San Marcos - Buda - Kyle Edition | January 2022

IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

restaurant across the street called the Blind Salamander Cantina . Located at 301 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos, the new cantina’s menu will feature tacos as well as margaritas. The new business is slated to open mid- to late January. A phone number is not yet available. www.facebook.com/blindsalamandertx NAME CHANGES 4 All BBVA locations in the U.S. converted to PNC branches in Octo- ber, including one bank in San Marcos. BBVA Group nalized the sale of its U.S. banking operations over the summer, according to a press release. The compa- ny will retain its U.S. presence through BBVA Securities and the New York branch, which will serve large corporate and institutional clients. Following the acquisition, PNC is the fth largest com- mercial banking organization by assets in the country. The San Marcos location that transitioned to PNC is located at 300 S. LBJ Drive, San Marcos. 512-754-8800. www.pnc.com NEWOWNERSHIP 5 EVO Entertainment Group an- nounced Jan. 3 it has acquired Showbiz Cinemas in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Wyoming. This takeover establishes EVO as one of the largest operators of cinema entertainment centers oering bowl- ing, games, food and more at locations including the San Marcos location in the Springtown Shopping Center at 1180 Thorpe Lane, Ste. 130, San Marcos. 512-210-8600. www.evocinemas.com/ springtown 6 The Porch and The Taproom , locat- ed at 129 E. Hopkins St., Ste. 110 and 120 respectively, underwent new owner- ship Nov. 1. The new owners, Sara Levine and Samantha Strahan, met with the previous owners, Travis Kelsey and Kevin Shea, in early March 2020 and worked toward nalizing ownership for over a year and a half during the pandemic. The new owners plan to introduce brunch menus to both locations in spring 2022 and have begun oering live music at The Porch. 512-392-9824. www.taproomsanmarcos.com 1984 1979

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RENOVATIONS 7 The city of San Marcos held an open house Jan. 12 for the community to oer input regarding the future transformation and reconstruction of Kissing Alley , locat- ed at 121 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos, a local music and event space. The city is set to invest $5 million to replace existing infra- structure such as wastewater and electric utility upgrades to meet current standards. Additional improvements may include enhanced lighting, public art, performance spaces and landscaping. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2023 and nish in spring 2025. 512-393-8130. www.sanmarcostx.gov 8 Rogelio’s Restaurant , located at 625 S. LBJ Drive, San Marcos, closed Dec. 24 for renovations. The air con- ditioning unit is set to be replaced as well as lighting xtures throughout the restaurant. Rogelio’s is known for its lunch and dinner Tex-Mex cuisine as well as all day breakfast and is slated to Meals onWheels Central Texas named Henry Van de Putte as the new president and CEO on Jan. 6, and he will ocially take the helm Feb. 7. The previous presi- dent and CEO, Adam Hauser, announced his retirement in fall 2021. Meals on Wheels Central Texas was founded in 1972 to help nourish the community through meal distribution and various programs such as Mike’s Place for early- to mid- stage Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org reopen Jan. 17. 512-392-4141. www.rogelios-restaurant.com IN THE NEWS

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NOWOPEN 1 A second location of Sugar Shack Bakery opened in November at 690 Center Point Road, Ste. 205, San Marcos. Owners Ashbi and Chad Wil- son have owned the business for three years and outgrew the original location of the bakery in Wimberley. Production will phase out of the Wimberley loca- tion, which will become a strictly retail location of baked goods. The San Marcos location features breakfast pastries, des- serts, gluten-free items, a hot breakfast menu and a lunch menu of sandwiches. The new location also has a full espresso bar and oers boba tea. 737-221-8903. www.sugarshackbakerytx.com

2 Eyemart Express , located in the Guadalupe Crossing shopping center at 200 N. I-35, San Marcos, opened Jan. 17. It is the 13th location in Central Texas with locations in Austin, New Braunfels and San Antonio. The new store will have an on-site lab and lens technicians who can make glasses and prescription sunglasses the same day. The store will also carry frames from brands such as Ray-Ban, Nike and Disney. A phone num- ber is not yet available. www.eyemartexpress.com COMING SOON 3 Allen Shy, owner of Crafthouse in downtown San Marcos, is opening a new

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