The Woodlands Edition | August 2025

First look inside From the cover

At a glance

Kevin Brady Library and Community Center features and amenities Community center 5,000-square-foot ballroom Conference room

A land swap rst envisioned in 2023 has neared completion with the unveiling of the Kevin Brady Library and Community Center in the Grogan’s Mill Village Center. Following the 2020 closing of a Randalls store, the site was transformed through a $16.5 million partnership between Montgomery County and Howard Hughes over the past year. The new library and community center will continue to serve as a community hub, and the renovated retail portion of the center will welcome a number of new stores in the next year, Howard Hughes ocials said. Nelda Blair, the founding chair of The Woodlands Township’s board of directors, said she believes the transformation of the center has been important for the community. “This … is just really a perfect example of how our community does its best when we come together and work as partners,” Blair said. Blair and a number of other current and former residents were recognized for their contributions to the community with namesake rooms in the community center. In March, county ocials said the center would be named for Kevin Brady, a longtime resident of The Woodlands who represented Texas’ 8th Congressional District from 1997-2023.

Theater-style classroom Space for senior activities

Library

Children’s area Young adult room Podcast room 3D printer

The library and community center planned an unveiling Aug. 20, after press time.

Rooms honor local residents Sen. Tommy Williams, former Texas senator Judge Edie Connelly, retired Montgomery County Precinct 3 justice of the peace Julie Ambler, head of school, The Woodlands Christian Academy Cathy Brady, local community and business leader Bruce Cunningham, former president of Grogans Mill Village Association Dr. Edmund Robb III, retired senior pastor, The Woodlands United Methodist Church Jim and Nelda Blair, lawyers and community leaders

Community Center Director James Holian places books on a shelf in the library.

SOURCES: HOWARD HUGHES, MONTGOMERY COUNTY¢COMMUNITY IMPACT

Diving in deeper

In their words

Businesses opening soon 1 SUNA Studio: Opening in August 2 Plush Nail Bar: Opening in September 3 Yonutz: Opening this winter

Howard Hughes ocials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 25 for the retail portions of the Grogan’s Mill Village Center, which make up approximately 32,000 square feet of space at the site, and remained under the ownership of Howard Hughes. Four new businesses have announced their openings in the center as of press time, including SUNA Studio, Plush Nail Bar, cookie store Half Baked Goodness and doughnut shop Yonutz. Businesses that have closed at the shopping center include Chef Chan’s, but others have found new homes in other parts of the township, such as The Blue Lion Pub, which relocated to McBeth Way in January. Others, such as Ome Calli Cafe and Brothers Pizza, have continued their leases at the center, ocials said. “Economic development is critical,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler said. “If we can take

“We live in a community that was built on innovation ... and this is [an] example of that.” AARON COX, THE WOODLANDS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT

BUCKTHORNE PL.

Library Community center

SWITCHBUD PL.

“I think this could be a great rst step in reinventing ourselves.” RITCH WHEELER, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRECINCT 3 COMMISSIONER

SOURCES: HOWARD HUGHES, MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT

the tax burden o of the residents by other reve- nue streams, then that’s a win. I think that, yes, this will be a launching point, maybe a blueprint for other areas to be able to … bring more business to our community.”

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM