth that is exacerbated by threats to their safety in school and at home, according to the National

District could pursue land sales, bond Fort Bend ISD officials are considering a new bond election or land sales to fund high-need projects from the May 2023 bond referendum. During the April 7 work study meeting, Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn presented $119.78 million in projects that the district determined as high need, some which were delayed in November. Next steps While the board could apply $38.8 mil- lion from contingency funds, the remaining $81 million will have to be accumulated through land sales or a bond election, Guinn said. Land sales would take at least one year before receiving offers, but bond funds would be accessible immediately.

The approved policy states:

Staff can’t ask for preferred pronouns and must inform parents if a student changes their name, identifies as transgender or uses different pronouns Students must compete in sports and use facilities that match their birth-assigned sex Staff can’t diagnose gender dysphoria, and materials promoting gender fluidity will be removed

Even with parental permission, no one is required to use a student’s preferred pronouns

SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Institutes of Health. Landon Richie, a former FBISD student and policy coordinator for transgender education at nonprofit Equality Texas, said he received the “life-saving” support as a student that this policy would prohibit. However, Carlos Jones, lead pastor of the Inspiration Church in Missouri City, said he believes the policy will allow all students to “have access to space that respects their dignity and privacy.”

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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Plugging in From the cover

Meet the first cohort

The gist

3 Sigmatic AI provides insights for health centers. Location : Round Rock, TX 4 ClassVI.AI creates permitting tools to accelerate approvals for carbon sequestration. Location: Houston, TX 5 ByteTrail enhances security for infrastructure. Location: Plano, TX 6 Facilis AI transforms manufacturing data into actionable insights. Location: Sunnyvale, CA 7 Tappy Guide is a navigation app for seniors, veterans and those with disabilities. Location: Austin, TX 8 Improving Aviation is a tool for wildfire prediction and disaster-resilient airspace management. Location: Tampa, FL 9 Kausalyze optimizes process manufacturing. Location: Manchester, UK 10 Solidec turns air and water into fuels and chemicals without fossil emissions. Location: Houston, TX

Each year, Plug and Play will host two cohorts of 10 to 20 small business startups at its oce in Sugar Land. The cohorts will focus on problem-solving solutions in the “smart city” realm, meaning digital technologies in the energy, mobility and health sectors, Hu said. “We get a say in the types of companies that come to Sugar Land as a part of the board,” she said. “We make sure they match our targeted industries.” The mentorship program will take place at the agship location in Sugar Land Town Square at 16205 City Walk, and will last 10 to 12 weeks. Prandtl Dynamics is now developing its anti-drone technology for military, prison, law enforcement and city use. Not only is the team looking to gain mentorship from Plug and Play, but it is also looking to relocate from Canada to Texas to nd better weather to test its products, Mahendru said. Ascent Integrated Tech is also participating in the rst cohort—showcasing a smart watch add-on aimed at tracking the wellness and location of reghters and law enforcement. The product was initially designed for the military, although company ocials want to sell the product to municipalities to keep rst responders safe, co-founder and CEO Paul Couston said.

1 Prandtl Dynamics builds acoustic defense systems and is known for its drone destruction platform. Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada COURTESY PRANDTL DYNAMICS

2 Ascent Integrated Tech of fers wearable real-time health and location tracking for field teams. Location: Chicago, IL COURTESY ASCENT INTEGRATED TECH

Canada

United States

Plug and Play 's Sugar Land headquarters

United Kingdom

3 7

4 10

Mexico

SOURCES: PLUG AND PLAY, SUGAR LAND, © GOOGLE MAPSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The cost

Will pay $4.5M to Plug and Play over 3 years Made nearly $17.5M in sales tax revenue in 2024 The Sugar Land Development Corp. used sales tax revenue to incentivize Plug and Play. The entity:

milestones are met—such as cohort comple- tions—and progress reports are shared with the city, Molpus said. The development corporation is funded by a voter-approved $0.25 sales tax rate to fund business promotion and development, and isn’t part of the city’s general fund budget.

The Sugar Land Development Corp. will provide Plug and Play with a $4.5 million investment to help launch this program in the Greater Houston area over three years, said Chandler Molpus, Sugar Land economic development coordinator. Payments will be made three times a year as

SOURCE: SUGAR LAND DEVELOPMENT CORP./COMMUNITY IMPACT

281-969-5445 • 6158 Sienna Ranch Road

8600 Sienna Springs Blvd 281-778-9595

3402 Cartwright Road 281-208-3232

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY AUBREY VOGEL

Zooming out

The impact

Looking ahead

Plug and Play has over 60 locations worldwide, with four others that have launched in Texas since early 2024, according to its website. These locations are in Cedar Park, Frisco, McKinney and most recently in the Bryan-College Station area. “It’s given us a platform to bring people from all over the country to McKinney who want to be part of Plug and Play, and it gives us a platform to be on the radar,” said Michael Kowski, president and CEO of McKinney Economic Development Corp.

Plug and Play’s first Sugar Land cohort began April 4 and will wrap up in June, Huff said. The agreement with Plug and Play will last three years but has the opportunity to extend and change with the community’s needs.

Huff said city staff have been looking for a business incubator since 2020, although the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the progress. Ulti- mately, city officials hope some businesses will relocate to the area, spurring job growth as well as property and sales tax revenue. Additionally, Huff said she believes this will help students at local universities, such as the University of Houston at Sugar Land, to find jobs in the area and stay to invest their talents in Sugar Land. Jay Neal, associate vice president and chief operating officer for UH at Sugar Land and UH at Katy, said he hopes to prepare and connect students to innovative opportunities such as Plug and Play. “Part of our academic vision is creating a community where higher education, industry, city/county governments come together to build an ecosystem that advances things like research, technology and innovation,” he said.

"Ultimately, I hope that [Plug and Play] helps to live out our values of being trailblazers but also our mission and vision of making people’s lives better than they imagine." ELIZABETH HUFF, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUGAR LAND

2,200 startups accelerated worldwide in 2024 Plug and Play impact

861 startups accelerated in the U.S. in 2024

$109,570

230

investments made to startups in 2024

average check size per startup

SOURCE: PLUG AND PLAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Missouri City 5820 Highway 6 Missouri City, TX 77459

Rosenberg 3400 Avenue H Rosenberg, TX 77471

Sugar Land 17602 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479

Grid 11213 West Airport Blvd. Stafford, TX 77477

1. Please refer to the Deposit Account Agreement, Account Disclosure, Deposit Rate Sheet and the applicable schedule of fees, or speak with a banker for more details. 2. Advertised premium rate effective as of 04/01/2025 available on Personal or Business Money Market accounts for account balances of $1,000.00 to $99,999,99 when you link a Personal Premium Interest Checking, Personal Premier Checking, Premier Elite Checking, Business Connect Checking, Business Interest Checking, or Community Checking accounts. Your interest rate and annual percentage yield (APY) may change at our discretion at any time. The APY assumes that interest paid remains in the account. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. We use the daily balance method to calculate the interest on your account. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the collected balance in your account each day. Interest compounds daily and will be credited to your account monthly. If you close your account before interest is credited, you will not receive accrued interest. Interest begins to accrue no later than the business day we receive credit for the deposit of noncash (checks). 3. Premium rate tiers are applied automatically to linked money market or savings accounts, CDs, and IRA accounts when the primary owner of the checking account is also an owner of the linked interest bearing account. Please see Deposit Rate Sheet for details.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Transportation

BY AUBREY VOGEL

Fort Bend County pioneers crosswalk technology by schools

Fort Bend County will be the first U.S. agency to deploy new crosswalk technology in school zones that aim to keep pedestrians safe and drivers alert. The gist The Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything, or C-V2X, school zone safety beacons and pedestrian technology are designed to warn drivers on their smartphones or through vehicle technology through voice alert to slow down as they approach schools, county and C-V2X officials announced in a March 4 news release. A closer look Brian Fields, traffic operations superintendent for the county’s road and bridge department, said the technology will be installed in all school zone signs with flashing lights that are maintained by the county in Katy, Fort Bend and Lamar Consolidated ISDs. The technology will also be installed in traffic signals.

Pedestrian-involved accidents in Houston area, 2014-23

+29.27%

1,200 1,000

0 200 400 600 800

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020 2021

2022 2023

SOURCE: TEXAS OPEN DATA PORTAL/COMMUNITY IMPACT

play a pivotal role in implementing technology that could keep pedestrians safe as pedestrian-involved accidents continue to grow in the Houston area. Installation began March 13 and is slated for completion in August, Fields said. Specific loca- tions of where the technology is being installed were not available by press time.

The $3.03 million project is being funded by the county’s 2024 capital improvement project funds, earmarked for school zone safety and public safety awareness, Fields said in an email. Going forward Fields said the county has the opportunity to

Development

BY KELLY SCHAFLER & AUBREY VOGEL

Former Texas Instruments campus demolished for The Grid Transwestern, the leaser for the mixed-use project, is working with oce, entertainment and retail tenants to parcel o the property now that the building is demolished, a Transwestern spokesperson said in an email. Several structures on the former Texas 59 Former building site

With demolition of the former Texas Instru- ments campus completed, developers of The Grid are moving onto the mixed-use development’s next phase. The former campus, located o Hwy. 59 in Staord, was demolished last year as part of ongoing construction of The Grid development, Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage shared at a Feb. 25 Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meeting. “The original intent of the developer was to repurpose the building, but it just got to be problematic,” Prestage said. “The building ... cost $2 million to tear it down—that’s how tough it was.” The campus has sat vacant since its closure in 2012 when the business moved to Sugar Land. Fort Bend Central Appraisal District data shows the building and surrounding property occupied about 16 acres of The Grid, which is a 192-acre project. Digging deeper Commercial real estate company

Instruments campus remain that developers plan to turn into a central lawn area and a cafeteria building, according to a marketing brochure for the property. The cafeteria building is a roughly 20,000-square-foot space that can be divided for restaurants. Ocials with Edge Realty, the developer of The Grid, didn’t respond to requests for comment on these details as of press time. Looking ahead The Grid developers previously told Community Impact the targeted completion date for the project is 2026.

The Grid

The roughly 16 acres the building was on will be parceled o and could be used for:

Retail

Restaurants

Hotel/oce space

Multifamily housing

Green space

SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SUGAR LAND 3335 Hwy 6 S (281) 313-4446 MISSOURI CITY 5418 Hwy 6 (281) 403-0400

SUGAR CREEK 13827 Southwest Fwy (281) 491-8628 SIENNA PLANTATION 9034 Sienna Crossing Dr (281) 778-9959

NEW TERRITORY 5720 New Territory Blvd (281) 491-0811

Events

BY ASIA ARMOUR

• $10-$35 • 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land • https://runsignup.com/race/tx/sugarland/fitfoodiele Memorial Day Ceremony Sugar Land leaders will pay tribute to fallen soldiers in this ceremony at Sugar Land Memorial Park, including the Sugar Land Police Department honor guard. The event will feature live music from the Lone Star Symphonic Band, a military flyover, speeches, military- related vendor booths and food trucks. • May 26, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. • Free (admission) • 15300 University Blvd., Sugar Land • www.sugarlandtx.gov

May

Worth the trip

Brisket U at Talyard Brewing Backyard Pitmasters will bring its famed barbecue class to Talyard Brewing, teaching attendees how to smoke brisket. • May 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. • $139 • 1033 Imperial Blvd., Sugar Land • www.brisketu.com Sweet Beats International Festival This live music event at Crown Festival Park will have headline acts such as That Mexican OT, New Breed Brass Band and Grupo Secretto. The event will also feature cultural experiences and international food and art. • May 17-18, 2 p.m. • $29-$44 (single-day passes), $49-$79 (weekend passes) • 18355 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land • www.sweetbeatsmusicfest.com Fit Foodie Family 5K This race, which includes a family 5K run and kids 1K run, will take place at Sugar Land Town Square. The post-race party will feature live entertainment, massages, family- friendly activities, food and products from local vendors. • May 24, 7:30-11 a.m.

Texas Monthly Taco Fest This inaugural food festival at Discovery Green will feature live entertainment and bites from 15 of Texas Monthly’s 50 best taco joints. Houston-based Tacos Frontera, which serves Tijuana-style fare, is one of the featured eateries. • June 7, 5-8:30 p.m. • $50 (general admission), $75 (VIP), $20 (kids ages 6-12) • 1500 McKinney St., Houston • www.texasmonthly.com/tacofest

June

Space Cowboys Baseball Camp Kids ages 6-12 can participate in a weekend of baseball drills, skills competitions and instruction from local coaches and trainers at Constellation Field. Campers will receive a T-shirt and a ticket to a Sugar Land Space Cowboys game on July 2. • June 4-6, 9 a.m.-noon • $195 • 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land • www.milb.com/sugar-land/events/baseball-camp

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MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

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MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION

Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

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Dining

BY ASIA ARMOUR

Spectators’ bar manager is constantly brainstorming new and unexpected cocktails to serve.

The prime beef cheeseburger ( $16 ) is made with brisket, chuck and short rib, and served with a side of true fries.

PHOTOS COURTESY SPECTATORS BAR & GRILL

Spectators Bar & Grill aims to provide upscale dining

Owner Aneal Mohammad (center) credits his team for the business’ growth and expansion.

the Houston metro, Mohammad said. His sights are set on a potential 2025 or 2026 opening in Cypress or The Woodlands, he said. “You have to take risks to be able to do anything in life,” he said. “It’s an expensive risk, but that gives me a further drive to be like, don’t fail.” What’s on the menu Mohammad said he aims to provide an upscale dining experience some customers may be unaccustomed to having at a sports bar. “I wanted something with craft cocktails ... but also pair that with fresh, good food,” he said. “Not just your typical fried food you’d get when you walk into a sports bar, but fresh salmon, a fresh steak.”

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” quoted Aneal Mohammad, owner of sports-centric restaurant Spectators Bar & Grill. How it started Mohammad took a drastic leap to open the rst Spectators in Sugar Land in August 2022, com- pletely shifting his career path from mechanic to a business owner in the restaurant industry. He said he relied on his team—people he grew up with in Sugar Land and Missouri City—to push each other to become what they are today. How it’s going Spectators now has three locations in Fort Bend County, with the goal to open 20 to 30 more across

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A 1525 Lake Pointe Parkway, Ste. 100, Sugar Land B 18702 University Blvd., Sugar Land C 18802 W. Airport Blvd., Ste. 700, Richmond www.spectatorsbargrill.com

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