Plano South | March 2025

The e-edition is an exact replica of the newspaper with interactive and searchable articles from all your favorite sections.

Plano South Edition VOLUME 11, ISSUE 7 MARCH 22APRIL 21, 2025

2025 Camp Guide A new Bend New Willow Bend plan now includes Macy’s demolition

INSIDE

W. PLANO PKWY.

DNT TOLL

W. PARK BLVD.

RENDERING COURTESY CENTENNIAL

Also in this issue

Subscribe to our free daily email newsletter!

Impacts: Discover the new ramen restaurant in downtown Plano (Page 6)

Community: Explore area options and nd the perfect summer camp adventure for your child (Page 18)

��-��-�� CALL FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE

Baths • Showers • Windows • Doors • Kitchen Cabinets

You’ll Love Our Team! We are committed to delivering high-quality products and exceptional service, putting your needs first to create a stress-free, personalized experience every step of the way.

+ Flexible Financing Available. 20% Off Any Project

Offer expires on 4/30/2025.

Scan to get started!

M-39963

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

This is a paid advertisement.

Water Wisely Help Plano

• Water early in the morning or later in the evening. Using sprinklers between 10 am and 6 pm is prohibited to minimize evaporation and ensure more efficient water usage. • Reduce runoff by shortening your watering times. Run your sprinklers in short cycles and wait one hour between cycles to allow water to soak into the ground. • Direct spray onto landscape. Avoid accidentally watering the fence, sidewalk, street or driveway. • Inspect your irrigation system monthly. Check for broken, damaged or missing sprinkler heads to avoid wasting water. Ensure hoses and pipes are connected properly to avoid leaks and fix any breaks. Watch for upcoming sprinkler repair classes at Plano.gov/SEEDPrograms. • Use compost and mulch in your yard. Compost creates nutrient rich soil that holds moisture, allows better root penetration and releases water and nutrients to plant roots. Mulch around plants keeps temperature consistent and reduces evaporation. Consider using Texas Pure Products mulch and compost – shop at TexasPureProducts.com. Twice per week watering is permitted April 1 - October 31 Once per week watering is permitted November 1 - March 31 Resident addresses with an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) as their last digit and HOA common areas water Mondays and Thursdays. Resident addresses with an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) as their last digit water Tuesdays and Fridays. • Only water when needed and only on assigned watering days. You may not need to water if rain is in the forecast. Subscribe to for weekly watering recommendations. WaterMyYard.org Plano.gov/Watering

Water is our most precious resource, so it’s important we protect it. If we all do a small part to conserve, together we can make a big impact.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The City of Plano is hosting a Town Hall focused on the 2025 Bond Referendum on Thursday, April 10. Learn how to participate at Plano.gov/TownHall.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

WE HAVE THE LARGEST INVENTORY

IN THE NATION. YOU HAVE ALL THE OPTIONS.

6455 Dallas Parkway | 972.599.0909 | mbplano.com | A Ewing Automotive Company

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

About Community Impact Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Dustin Butler Karen Chaney Mark Fadden Colby Farr Hannah Johnson Heather McCullough Jonathan Perriello Alex Reece Cody Thorn Jacob Vaughn Graphic Designers Nicolas Delgadillo José Jiménez

Vonna Matthews General Manager vmatthews@ communityimpact.com

Chelsea Peters Armando Servin Quality Desk Editor Deekota Diaz Account Executive Scott Vowinkle Managing Editor Miranda Jaimes Senior Product Manager Breanna Flores

Michael Crouchley Editor mcrouchley@ communityimpact.com

John Alper DFW Market President jalper@ communityimpact.com

3803 Parkwood Blvd., Ste. 500 Frisco, TX 75034 • 2146189001 CI Careers

Proudly printed by

communityimpact.com/careers linkedin.com/company/communityimpact plnnews@communityimpact.com plnads@communityimpact.com communityimpact.com/advertising

Press releases

Advertising

Email newsletters

communityimpact.com/newsletter

Let’s talk summer fun for KIDS WITH AUTISM. Summer Camp at The Behavior Exchange makes learning fun for kids with autism through accredited ABA therapy.

K RUPA D OWNS L AW

WILLS | ESTATE PLANNING SPECIAL NEEDS GUARDIANSHIP PROBATE LAW

Enroll today! It’s never too early to get started on a brighter future for your whole family.

Proud to be a Behavioral Health Center of Excellence ® and the FIRST in all of North Texas to earn the prestigious 3-year accreditation!

214.556.3862

C HRISTENE “C HRIS ” K RUPA D OWNS , ATTORNEY

972.312.8733

enroll@behaviorexchange.com

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Impacts

T A

C Y RD.

3 Popeyes The fast food establishment serves fried chicken, seafood, biscuits and more. • Opened Feb. 10 • 1200 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano • www.popeyes.com 4 Ramen Belly Menu items include pot stickers, sashimi, ramen and poke bowls. • Opened March 14 • 1001 14th St., Ste.100, Plano • www.ramenbelly.co

RIDGEVIEW DR.

SRT TOLL

MCDERMOTT RD.

North Plano

A NY DR.

HEDGCOXE RD.

GRANITE PKWY.

LEGACY DR.

CORPORATE DR.

Coming soon

DNT TOLL

PLANO PKWY.

DNT TOLL

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

5 Shaahi Biryani The menu includes chicken tikka masala, beef nihari, kabab platters and more. • Opening TBD • 3421 E. Renner Road, Ste. 110, Plano • www.shaahibiryani.com 6 BASIS The school offers “STEM-infused, college preparatory, K–12 tuition-free curriculum,” according to the school’s website. • Opening in August • 4501 Hedgcoxe Road, Plano • www.enrollbasistx.com 7 Cherry Blossom Lounge The business will offer wine tastings and pairings. Cherry Blossom Lounge doesn’t have a wine menu online and its website hasn’t been published yet. • Opening in Summer 2025 • Plano Market Street, 1929 Preston Road, Plano • Facebook: Cherry Blossom Lounge 8 Keke’s Breakfast Cafe The eatery’s breakfast menu features apple-cinnamon waffles, buttermilk pancakes, egg and cheese sandwich, and more. The lunch options will include portabella panini, Buffalo chicken sandwich, chicken

CHAPEL HILL BLVD.

PARKER RD.

PARK BLVD.

South Plano

PARK BLVD.

15TH ST.

1 4 TH ST.

P L A N O P K W Y .

DNT TOLL

RENNER RD.

PGBT TOLL

1 5

2 Palestinian Excellence The company offers a wide variety of traditional and modern clothing items, focusing on Palestinian embroidery and cultural designs, CEO Sulieman Alhazma said. • Opened Feb. 2 • 2070 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Ste. 314A, Plano • www.palestinianelegance.com

Now open

1 Alohahola The restaurant menu includes Hawaiian BBQ, seafood, musubi, fried rice and more. • Opened mid-March • 3421 E. Renner Road, Ste. 104, Plano • www.alohahola.com

QUALITY DISCOUNT FURNITURE AND DONATION CENTER 25% OFF ONE REGULARLY PRICED ITEM QUALITY DISCOUNT FURNITURE AND DONATION CENTER ONE REGULARLY PRICED ITEM

25% OFF ONE REGULARLY PRICED ITEM

SHOP DONATE VOLUNTEER

INDUSTRIAL BLVD.

HARRY MCKILLOP BLVD.

2060 COUCH DR., MCKINNEY 75069 2060 COUCH DR., MCKINNEY 75069 2060 COUCH DR., MCKINNEY 75069

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DUSTIN BUTLER, KAREN CHANEY & MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Caesar salad and more. • Opening TBD • 9615 Coit Road, Plano • www.kekes.com

Relocations

9 Piada The eatery’s menu features a variety of pasta bowls including carbonara, basil pesto, diavolo and marinara. A build-your-own pasta option is also available. Other items include piadas, salads and more. • Opening April 29 • 9605 Coit Road, Ste. 101, Plano • www.mypiada.com 10 Singas Pizza The eatery’s menu features a variety of pizza options including black olive, BBQ chicken, pepperoni, shrimp, eggplant and more. Spaghetti sauces include mushroom, garlic butter, alfredo and others. • Opening in June • 8245 Preston Road. Plano • www.singaspizzas.com

13 Mazie’s Mission Rescue Hospital The nonprofit veterinary hospital dedicated to serving homeless and neglected animals, relocated to Plano in January. Mazie’s Mission offers professional veterinary care, expert forensic evidence and adoption assistance to shelters, rescue groups and 14 Lee Graves Salon The salon’s expansion, which increased the salon’s space from 2,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet, allowed for increased services. Lee Graves Salon reopened on Feb 21. • 6101 Chapel Hill Blvd., Ste. 103, Plano • www.leegravessalon.com 15 Kentucky Fried Chicken The fast food chain is set to move its U.S. headquarters from Louisville, Kentucky, to Plano. • 7100 Corporate Drive • www.kfc.com 16 The Kickin’ Crab The restaurant will offer shrimp, oysters, tilapia and

first responders, as well as other non-profit animal welfare groups. • Opened in January • 6505 W Park Blvd., Ste.155, Plano • www.maziesmission.org

In the news

11 Atlantic Aviation Plano City Council approved an economic incentive that will provide the company with $300,000 to move their headquarters into a 25,000-square-foot space on Granite Park 6’s seventh floor. • 5525 Granite Parkway • www.atlanticaviation.com 12 Bojangles The standalone restaurant set for the corner of SH 121 and Coit Road is expected to start construction on July 31 and finish in January 2026. North Carolina-based Bojangles serves chicken sandwiches, tenders, fried chicken and grilled chicken with a variety of sides and desserts, including the restaurant’s signature Bo-Berry Biscuit, according to its website.

more. The restaurant is not slated to open until late 2025, according to documents filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. • 3420 K Ave., Ste. 160, Plano • www.thekickincrab.com

Closings

17 JOANN The company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 15, and announced that all stores will be closing. • Closing TBD • 700 Alma Drive, Plano • www.joannrestructuring.com

• 3840 SH 121, Plano • www.bojangles.com

YOUR COMMUNITY BANK SINCE 1961.

Competitive CD rates

Commercial and mortgage lending solutions

Top community relationship bankers

PLANO | DALLAS | ADDISON | FRISCO | LAS COLINAS

ndbt.com | 972.716.7191 | Member FDIC

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Active Adult Living At Its Finest!

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A TOUR!

• Experience a Carefree Lifestyle! • Enjoy Life to the Fullest! • Engage with Friends at Social Events! • Relax in Your New Home!

1717 Alma Dr. Plano, TX 75075 TwinRiversCollinCreek.com 972-784-1717

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & CODY THORN

2 city grants to bring HQs to Plano

3 Plano City Council seats up for grabs The filing period to appear on the May 3 ballot in Plano ended at 5 p.m. on Feb. 14. Check out the final list of candidates for multiple city council seats. On the ballot Incumbent John Muns, who was first elected as mayor in 2021, is running for re-election unopposed. The Plano City Council Place 2 race will have three candidates, with Bob Kehr, Douglas Reeves and Carson K. Underwood all running. Christene Krupa Downs and Cody Weaver are running for Place 4, while Vidal Quintanilla and Hayden Padgett are both running for the Place 8 seat. Current Place 2, 4 and 8 council mem- bers Anthony Ricciardelli, Kayci Prince and Rick Smith, respectively, have all hit the term limit and cannot run for re-election. What else Early voting for the May 3 election will last from April 22-29. The last day to register to vote is April 3.

Atlantic Aviation Corporate Headquarters

DNT TOLL

The city of Plano has entered economic incentive agreements to relocate Sally Beauty Holdings and Atlantic Aviation’s corporate headquarters to Plano. The big picture Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., announced in a news release that it would leave Denton and relocate its corporate headquarters to Plano. The company founded in 1964 will lease 140,000 square feet of office space at 7900 Windrose Avenue in the Legacy West development. The move will bring approximately 600 employees to Plano at the end of 2025. “Legacy is recognized as one of the premier business parks in the United States, offering unparalleled opportunities for businesses like Sally Beauty to thrive,” Doug McDonald, Plano Director of Economic Development, said in a news release. Sally Beauty has more than 4,000 stores across three continents and recently opened 10 Happy Beauty Co. stores to meet the demand of high-quality, low-cost beauty products in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to a news release.

121

Sally Beauty Corporate Headquarters

What else Atlantic Aviation is keeping its headquarters in Plano, but moving around two miles north to Granite Park 6. Plano City Council approved an economic incentive that will provide the company with $300,000 to move their headquar- ters into a 25,000-square-foot space on Granite Park 6’s seventh floor, located at 5525 Granite Parkway. Atlantic Aviation provides a variety of aircraft maintenance services at various locations nationwide, including locations in Dallas and Addison. The company’s headquarters were previously located at 5201 Tennyson Parkway.

Plano council approves new parks facility, trailhead improvements at Oak Point Park

OAK POINT PARK

A new maintenance facility for Plano’s parks department is set to be constructed at Oak Point Park. The gist The 15,520-square-foot maintenance facility set for the corner of Los Rios Boulevard and Parker Road will feature space for offices, equip- ment storage, vehicle maintenance bays and more. Plano City Council approved the project at its Feb. 10 meeting. The new facility will also feature trailhead improvements with restrooms and a bicycle services station open to the public. The site will also feature more than 90 parking spaces.

Diving deeper The new facility will be replacing the current facility at Schell Park, which Plano Assistant Director of Parks Dave Angeles said is outdated. He added that the facility’s location near Memorial Elementary School and several neigh- borhoods is not ideal. “We really would like to get our maintenance facilities a little bit further away from the resi- dential areas, as well as preventing the ingress and egress of our staff during school hours and school release times,” he said. The construction of the facility will cost nearly $13 million , and will be paid for with 2021 bond funds.

E. SPRING CREEK PKWY.

What’s next Construction on the project is expected to begin early this summer, and will take 12 months to complete, Plano Director of Engineering Caleb Thornhill said.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Education

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & HANNAH JOHNSON

State performance reviewed by PISD board Plano ISD has a “Superior Achievement” rating in nancial integrity and “meets requirements” for special education needs, according to the district’s 2023-24 Texas Academic Performance Report, or TAPR. The PISD Board of Trustees reviewed the TAPR during its Feb. 4 meeting. The Texas education code requires the district to publish the TAPR annually. The details Antoine Spencer, director of research and accountability for PISD, presented the results, which covers the district’s STAAR scores, annual growth and more. Across all STAAR test subjects— reading, math, science and social studies—82% of PISD students were at approaches and above, while the state average was 75%.

PISD sta details behavior program

Plano Region Percentage approaching or meeting grade level State Plano ISD 2024 STAAR scores

82%

The district began implementing a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Program four years ago in campus cohorts, the rst of which has completed the implementation. The approach The program is focused on positive reinforcement aimed to prevent behavior issues in students, Jana Sandall, director for student management, said. The district also uses a classroom man- agement tool called STOIC, an acronym which stands for structure, teach, observe, interact and correct—ve elements Sandall said will help lead to eective behavioral improvement. Since 2023, 55 campuses have been trained with the tool, Sandall said.

76%

Reading

77%

80%

72%

Math

74%

80%

75% 75%

Science

86%

Social Studies

78%

80%

SOURCE: PLANO ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Collin College eyes Frisco health science center

Bill King said during the meeting. About the project

Collin College has taken another step toward the creation of a new health sciences center at the college system’s Frisco campus. The college’s board of trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price of $11.31 million for prepping the site for construction during a Feb. 25 meeting. The scope of work in the agreement includes site work, path preparation, underground utilities and pouring slab, Executive Vice President

The project is estimated to cost approximately $70 million and is expected to open in spring 2027. The 120,000-square-foot center will provide additional space for the college’s current and new health science programs, said Mark Smith, provost of the Collin College McKinney campus.

Collin College oers a variety of programs related to the healthcare industry.

COURTESY NICK YOUNGCOLLIN COLLEGE

Advertise in the Voter Guide

CAMP SUMMER 5thG d St d t

Kindergarten - 5th Grade Students Ki d t

Animals • Exploration • Crafts • Games

6 weekly sessions starting 6/9 M-F 8:30am-12:30pm Heritage Farmstead Museum 1900 W 15th Street, Plano

ADS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM PRINT + DIGITAL PACKAGES | DIRECT MAIL

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Plano invests $6.8M in road concrete repair More road work is set for sections of Alma Drive and Independence Parkway. The city of Plano is spending $6.8 million for road construction on Alma Drive and Indepen- dence Parkway. Plano City Council approved a contract with Jagoe-Public Company for the arterial overlay projects during its Feb. 24 meeting. The specifics The arterial overlay projects are set for Alma Drive between Parker Road and Hedgcoxe Road and Independence Parkway between Spring Creek Parkway and SH 121. The work includes 1,500 square yards of con- crete repairs followed by the installation of a thin asphalt overlay. On average, sections of road that undergo the arterial overlay process will not need additional

15th Street lane closed for replacement work Plano drivers can expect lane closures for construction on 15th Street until July 15. What you need to know Work started on replacing a screening wall on 15th Street from Alma Drive to just east of Booker Lane on Feb. 9. The outside lane of westbound 15th Street closed as a result. Crews are also replacing screening walls on Independence Parkway and Parker Road. Those projects are expected to complete in June and March, respectively.

121

maintenance for 15 to 20 years, while roads with only concrete repairs need maintenance every five years, on average, Plano Senior Engineer Samson Bekele said.

BOOKER LN.

E. 15TH ST.

DART implements changes to fare structure Riders can expect several changes to Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s fare structure starting March 1. The specifics DART is set to implement a “simplified fare structure,” according to a news release from the transit agency.

DART Corporate Annual Pass program will see no change in their rates, according to the release. Veterans will also be able to apply for a reduced fare card. Quote of note “Our goal is to make fares more straightforward and equitable for all passengers,” DART Assistant Vice President Jing Xu said in the release. “By con- solidating and refining our fare products, we aim to maintain a balance between affordability and the high level of service our customers expect.”

standard three-hour passes, which would cost $3 local fare and $1.50 for those eligible to pay a reduced fare. The price of a day pass will stay at $6 local, or $3 local reduced fare, but the price of a monthly pass will increase from $96 local or $46 reduced fare to $126 or $63. The transit agency is also removing the option to buy an annual pass, but members enrolled in the

Single-ride, a.m./p.m. and midday passes used for bus and GoLink rides will be replaced by one

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

A new Bend From the cover

What you need to know

moving the pieces around.” The new plan includes the demolition of the mall’s southern half, including Macy’s, instead of its southern half as originally planned. Centennial also added 50 single-family townhomes in addition to the three planned apartments.

Just over a year later, a new plan for the project titled “The Bend” was approved. Michael Platt, Centennial executive vice president of mixed- use development, said the revision was “more reective of the market.” “It’s the same chessboard,” Platt said. “We’re just

A plan to redevelop The Shops at Willow Bend from a 1.4 million-square-foot indoor mall into a mixed-use district was sent back to the drawing board shortly after receiving City Council approval in February 2024, when Macy’s informed property owners Centennial that its location in the mall would be closing.

Existing site plan

Proposed concept plan Key:

Key:

1 Dillard’s 2 Macy's

1 Dillard’s 2 Neiman Marcus P Parking garages Enclosed retail

3 Neiman Marcus P Parking garages

DNT TOLL

Enclosed retail Parking lots

Open spaces Single family townhomes Multi family apartments Parking lots

DALLAS PKWY.

SOURCE: CENTENNIALCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The inspiration

Levin said that the mall had 50 tenants when it was acquired by Centennial in 2022, and it currently has closer to 30. “We can’t have a mall that is empty,” Levin said. “The tenancy is waning and struggling, so we’re trying to get started as fast as we can.”

Brian Dunne, who owns The Mexican Bar in Willow Bend, said last year that several of the businesses were “hanging on by a string,” adding that the redevelopment was necessary. “[Mall tenants] feel strongly that we need this to happen for us to survive,” he said.

The loss of Macy’s is the latest blow for Willow Bend, which opened in 2001. A planned $125 million redevelopment in 2015 never materialized and several big tenants have left the mall since, including the Apple store in 2019.

1992

2007

2024

SCAN QR CODE TO REGISTER

OPEN HOUSE

March 26 at 5:30 p.m.

1201 Alma Dr, Plano, TX 75075 | (972) 578-0610

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Diving in deeper

What’s next

at Willow Bend, with both transitioning from traditional indoor malls to include a more diverse set of uses. Braster said that the major difference is that The Shops at Willow Bend is still open, putting it in the “right spot to redevelop in a more sustainable way.” “We all watched Collin Creek die,” Braster said. “And to have another great asset like Willow Bend do the same thing... we couldn’t let that happen.”

The Bend plays into the city’s current plan for redevelopment, Plano Director of Special Projects Peter Braster said, as the city has little green space left, and future growth will focus on redevelopment. “You have to keep up growing and evolving,” Braster said. “Maybe not outward in geographics, but still, growth happens.” Of the other major redevelopments in Plano, the Collin Creek Mall is most similar to The Shops

"We still feel like the vision and the strategy for the center is correct, but we just need to pivot in how we actually implement that."

MICHAEL PLATT, CENTENNIAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

The project’s first phase is set to break ground this year, according to a news release from Centennial. Construction will start on the southern half of the mall, focusing on the construction of the apartment buildings, the release states. “Willow Bend is yesterday’s suburban mall— it was designed for a different era,” Platt said. “The one thing that really doesn’t work on this site is what’s there today.”

Plano’s two largest indoor malls are both in the process of major redevelopments. Reinventing retail

Malls

Square footage

Residential Units

Open space (acres)

Hotel(s)

1.4M sq. ft.

965

10 acres

Willow Bend Mall

1.1M sq. ft.

3,100

8 acres

Collin Creek Mall

SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Discover Cambridge Crossing, an enchanting place to live that captures the grace and allure of another age. Timeless English-inspired architecture blends seamlessly with today's most sought-after amenities to create a lifestyle that celebrates the best of both worlds. OUR BUILDERS: Coventry Homes | Highland Homes | Perry Homes | UnionMain Homes Celina ISD | CambridgeCrossingCelina.com | 2225 Huddleston Drive, Celina, TX 75009

New homes from the $500s to $1M+ English Style, Texas Charm

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Events

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Plano Bridal Show The event features a variety of wedding-related

March

exhibitors and vendors. • March 30, noon-5 p.m. • $12 (adults), $6 (ages 3-14) • E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano • www.bridalshowsinc.com

The Texas Golf Expo Golf-focused speakers, contests, giveaways, vendors will all be present at the Texas Golf Expo. • March 21, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; March 22, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; March 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. • $20 (entrance) • 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano • www.texasgolfexpo.com Collin Jazz Fest Area middle and high school jazz bands will be performing at a series of evening concerts. • March 28-29, 7 p.m. • Free • 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Room A175 • www.collin.edu/department/music/musicevents Little Farmer Fridays at Heritage Farmstead The series of events will include feeding ducks, meeting the farm’s pigs and more. • March 29, April 4, 10 a.m.-noon • $15 (ages 2-11), $7 (ages 13-23 months), $5 (12 and older), free (under 12 months old) • 1900 W. 15th St., Plano • www.heritagefarmstead.org

April

Dance Plano! 2025 The event is a showcase of professional dancers from performing companies and studios. • April 5, 2:30 p.m. • TBA • 1509 H Ave., Plano • www.planometballet.org Easter Egg Hound Hunt Attendees can bring their dogs out to sniff out hidden Easter eggs filled with dog treats. • April 12, 9 a.m. • $5 • 5901 Los Rios Blvd., Plano • www.plano.gov/2078/Special-Events

Spring into Colorfest 5K Run & Community Garage Sale Plano Parks and Recreation is hosting its third annual Spring into Color 5K and Community Garage Sale. • March 29 • $25 (5K), free (garage sale admission) • 6000 Jupiter Road, Plano • www.facebook.com/events/980811547259476

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Restaurant & Bakery Jeng Chi We invite you to join us for 35 days of celebration to commemorate 35 years of business in Richardson Chinatown. Find all the details by scanning our QR code. April 1 to May 5, 2025

years

Unmatched Academic Results Come tour a campus and see for yourself!

Challenger School offers uniquely fun and academic programs for preschool to eighth‑grade students. Our students learn to think for themselves and to value independence. Legacy (PS–K) (469) 573-0077

6700 Communications Parkway, Plano Independence (PS–G3) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano

ACCEPTING EASTER ORDERS STARTING TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST. APRIL 1ST.

SPIRAL CUT HAMS BONELESS LEG OF LAMB PRIME RIB ROAST

PORK CROWN ROAST FRESH AND SMOKED KIELBASA

Scan to schedule a tour

An independent private school offering preschool through eighth grade

972-633-5593

1301 W. PARKER RD., #100 PLANO, TX 75023

W. Parker Rd.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

FuelCell Rebel v4

Store Hours Saturday: 10am-6pm

Monday-Friday: 10am-7pm

Closed Sundays

Locally owned & operated

Locations

4017 Northwest Parkway Dallas, TX 75225 214-696-4313

8300 Gaylord Parkway, Suite 4 Frisco, TX 75034 214-618-4442

951 IH 30E Rockwall, TX 75087 214-771-0528

2704 E. Southlake Blvd Southlake, TX 76092 817-749-0177

4601 West Freeway Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-737-8454

3751 Matlock Rd Arlington, TX 76015 817-466-3882

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Nonpro t

BY KAREN CHANEY

Poncho, a mammoth Jackstock donkey, is available for photo opportunities.

Activities during week-long summer camps include learning about and assisting farm animals.

Tours of the historic Wilson House, circa 1891, are given weekly.

PHOTOS BY KAREN CHANEYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Heritage Farmstead Museum preserves history

With 13 original structures situated on the four acres that comprise Heritage Farmstead Museum, Kathy Wilson, recently retired vice president of marketing, development and livestock calls this an “educational historic mecca.” Although over 15,000 kids lter through the “mecca” a year via eld trips, educational inten- tions are not always on the forefront of attendees’ minds. Wilson said people walk the dirt paths for several reasons, like engagements, weddings, summer camps, events such as Lights on the Farm and more. “Anybody that walks in here is going to be educated,” Wilson said. “People from Germany, Japan, Mexico ... can relate to the wash station where they’re scrubbing on scrub boards and they’re hanging clothes on the clothesline. I watch grandparents tell their grandchildren, ‘This is how I did my laundry growing up in Japan or Germany.’ It is universal.” The backstory The 12-room house was built in 1891 by Hunter Farrell for his wife Mary Alice and daughter Ammie and was situated on 363 acres. Other existing buildings original to the historic site are the foreman’s cottage, pole barn, lambing barn, ram barn carriage house, smoke house, potting shed and more. The house was last lived in in 1972. In 1973, Heritage Association, a nonprot organization

which manages Heritage Farmstead Museum was formed. What’s happening Throughout the year events are held where guests can interact with historic live exhibits and take a mule drawn wagon ride. Photo opportu- nities with farm animals and demonstrations on sheep shearing, wool and ber processing and weaving are also available. Heritage Farmstead gives public tours, oers grounds admissions and tours of the Victorian home. “You can come and be led by a docent, which is a tour guide, often dressed in a prairie dress, that will take them through the Victorian home and talk a little bit about the history of the house. Then they love to walk the four acres,” Wilson said. “It’s beautiful to get up face to face with our animals. We have a mammoth Jackstock donkey back there named Poncho and we have pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks.” Get involved In addition to nancial donations that are put towards building upkeep, attending livestock, a recent initiative to clean up the on-property creek and more, the nonprot organization has a need for volunteers. Wilson said volunteers lead educa- tion tours, work in the weekly preschool program, prepare for events, clean animal pens and more.

A variety of fowl, including this polish hen, call Heritage Farmstead Museum home.

Volunteer opportunities include tending Heritage Farmstead Museum’s livestock including Angora goats.

W. 15THST.

1900 West 15th St., Plano www.heritagefarmstead.org

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Community

BY DUSTIN BUTLER & KAREN CHANEY

Camp Guide

Texas Dynamix Gymnastics Type: sports Ages: 4-12 Dates: May 28-Aug 2 Cost: $45-$70 (daily) • 1901 Preston Park Blvd., Plano • www.texasdynamixgymnastics.com Twinkle Star Dance Academy Type: dance Ages: 3-10 Dates: July 8-19 Cost: $99-$129 • 3400 Preston Road, Ste. 225 • www.twinklestardancers.com/plano

• 6121 W. Park Blvd., Ste. B216 • www.ntpa.org/camps

2025

Pipe & Palette Type: arts Ages: 5-17 Dates: May 28-Aug. 8 Cost: $95-$385 • Pipe & Palette, 6121 W. Park Blvd., Ste. B112 & B113 • www.pipeandpalette.com

Heritage Farmstead Museum Type: day Ages: grades K-5 Dates: June 9-13, June 16-20, June 23-27, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25 Cost: $265 per week • Heritage Farmstead Museum, 1900 W 15th Street • www.heritagefarmstead.org iCode Type: STEM Ages: 5-15 Dates: May 26-Aug. 22 Cost: $499/weekly • iCode Plano, 7200 Independence Parkway, Ste. 210 • www.icodeschool.com

Dates: June 23-27 Cost: $375 (5-day camp) • 2011 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Ste. 800 • www.bricksbotsbeakers.com Club SciKidz Type: academics, arts, day, overnight, sports Ages: PreK-7th grade Dates: July 7-25 Cost: $295-$405 (weekly) • One Community Church, 2400 SH 121 • www.clubscikidzdallas.com Edge Dance and Performing Arts Type: dance Ages: 3-13 Dates: July 7-Aug. 1 Cost: $249-$299 • Edge Dance & Performing Arts Center, 4101 E. Park Blvd., Ste. 101 • www.edgedance.com

Plano

PISD Exploration Program Type: academics Ages: grades 1-7 Dates: June 2-17 Cost: $300 (weekly) • Various PISD middle school campuses • www.pisd.edu/Page/32588 Shine Performing Arts Camp Type: performing art Ages: 6-12 Dates: July 7-11 Cost: $200-$445 • 1509 H Ave., Plano • www.shineplano.org/summer-camp Wonderful World of Wizards Type: academics Ages: grades K-5

School of Rock Type: music Ages: 7-18 Dates: June 3-Aug. 9 Cost: $550

City of Plano Type: day, indoor, outdoor Ages: 6-16 Dates: starting June 2 Cost: varies • Locations vary • www.planoparks.org

• School of Rock, 1501 Preston Road, Ste. 550 • www.schoolofrock.com/locations/plano

Trailblazers Summer Club Lionheart Children’s Academy hosts the

Trailblazers Summer Club that provides a variety of offsite field trips, math and reading activities and more. Type: day, field trips Ages: K-12 years Dates: Full and partial summer options are available

Texas Chess Center Type: day, chess Ages: 5-17 Dates: May 27-Aug. 8 Cost: $186-$514 • 4105 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Ste. 610 • www.texaschesscenter.com

North Texas Performing Arts Type: theater Ages: 5-18 Dates: June 3-Aug. 8 Cost: $299-$459

This list is not comprehensive.

Cost: Available at request • 2301 Premier Drive, Plano • www.lionheartkid.org/trailblazers

PLANO 5930 West Park Blvd (972) 250-0500 PLANO NORTH 5420 State Hwy 121 (469) 687-2581

ALLEN 1839 N Central Expressway (972) 908-3488 EAST PLANO 3404 N Central Expressway (972) 423-6688

COIT ROAD 1453 Coit Rd (972) 867-2821

Join Our Community of Proud Texans Unlock the full experience of this month’s issue by becoming a subscriber for only $9 a year.

SPECIAL OFFER PRINT + DIGITAL BUNDLE 1 Year for $ 9 Limited time only.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN

mockup.indd 1

2/25/25 2:42 PM

BUZZIER THAN USUAL!

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

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: An El Paso Refuge CRITTER: American Bumblebee OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas

MADE IN TEXAS: A Leathermaking Legacy FEATURE PREVIEW: Where to Eat Now

Above: The Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

DETOURS

A Tribal Sanctuary On a Sacred Trail

Location: eleven miles southeast of downtown El Paso. BY JOSH ALVAREZ

CRITTER

American Bumblebee

The bumblebee does something most bees don't: buzz pollination, which involves gripping the plant with its legs and vibrating its whole body. If you eat blueberries, potatoes, or tomatoes— all of which rely on buzz pollination— you’ve got a bumblebee to thank. WHY IS IT SO BIG? The better to collect all that sweet pollen to feed its young. That fuzz is actually densely packed hairs, or setae, that trap pollen as the bumblebee floats from flower to flower. Its large body likely evolved to provide even more surface area.

DOES IT STING? Only if you mess with its nest.

HOW MANY SPECIES ARE THERE? Texas has between seven and eleven types. The most common is the American bumblebee, found statewide. North Texans might spot the brown-belted bumblebee, while those in the west are likely to see the Sonoran variant. The gentle giant is in trouble, though: Since 1974, popula- tions across North America have fallen by 46 percent. SCIENTISTS KEEP TABS, RIGHT? Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is one of several Texas orga- nizations partnering with Jacqueline Staab, the owner of Darwin’s Bee Dogs. Her German shorthaired pointers are trained to sniff out bumblebee nests for population surveys. “If we lose bees,” says Staab, “we lose Texas ecosystems.” —Rose Cahalan

INSIDE THE ADOBE walls of the Ysleta Mis- sion are clues to a deep history of acculturation that characterizes El Paso to this day. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribe, more commonly known as the Tigua, established the mission in 1682, making it one of the oldest in Texas (much of the current structure was built in 1851). The Tigua arrivedherefromNewMexico,whichtheyfled after the Pueblo Indians there overthrew the

Spanish colonial system, in 1680, forcing Span- iards and Christianized Pueblos to seek safety elsewhere. The Tigua dedicated the mission to Anthony of Padua, patron saint of things that have been lost, whose figure stands atop the entrance; inside are blankets dyed in brilliant blues and reds and a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Church’s first Native American saint. The structure, part of the El Paso Mission Trail, holds a mass every day. If you can, plan your visit for June 13, when the Tigua celebrate Saint Anthony with traditional dancing.

The church interior at the Ysleta Mission, in El Paso.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

BENEFITING

Thanks to our sponsors

Scan the QR code for more info or visit texasmonthly.com/tcrfest

mockup.indd 1

2/26/25 10:40 AM

MADE IN TEXAS

He Goes With the Grain Clint Wilkinson carries on his grandfather’s leatherworking legacy out of the same downtown Denton storefront. BY PAUL L. UNDERWOOD

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

After the San Antonio Zoo announced the birth of Tupi, the first capybara born there since 2000, it had to clarify to X users that it was “not associated with or benefiting from” a crypto- currency named after the baby animal. The number one item on the TSA’s top ten list of the most unusual airport confiscations in 2024 was a gun tucked into the back of a baby stroller at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The Texas State Aquarium, in Corpus Christi, released into the Gulf of Mex- ico some 270 green sea turtles it had rescued when they became hypother- mic during a recent cold snap. A Temple woman was sentenced to felony probation for theft after with- drawing money from a GoFundMe account created for her after she lied about a cancer diagnosis so that her friends “would like her more.” A Bexar County jail officer was arrest- ed and fired after allegedly giving an inmate food from Whataburger . After the Houston Police Department announced plans to clean up its prop- erty warehouse, authorities revealed that rats had possibly compromised ongoing cases by eating mushrooms and other drugs stored as evidence. A man stole a pickup truck and led police on a chase to the Midland airport, where he drove through the perimeter fence and onto the runways before abandoning the vehicle. —Meher Yeda

George W. Bush and Fort Worth soul star Leon Bridges, as well as Stetson and 7-Eleven. Wilkinson works out of the downtown cor- ner storefront once owned by his grandfather Weldon Burgoon, who opened Weldon’s Sad- dle Shop & Western Wear in 1957. Burgoon, who helped cover the cost of Clint’s birth, in 1982, by giving a saddle to the obstetrician, taught his grandson the craft. Wilkinson started an e-commerce site for the shop and, with his grandfather’s encour- agement, began branding his own handsewn leather goods with his name. In 2019, a year after Burgoon died, Wilkin- son reopened the shop, which he renamed Wilkinson’s Fine Goods. He’s known for his leather tote bags, belts, and wallets, and he sells wares from other brands, like Nocona- based Fenoglio Boot Company. He’s also de- veloping a line of leather-crafting supplies. The intention, he says, is to create “a way that I can still be in the leather community when I’m seventy-five years old and can’t make anything anymore.”

LAST SUMMER, WILKINSON’S FineGoods, in Denton, received its biggest online order to date. Owner Clint Wilkinson was intrigued by his new client, who purchased a massive array of custom desk mats, bootjacks, and cherrywood boxes with hand-tooled leather accents. “I was just like, ‘Holy crap,’�” Wilkin- son recalls. “He must be a politician or lawyer or something.” Not quite. Wilkinson looked up the buyer, a Utah resident named Austin Post, and re- alized that he was doing business with Post Malone, the rapper who was raised in nearby Grapevine. Wilkinson emailed him to explain that fulfillment would take some time be- cause every item would be handmade. The two now exchange texts about everything from the order’s progress to the woes of their be- loved Dallas Cowboys. Eventually Wilkinson’s client list would include former President

Clint Wilkinson and Charlie Talkington in the Wilkinson’s Fine Goods workshop, in Denton.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

2025

Join us for the ultimate celebration of Texas’s best tacos!

Thanks to Our Sponsors

MAY 31

JUNE 7

tickets on sale now! Scan here to learn more or visit texasmonthly.com/tacofest

Japanese hand rolls, sashimi, and sushi and en- joy the restaurant’s excellent vinyl collection. What does all this say about dining in Texas as weapproachtheendofthefirstquarterofthe twenty-firstcentury?Maybejustthis:Weneed to make room for more fun. The hospitality industry knows hard times all too well, with the ever-rising costs of raw ingredients and labor and the hollowing out of once vibrant restaurant-centric neighborhoods. Given all that, who wouldn’t opt for a break from the real world? It was in the same spirit that we selected the ten best new restaurants in Texas, along with a handful of honorable mentions. So get out there. Ask some friends to dinner; try some wild and crazy dishes; visit a place not on your radar. Life is serious enough—live a little. And eat a lot. To read the list of the best new restaurants in Texas, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

IS IT OUR imagination, or are Texas restau- rants more, well, imaginative than ever? On our visit to an idiosyncratic spot in the Gulf Coast town of Kemah, we were treated to bil- lowing dry ice, a blowtorch, and a pasta cre- ation that was a dead ringer for a coral snake. In Dallas, we settled into a long, narrow dining room that looked as if it had been uncoupled from the Orient Express. In Fort Worth, we were sure that characters in The Crown would have felt right at home in a convincing replica of a posh London townhouse. Of course, not everything we loved this past year was stagy. One of our favorite venues was a comfy lit- tle place in Houston where guests can order

FEATURE PREVIEW

Where to Eat Now Dining in Texas has been one big experiment this year. Dry ice. Pasta snakes. Whey foam. Corn bubbles. (That’s right: corn bubbles.) Our best new restaurants want you to have a meal you’ll never forget.

BY COURTNEY BOND AND PATRICIA SHARPE

A scallop dish from Ishtia, in Kemah; smoked king salmon crudo at the Chumley House, in Fort Worth; sabering a bottle of wine at Isidore, in San Antonio.

READ THIS FEATURE AND MORE IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE TK AUDIENCE SPACE Enjoying what you read?

Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story! Join our proud community of Texans—written by Texans, for Texans, for over 50 years.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Your dream home in your dream location. Quail Hollow • Mosaic • Saddle Star Estates • Sandbrock Ranch Star Trail • Trinity Falls • Wildridge

Scan to find your dream home.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

State

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

Kalahari to open in Allen by 2030

The details

The resort will offer day passes and season passes for locals, and restaurants and select other amenities on site will be open to the public. As many as 1,000 jobs are expected to be gener- ated by the project and would draw workers from across the region, city documents state. “It really puts us on the map for bringing visitors and bringing in tourism dollars that we can then use to augment our local tax base,” said Daniel Bowman, executive director and CEO of the Allen Economic Development Corporation. The project would join a number of entertain- ment-focused attractions under development along the SH 121 corridor, including the Cannon Beach Surf Park, the Sunset Amphitheater and The Farm in Allen, featuring entertainment venues Chicken N’ Pickle and High 5. McKinney Mayor George Fuller said the city was in the running to have the project developed in McKinney, but that the development in Allen will still benefit McKinney residents and the surrounding community. “It drives traffic to our ... community region,” Fuller said.

Kalahari is on track to open a $950 million resort in North Texas by 2030. Company officials are looking to develop the project on a 123-acre site on Allen’s northern border with McKinney, located at the southwest corner of SH 121 and Stacy Road. Allen City Council unanimously approved an economic incentive agreement for the project at a Feb. 25 meeting, with council member Tommy Baril absent from the meeting. The performance-based agreement includes potential tax rebates for the resort company, as well as requirements for details of the project like hotel rooms and convention center space, according to a presentation at the meeting. Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is the creator of America’s largest indoor waterparks.

Proposed location

SRT TOLL

The family-owned company operates full-service resort properties in four states, with each offering vacation amenities as well as meeting and convention spaces. The company has one existing Texas location in Round Rock, as well as locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The company is also developing a location in Virginia, according to its website.

The situation

The proposed Allen resort would span 1.2 million square feet, and include:

the completion of the 38-year term, the city would collect about $26 million annually in local tax revenue. The “pay for performance” rebate incentive also includes waivers of certain city fees, a grant of a 15-acre parcel on the site already owned by the city, and future bonds issued by the Allen Community Development Corpo- ration and the Allen Economic Development Corporation, city documents state. City officials are also considering establishing a public improvement district, a type of special financ- ing district, for the resort.

The economic incentive agreement for the project is dependent on performance by the developer. If resort officials meet minimum require- ments for tax payments made to the city, they would be provided a partial rebate of city taxes over the course of the 38-year deal. If perfor- mance requirements or project milestones are not met, the city would not pay out rebates and would retain the land. An estimated $390 million in new tax reve- nue would be collected by the city as a result of the agreement, city documents state. Following

At least 900 guest rooms

An indoor and outdoor waterpark

A 165,000-square-foot convention center

At least 14 food and beverage outlets, including a steakhouse

A family entertainment center/arcade

SOURCE: CITY OF ALLEN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead

The process will include public hearing opportunities during the zoning review and prior to a vote on the site plan by the Allen City Council. City officials also plan to collaborate with Kalahari representatives to conduct additional informational meetings for the public.

Following the project site being secured, architectural and site plans for the project are expected to take a year to create. Public outreach will begin following the initial planning phase, and the project plans will then proceed through review processes by city staff, the Allen Planning and Zoning Commission and the Allen City Council.

While the economic incentive agreement requires the project to be operational by 2033, the resort could open as soon as 2030, Bowman said. “Kalahari has exceeded our expectations in terms of direct revenue to the city, as well as growth in the area in which they were built,” Round Rock City Manager Brooks Bennett said.

PLANO SOUTH EDITION

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18-19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36

communityimpact.com