Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | August 2025

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Cedar Park Far Northwest Austin Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4 AUG. 15SEPT. 15, 2025

A regional destination

Texas’ second-largest retail store set to bring visitors to Cedar Park

New Cedar Park developments like Scheels Sporting Goods aim to turn shopping into a destination. (Courtesy Scheels Sporting Goods)

situated within the 117-acre CedarView develop- ment, which currently has additional retail space. Jennifer Petrovich, the real estate broker for the development, said an announcement regarding several new tenants should be coming soon. The surrounding retail district will feature a mix of local and regional shops, restaurants and possibly entertainment venues.

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Some retail stores can double as destinations, places to take the entire family that oer attractions and food beyond just shopping. The upcoming CedarView development is hoping to become a hub for destination retail. Two of those destinations are NFM, formerly Nebraska Furniture Mart, and Scheels, a sporting goods outlet. Both NFM and Scheels will be

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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 Brittany Anderson Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

Denise Seiler General Manager dseiler@ communityimpact.com

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker

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1407 N. Bell Blvd. (Hwy 183) Cedar Park  512-260-5050  HillCountryWaterGardens.com

CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

Cedar Park & Leander

• Opened July 9 • 2005 Little Elm Trail, Bldg 1, Ste. 500, Cedar Park • https://cedarparkcafe.toast.site/about 4 Little Sprouts Pediatric Dentistry The new dentistry clinic for children opened in the Leander area this June. The office, overseen by Dr. James McNair, provides dental services for young children, including fillings, cleanings, emergency services, preventative care and specialized laser therapy for tongue and lip ties. • Opened June 23 • 15141 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Stes. 517-519, Leander • https://www.littlesproutsdentistry.com 5 One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning of Northwest Austin The company specializes in heating, cooling and indoor air quality. The new branch is based in Leander but services the entire Northwest Austin metro, including Hudson Bend, Liberty Hill, Georgetown, Lago Vista, Jonestown and Cedar Park. • Opened July • 775 CR 270, Ste. 203, Leander • https://www.onehourheatandair.com/nw-austin/ Bee Organized The mobile organizing business based out of Leander is now offering its services to the Austin area. Owned by Christina Kjar, the business offers assistance with organizing homes and businesses, moving management, concierge services and more. • Opened June 30 • www.beeorganized.com/northwest-austin • 737-777-9014

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2 Body Harmony The Pilates studio teaches classical Pilates through mat work, reformers, chair exercises and towers to meet members’ fitness needs, owner Cindy Driskill said. • Opened July 7 • 12801 Anderson Mill Road, Bldg. 4, Ste. 401, Cedar Park • www.bodyharmonyatx.com 3 Cedar Park Cafe The cafe offers a selection of classic diner food, including egg dishes, pancakes, skillets and sandwiches. The restaurant is open for breakfast or lunch seven days a week. LAKELINE MALL DR.

Now open

1 Aladdin Halal Grill The restaurant, which offers halal food, drinks and hookah, opened in Cedar Park in June. Locally owned and run by Maher and Dana Al-Sayyed, the restaurant has shawarma, kebab, hummus, falafel and other Mediterranean food. • Opened June 23 • 200 Buttercup Creek Blvd., Cedar Park • 512-300-0966

Coming soon

620

6 Apex Pickleball Club The 49,000-square-foot facility will have 16 indoor pickleball courts and a full bar and restaurant called PickleDilly’s, said Bill Parodi, Founder and CEO of Pickleplex Holdings, LLC., the facility’s parent company. • Opening end of December • 501 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park • www.apexpickleballclubs.com

We help visitors discover hidden gems and local favorites that make Cedar Park special. From events to eats, we’ve got them covered .

Scan the QR code and personalize your next Cedar Park adventure.

PLACES TO EAT >>

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UPCOMING EVENTS >>

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

7 Bagel Bear The bagel spot will serve New York-style bagels, sandwiches, toasts, smoothies, coffee and teas. Bagel flavors will include za’atar, sesame, jalapeno cheddar cheese and more. • Opening August 2025 • 12301 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 100, Cedar Park • www.bagel-bear.com 8 The Human Bean The Oregon-based coffee chain will see a new location opening in Cedar Park this fall. The drive-thru franchise specializes in coffee, tea, energy drinks and local pastries. • Opening fall 2025 • 104 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • https://thehumanbean.com

Coming soon

Now open

15 Pink Zebra Moving of Round Rock The company specializes in local residential moving services, but also is equipped to perform commercial and long-distance moves. The company, which will primarily service Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto, Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown and Taylor, also offers professional packing services, loading and unloading labor and furniture rearranging services. • Opening Aug. 18 • 1305 S. Mays St., Ste. B, Round Rock • www.pinkzebramoving.com/roundrock state, with offices in the Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio metros. • 1789 South Bagdad Road, Ste. 101, Leander • https://www.independencetitle.com/ United States Postal Service To mark two and a half centuries, USPS officials invite the public to vote on a previously issued stamp to be re- released in 2026. Voting runs July 23-Sept. 30 online. Commemorative stamps and other items are also being released. • Locations nationwide • www.stampsforever.com/vote

12 The 50 Yardline Sports Training Owner Wali Muhammed said the facility specializes in training for speed and agility. The age range for current participants is 6-18. The business offers small group training sessions, one-on-one sessions, performance testing and more. • Opened July 20 • 10921 E. Crystal Falls Parkway, Ste. 604, Leander • www.meetmeatthe50.com

What’s next

9 Cedar Reserve Liquor Company A new 2,458 square foot liquor store will begin its build-out in August, with an estimated completion date of mid-October, according to a filing with the Texas

Department of Licensing and Regulation. • 12301 W Parmer Ln., Ste. 20, Cedar Park • No website or phone number available

10 Tim Horton’s The popular Canadian donut chain will be opening up in Q3 of 2026 at Cedar Park’s Bell South commercial development. The chain is famous for its coffee, breakfast sandwiches and donuts, including their bite sized Timbits. • 1201 S. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park • www.timhortons.com

• 801 E Whitestone Blvd, Building C, Cedar Park • www.austinregionalclinic.com

13 BLUSH Boot Camp Co-owners Nancy Winston and Julie Benavides took over the women-only workout facility on July 7. BLUSH aims to provide a space for women to feel safe and build community.

In the news

• 2906 S. Bagdad Road, Ste. 300, Leander • www.Blushbootcamp.com/Leander-tx

11 Austin Regional Clinic The multispecialty medical group celebrated 45 years of operation on July 16. ARC was founded in 1980 by Dr. Norman Chenven and has grown to offer both specialty and primary care across 35 clinics in 15 cities, employing over 450 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, according to the clinic.

14 Independence Title The title company, which has offices in Leander and throughout the Austin metro, celebrated its 20th anniversary. The company was started in 2005 and has grown to become one of the largest title companies in the

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

Far Northwest Austin

• Opened June • 13776 US-183 #145, Austin • (512) 257-8887

Now open

1 Cold Stone Creamery The ice cream chain is known for its variety of ice cream flavors and toppings prepared on a frozen granite countertop. The shop also serves shakes, smoothies, sundaes, custom and ready-made ice cream cakes and pre-packed ice cream pints or quarts. • Opened July 11 • 13492 N Hwy 183, Ste. 400, Austin • www.coldstonecreamery.com 2 Indian Bites The new food truck is slated to open in the new Anderson Mill Food Truck Court in August. The menu will feature savory Indian pastries such as dosas, idli and uttapam; other Indian street snacks such as samosas; and drinks such as Indian chai and nannari sharbat, a

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4 The Bae Spot The food truck will be located inside the new Anderson Mill Food Truck Court and feature desserts such as croffles and cheesecake, as well as drinks such as coconut matcha and matcha lattes. Also on the menu are South Asian-inspired desserts and drinks such as a savory samosa sandwich and a mango mastani drink. • Opening in August • 9817 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • Instagram: @thebaespot_atx 5 Baklava House Austin-based bakery Baklava House is getting ready to open their second branch in mid-August. The bakery specializes in Middle Eastern pastries like baklava, kanafeh and za'atar pie. The shop will also offer a selection of juices, ice cream and other desserts to accompany the baked goods. • Opening August

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syrup-based drink. • Opening in August • 9817 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • Website not available yet

3 Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream The Mexican-style ice cream shop and snack bar offers a full menu including mangonda, milkshakes, smoothies, agua frescas, ice cream, tres leches cake and flan. They also have savory options like elote and nachos.

SPICEWOOD SPRINGS RD.

• 14010 Hwy 183, Ste. 510, Austin • Instagram: @baklava_house_austin

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6 Godsent Coffee The menu is set to feature classic coffee drinks such as espressos, Americanos, cappuccinos and flat whites, tea-based lattes, strawberry and regular matcha drinks and more. The truck will also have its own signature “godsent” milk in several of its drinks. • Opening in mid-August • 9817 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • www.godsentcoffee.com 7 Soupleaf Hot Pot The all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar with an Asian twist opens in far Northwest Austin in 2026. The menu is slated to include classics like clam chowder and chicken noodle but will expand to add items such as miso mozzarella pizza and yam bisque. • Opening in 2026 • 13450 N Hwy 183, Ste. 112, Austin • www.soupandleaves.com

• Relocated in July • 9817 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • www.pawpawsbbq.com

Coming soon

Worth the trip

Back 2 The Video Store The pop-up bar recreates a video store experience accompanied by themed cocktails and mocktails inspired by ‘90s and 2000s releases. The pop-up will remain open until Sept. 7. • Opened July 24 • 610 N. I-35, Austin • www.bucketlisters.com/experience/back-2-the-video- store-a-90s-speakeasy-bar-austin

10 Cafe Java Cafe Java is set to open their first new franchise location in 20 years in Northwest Austin. The coffee chain is setting up their newest location in the site of the former Illuminate Coffee, which closed in March of 2025. The shop offers a wide selection of signature drinks, both hot and cold, including unique creations like the Fruit Loops Matcha Latte and the Peachy Keen Milkshake. • Opening October 21

Closings

9 Shoyu Sugar The food truck, which was located at the Anderson Mill International Food Park, served Hawaiian-style meat and rice dishes, macaroni salad and Korean fried chicken. • Closed July 18 • 9313 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • www.atxshoyusugar.com

Relocations

8 Paw Paw’s BBQ The barbeque food truck relocated from Cedar Park to far Northwest Austin in July. The truck serves brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, ribs, chicken and other meats available in sandwiches, wraps, barbecue plates or sold by the pound.

• 12129 FM 620, Ste. 102, Austin • https://www.thecafejava.com

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Government

BY ANNA MANESS

Williamson County has been added to the Federal Disaster Declaration for the Federal Emer- gency Management Agency’s Public Assistance, or PA, program, according to a July 18 news release. What happened? The county’s inclusion in the PA program allows local government entities to apply for FEMA assis- tance to be reimbursed for costs related to disaster rescue and recovery eorts, as well as damage to public property. The July 5 ood damaged several areas through- out the county, specically parts of Georgetown, Leander and Liberty Hill. Williamson County o- cials recovered three bodies of ood victims in the WilCo added to FEMA assistance program

Damages to public property in Williamson County include: 13 county roads One state road Bridges Public parks Trails Water infrastructure Wastewater infrastructure Utility infrastructure

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Williamson County was added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program, which allows government entities to apply for FEMA assistance and get reimbursed for damages to public property.

ANNA MANESSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

days that followed the natural disaster, Community Impact previously reported. The cost to repair damage to public property in the county is estimated to be $25 million, accord- ing to ocials with the Williamson County Oce of Emergency Management. FEMA will reimburse 75% of the cost of repairs through the PA program, per the release.

Remember this? On July 11, Williamson County residents became eligible to apply to FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, which could help residents with home repairs, temporary housing and more. Texans can also apply to the IA program at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.

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Government

BY ANNA MANESS

Williamson County is no longer partnering with Burnet County to create a Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation and is instead explor- ing a partnership with the city of Cedar Park, a Williamson County ocial told Community Impact July 22. Cedar Park is home to Firey Aerospace, the rst commercial company to successfully land on the moon. The company’s testing facility is located in Briggs, which is within Burnet County. Explained An SDC is a type of partnership that develops, manages and operates a spaceport—a specialized launch and landing facility for spacecraft, rockets Williamson County eyes Cedar Park for spaceport

“We are very excited to partner with the county and build on the successes of Firey Aerospace’s and other innovative businesses in Cedar Park to keep reaching for the stars.” JIM PENNIMANMORIN, CEDAR PARK MAYOR

Williamson County has turned to the city of Cedar Park for a potential partnership to form the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation.

COURTESY FIREFLY AEROSPACE

and satellites, Community Impact previously reported. How we got here Ocials originally presented the Central Texas SDC as a partnership between Williamson and Burnet counties. Williamson County commissioners approved the

bylaws for the Central Texas SDC on March 11, the same day Burnet County commissioners took no action on approving the Central Texas SDC’s bylaws. When the bylaws were placed back on the Burnet County Commissioners Court’s April 8 agenda, ocials took no action a second time. If created, the Central Texas SDC would be the sixth SDC in Texas.

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CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Government

BY STEVE GUNTLI

Cedar Park residents rate their city highly in safety, economic health and general quality of life, according to a recent survey. Digging deeper The city participated in the National Community Survey through the Polco polling platform, which gauges resident’s opinions on public life. The city has participated in the poll every two years since 2019. Polco compares individual city results against national benchmarks to see how each participating city measures up. The NCS is conducted in more than 500 communities nationwide, according to Polco’s website. Cedar Park earns high marks in resident survey

Highest and lowest rankings under each category

Quality of Life

The Economy

Overall direction Cedar Park is headed

Overall quality of businesses

85%*

90%

Informing residents about issues 65%

Cedar Park as a place to visit 58%

Safety

Infrastructure and Environment

Feeling safe in neighborhood

Cleanliness of Cedar Park

97% Feeling safe from flood, fire, or natural disaster 88%

92%

Quality of transportation system 50%

*INDICATES ABOVE NATIONAL BENCHMARK

SOURCE: POLCO/CITY OF CEDAR PARK

“One purpose of the survey is to identify areas for improvement, so city staff are very interested... to identify what’s working and specific areas that may need attention,” Irwin said. 94% of respondents said the biggest priority for the city should be improving infrastructure. This ranked as the top priority for Cedar Park residents, above economic health and mobility.

The survey was sent to more than 6,000 random- ly-selected households in Cedar Park. According to Polco, a traditional level of confidence for this survey is a 95% response rate. Fran Irwin, Director of Communication and Engagement for Cedar Park, said that the margin of error for the City of Cedar Park survey was no greater than plus or minus 4.3% reported for all respondents.

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Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG & HANNAH NORTON

A Texas judge ruled July 3 that the Texas Education Agency can release its public school accountability ratings for the 2023-24 school year. The scores were blocked for nearly one year after 33 school districts sued the TEA last August, arguing that the agency unfairly raised the bar for schools to earn a high score and waited too long to notify districts about the changes. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath has said he plans to release ratings for the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15, per state law. “It is absolutely mathematically possible for every [school] to get an A, but they have to earn it,” Morath said. “It’s not just given away.” The latest On July 3, Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals reversed a 2024 ruling by a Travis County district court, which had blocked the TEA from assigning A-F ratings since September. The school districts said the TEA did not provide fair notice of changes to the accountabil- ity system. The appeals court noted that Morath has the authority to adopt new standards “at any time during a school year.” The court also rejected districts’ concerns that the STAAR test was not “valid and reliable.” Chief Justice Scott Brister wrote that the district court should not have blocked the ratings’ release. “Millions of dollars and thousands of hours... TEA to release latest A-F school ratings

Round Rock ISD will renovate a property at 9900 Spectrum Dr., Round Rock, to serve as a future career and technical education center. In June, district officials approved the selection of Corgan Associates, Inc. as the architect for this renovation project. The details Trustees approved by consent a proposal to use $948,750 in bond funds to pay for the architectural design of the CTE center June 17. Remember this? RRISD paid $37.75 million for the facility, the district announced in April. That is $15 million lower than the approved cost for a facility to house CTE programming. The savings will be used for a facility remodel to better support RRISD students. Design for new CTE center underway

Legal action around A-F system Date Action 2023 Aug. 15 Annual deadline to issue A-F ratings Aug. 24

Districts sue TEA with concerns over 2023 rating system TEA delays release of 2023 ratings, originally set for Sept. 28 Travis County district court blocks release of 2023 ratings Second suit filed; Travis County district court blocks 2024 ratings Following an in-person hearing, Travis County district judge further blocks 2024 ratings

Sept. 12

Oct. 26

2024 Aug. 12

Sept. 18

2025 April 3

State appeals court rules 2023 ratings can be issued April 24 2023 ratings are released to the public July 3 State appeals court rules 2024 ratings can be issued SOURCES: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS 15TH COURT OF APPEALS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT have been invested in creating the A to F ratings system; courts can decide only whether it is legal, not whether it is wise or fair,” Brister wrote. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican who has frequently criticized lawsuits chal- lenging the A-F system, called the July 3 ruling a “major legal victory” in a July 8 statement. During Texas’ regular legislative session, which ended June 2, Bettencourt authored legislation that would have made it harder for school districts to sue over the accountability system.

Future career and technical education center

SP E C

RRISD to negotiate for new worksite health clinic

Services offered The clinic will provide a variety of services to district staff, including:

Round Rock ISD will soon begin negotiations with Marathon Health for a future worksite health clinic, after trustees gave administrators the go-ahead June 17. What you need to know Trustees unanimously approved a measure to allow the district to enter into contract nego- tiations with the healthcare provider to con- struct and operate a worksite clinic for district employees. RRISD Chief of Human Resources Eddie Curran said the effort is a cost containment measure, as the district has observed a 15% increase in health costs since 2021 under its current self-funded

health insurance. Curran also added that having a worksite health clinic available to employees will help reduce out-of-pocket costs to district staff, as well as wait times. The details District timelines call for construction to end in January 2026. Marathon Health will commit just over $1.7 million in start-up costs to build and implement the worksite clinic in exchange for a 10-year contract. At the end of the 10-year period, the district would own the property, Cur- ran said. The facility is estimated to cost about $3.35 million to operate, according to the district.

Primary and preventative care

Men’s and women’s health

Mental health

General wellness

Condition Management

Urgent Care

Pharmacy

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

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Events

BY KATLYNN FOX

August

September

Princess Storytime with Moana Enjoy a fairytale storytime and meet and greet with princess Moana of Motunui at Paper Bark Birch Children’s Bookstore. The ticketed event includes a signed book; tickets are not required for adults. • Aug. 16, 1 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. • $20 (tickets) • 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Bldg. 4, Ste. 218, Cedar Park • www.paperbarkbirch.com Whiskey, Wine & Women: Raise Up Celebrate Women’s Equality day early with a night of networking, whiskey and wine tastings, a guest speaker and food. The 18 and older event is hosted by RJ Productions at Golfinity in Austin. Each ticket includes a welcome drink, various drink tastings, access to networking opportunities and the featured speaker, to be announced. • Aug. 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. • $29.77-50.61 (tickets) • 12332 North FM 620, Bldg. B, Austin • Eventbrite: whiskey-wine-women-raise-up-tickets Labor Day Run 5K/10K/13.1 Celebrate Labor Day with a run or walk at Brushy Creek Lake Park. The Best Races presents a range of distances for runners and walkers of any age to partake in. With registration, participants will receive a t-shirt, medal, towel or giveaway, digital training pack, certificate of completion and connection to local run clubs. • Aug. 30, 7:30 a.m. Family Wheel Workshop Participants of all ages can participate in the standalone family wheel workshop where they will use pottery wheels to make a unique ceramic item under teacher supervision. Individuals of all skill levels are welcome to participate; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. • Aug. 30, 1-3 p.m. • $75 (tickets) • 8108 Mesa Drive, Ste. B 102, Austin • www.cordovanartschool.com • $32.80-48.70 (event registration) • 3300 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park • www.runsignup.com

Movie in the Park Enjoy a free showing of a movie after dark. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, snacks and coolers. Per park rules, glass is prohibited. • Sept. 5, 8 p.m. • Free Science Fun for Everyone Workforce Solutions Rural Capitol Area child care services will host a science-forward event with various experiments aimed to stimulate children’s curiosity. Participants can expect to explore chemical reactions and engage with art, math and science through hands- on activities. • Sept. 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. • Tickets on sale Aug. 6 • 1101 Arrow Point Drive #401 Cedar Park • Eventbrite: science-fun-for-everyone-tickets • 1901 Sun Chase Blvd., Cedar Park • www.cedarparktexas.gov/calendar Full Moon Yoga and Sound Join Flow Yoga in commemoration of the full moon, as participants are invited to release and reset mind and body. All skill levels are welcome and can expect restorative yoga, guided meditation and sound healing. Pre-registration for the event is recommended due to demand.

Chicken Bingo Patrons of all ages can make a minimum $2

Community Health and Wellness Fair Attendees of all ages are invited to connect with community resources, hear from wellness experts and participate in health-centered activities. Some vendors for the event include Dell Children’s Medical Center, Cedar Park Parks and Recreation, Viva Bikes Austin and Disability Rights Texas. • Sept. 13, 2-4 p.m. • Free • 425 S. Parkwest Drive, Cedar Park • www.cedarparkpl.librarycalendar.com donation to purchase a number on the bingo board for a chance to win. The chicken must poop on the number purchased in order to win cash prizes ranging from $114-570. The Fieldhouse at the Crossover also has an in-house bar and restaurant, as well as various food truck options. • Aug. 15, 7-10 p.m. • Free (entry), $2 (donation to play) • 1717 Scottsdale Drive Ste. 160, Leander • www.thefieldhousetexas.com

• Sept. 7, 7-9 p.m. • $20-25 (tickets) • 202 Walton Way #200, Cedar Park • www.flowyogatx.com

Children’s Consignment Sale Fairytale Threads will host the sale at the Austin Sports Center in Cedar Park. Patrons can shop clothes for newborns, children, and juniors, as well as prom styles and maternity items. Books and toys for all ages will be available. Parents who are expecting or have children six months old or younger can shop the sale early by claiming a presale pass. • Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Free • 1420 Toro Grande Blvd., Cedar Park • www.fairytalethreads.com

This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

A regional destination From the cover

The big picture

CedarView site The new Cedar Park development, featuring some of the largest retail stores in the state, is projected to be complete by 2027.

With major retailers putting down roots and a convention center in the works near the H-E-B Center, Cedar Park is shaping up to become a regional destination, said Tony Moline, the president and CEO of the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce. “[NFM] is going to be one of those regional game changers,” Moline said, referencing the massive home furnishings retailer, which oers furniture, appliances, electronics and ooring. “This is going to have a massive economic impact. NFM draws a ton of visitors annually at its other locations. And so what that means is also a lot of foot trac for other businesses.” Under the city’s economic development agreement with NFM, the retailer is expected to bring in an additional $344 million in tax revenue over the next 25 years as well as hundreds of new jobs. Scheels is expected to open in 2026, and NFM is slated for a 2027 opening. “This isn’t just about new development. It’s about delivering on a promise to our community. We’re putting Cedar Park on the map as a premier destination for meetings, events and hospitality,” said Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin.

HEB Center: Cedar Park

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NFM

Convention Center

Retail

Scheels

Marriott

Retail

Pad sites: freestanding retail parcels near larger shopping center

SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARKCOMMUNITY IMPACT

A closer look

The details

Je Lind, the company’s former chief strategy and development ocer, previously told Community Impact NFM considered several cities across the country for a new store before choosing Cedar Park. “One of our biggest considerations is the quality of life for sta that live in the area,” Lind said. “This was just an automatic home run.” NFM announced this year that it has become a founding partner of the Parks and Trails Foundation of Cedar Park. The project is expected to feature more than 800 shade trees. Developers are planning on announcing new tenants over the coming weeks. “We’re in the business of improving people’s lifestyles,” said Andy Shefsky, NFM public relations manager, in an emailed statement. “We were looking for a city that provides a high quality of life and has mutu- ally aligned values with NFM. We believe Cedar Park provides both.” Similarly, Scheels pointed to the strength of the local community as a key reason for choosing Cedar Park.

A full-service hotel typically caters to business and upscale travelers by oering a wide range of amenities, such as on-site dining, concierge, room service, laundry service and wellness facilities. The 357,000-square-foot Scheels will include its signature 65-foot ferris wheel, a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, wildlife mountain, arcade, Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory and a cafe.

When completed, the Cedar Park NFM will be one of the largest retail spaces in Texas, encompassing around 1.3 million square feet, second only to The Colony location in DFW. The development also features a city-owned convention center with meeting space and a ballroom. Additional highlights include a 297-room full-service hotel—the rst in Cedar Park.

The NFM eect The heat map shows where visitors to The Colony NFM are coming from based on anonymous smartphone location data, reecting foot-trac to this specic retailer.

380

McKinney

380

Plano

Fort Worth

Abilene

Dallas

377

Tyler

High

Low

College Station

Austin

SOURCE: PLACER.AICOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Digging deeper

Looking ahead

Total Cedar Park businesses Cedar Park’s Economic Development department has increased business recruiting eorts as a strategic goal for the city.

Capturing a retailer like NFM and Scheels was not happenstance. According to Dan Sousa, a spokesperson for Cedar Park, the city has been following a long-term strategy for destination-fo- cused economic development. He said the city proactively negotiated and oered $45 million in performance-based incen- tives and $4.5 million in infrastructure reim- bursements, supporting property acquisition and coordinating with landowners and tenants. The incentives are tied to specic deliverables, including a $400 million minimum local invest- ment, 725 jobs created and $450 million in sales. Once these milestones are met, the city will disperse public incentive funds. The CedarView mixed-use development is intended to diversify the local economy and increase tourism, Sousa said. It advances the city’s intent to create a destination-oriented commercial corridor and fullls the longstanding goal of having a full-service hotel and convention center.

Amid concerns about increased trac in the area, the city has included plans for mobility improvements, sidewalks, shared-use paths and pedestrian crosswalks along New Hope Drive and on-site driveways. New Hope Drive will be widened from four to six lanes between Block House Creek Drive and 183A Toll Road, including the construction of a high-capacity intersection at New Hope Drive and 183A, added trac signals, improved utility services, and added pedestrian safety features.

140 210 280 350

0 70

2021 2022

2023

2024

2020

SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARKCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Widening High-capacity intersection

The city’s economic development team has already hosted more than 30 potential busi- nesses this year—surpassing its annual goal—and has partnered with Marriott for the full-service hotel and conference center, according to city documents.

183A TOLL

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CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Development

BY STEVE GUNTLI & SAM SCHAFFER

BY SAM SCHAFFER

Ascension Seton buys Cedar Park Regional Medical Center Hospital sta will get more training and education opportunities, and the chance for career growth, Youssef said. What they’re saying 183A TOLL

Cedar Park’s Firey Aerospace to go public Firey Aerospace, the Cedar Park-based space and defense rm that recently completed a suc- cessful moon landing, announced on July 11 that it would become a publicly-traded company with the launch of its initial public oering. Zooming in The dates and details of the IPO are still pend- ing. The company announced August 6 that it would be releasing 19,296,000 shares at $45 each. Firey announced it would be ling a Form S-1 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an IPO of its stock. The company conrmed in a press release that the ticker symbol on the Nasdaq Global Market will be “FLY.” Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Jeries and Wells Fargo Securities will be the primary managers for the proposed oering.

Cedar Park advances park improvements Cedar Park City Council on July 10 autho- rized an agreement with Millis Development to complete the Brushy Creek Sports Park Improvements Project. The six-month project is expected to cost $1.73 million, according to city documents. A closer look The project calls for improvements to the softball eld’s drainage system, a parking lot expansion and a new maintenance building.

Ascension Seton took full ownership of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center on July 1. The renamed Ascension Seton Cedar Park is operating in the same space with largely the same sta at 1401 Medical Parkway in Cedar Park. Two-minute impact Jamie Youssef, president and CEO of Ascension Texas, said adding Cedar Park to the company’s network of 14 hospitals in the Austin area will have benets for both sta and patients. Youssef said patients will be seeing some changes at the facility. “Look for modernization and technology, further- ing patient care areas, additional access points, the ability to tie patients into a system of care if they have a need that may not be met locally,” Youssef said. Being part of a system like Ascension Seton means the Cedar Park facility will have access to improved protocols, best practices, shared clinical experience and expanded support, Youssef said.

Anne Duy, Cedar Park City Council member, said Ascension Seton puts a focus on maintaining holistic health in the areas they operate, ensuring the right resources are in place when someone needs medical care. What else? Ascension Seton announced in April it would be taking over the hospital. At the time of the announcement, the Cedar Park facility had 126 beds and two 24/7 emergency departments. Youssef said July 1 that there were no current plans to expand the facility, but noted Ascension Seton is always looking at how to adapt to patient needs.

CBAR RANCH TRL.

Engineers assemble components for the Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander at Firey’s facility in Cedar Park.

COURTESY FIREFLY AEROSPACE

“This partnership and this acquisition is going to be so valuable to our community and people’s

Why it matters The IPO will allow Firey to become a pub- licly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. Private companies will often go public to raise capital for growth and to increase their public prole, and are subject to much stricter government regulations.

W. PARMER LN.

long-term health.” ANNE DUFFY, CEDAR PARK CITY COUNCIL

Brushy Creek Sports Park

183A TOLL

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Events

BY KATLYNN FOX

EXPRESS BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15

The Fieldhouse at The Crossover will host several live shows and karaoke parties over the next month.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS KICKOFF

COURTESY THE FIELDHOUSE

PRESENTED BY

POSTGAME FIREWORKS

• September 10: Texas Live Band Karaoke, 7-10p.m. Lucky Rabbit Live Music Bar and Kitchen

Live music

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

Shooters Billiards and Sports Bar

18626 RM 1431, Jonestown www.luckyrabbitbar.com

601 E Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park www.shootersbilliards.net/cedar- park-events • August 20: Cade Baccus, 6-8p.m. • August 21: DJ Cayotic, 9:30p.m. • August 22: Karaoke, 10p.m. • August 23: Denny Herrin, 10p.m. • August 27: Cade Baccus, 6-8p.m. • August 28: DJ Cayotic, 9:30p.m. • August 29: Karaoke, 10p.m. • August 20: Maxband, 9p.m. • September 3: Cade Baccus, 6-8p.m. • September 4: DJ Cayotic, 9:30p.m. • September 5: Karaoke, 10p.m. • September 10: Cade Baccus, 6-8p.m. • September 11: DJ Cayotic, 9:30p.m. • September 12: Karaoke, 10p.m. • September 17: Cade Baccus, 6-8p.m. The Fieldhouse at The Crossover 1717 Scottsdale Dr., Suite 160, Leander, TX www.theeldhousetexas.com/the- stage-live-music • August 20: Texas Live Band Karaoke, 7-10p.m. • August 27: Texas Live Band Karaoke, 7-10p.m. • August 29: Suede, 7-10p.m. • September 3: Texas Live Band Karaoke, 7-10p.m.

• August 20: Karaoke, 7-11p.m. • August 27: Karaoke, 7-11p.m. • September 3: Karaoke, 7-11p.m. • September 10: Karaoke, 7-11p.m. HEB Center 2100 Ave. of the Stars, Cedar Park www.hebcenter.com/events • August 23: Anuel AA, 8p.m. • September 13: Ken Carson, 8p.m. Haute Spot 1501 E New Hope Dr., Cedar Park www.hautespot.live/calendar • August 29: Eagles Tribute ft. Desert Highway, 6-11p.m. • August 30: Journey Tribute ft. Departure ATX, 6p.m. • August 31: WAR - 50th Anniversary of “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” 5-11p.m. • September 5: Micky & the Motorcars, 6-11p.m. • September 6: Jimmie Allen - Stories Behind the Songs Acoustic Show, 6-11p.m. • September 18: Randall King, 5-10p.m. • September 19: Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras 6-11p.m.

PRESENTED BY

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29

THERES NO PLACE LIKE HOME PLATE

POSTGAME FIREWORKS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

PRESENTED BY

CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Dining

BY STEVE GUNTLI

Salerno’s oers a spacious interior dining area with a fully-stocked wine bar.

Salerno’s lasagna ($16.99) is one of the restaurant’s most popular oerings.

PHOTOS BY STEVE GUNTLICOMMUNITY IMPACT

Salerno’s Cucina Italiana oers Italian comfort food Salerno’s Cucina Italiana has been providing authentic Italian meals to the Cedar Park com- munity for nearly ve years, and its new owner is making sure that the legacy the business has established will continue to grow and thrive. The backstory

Owner Katrina Loyo took over operations of the restaurant in November 2024.

What they oer Salerno’s emphasizes authenticity and fresh ingredients for their old-style Italian cooking. The restaurant oers a wide range of Italian classics, from staples like lasagna and chicken par- mesan to more exotic dishes like Veal Saltimboca and Chicken Verona. The restaurant also oers a full bar and a wide selection of wines to pair with any meal. “Our vision is to really portray what we call the ‘Salerno spirit,’ which is that feeling you encounter when you go to your grandma’s house, where you walk in and you know you’re welcome and you’ve come to a place that just feels good and you’re going to get a really good meal,” Loyo said.

Katrina Loyo forged a circuitous route to being a business owner. Loyo started her career as a gerontologist, working with elderly citizens and advising on care and housing options. Helping clients nd permanent housing led to an interest in real estate, and so Loyo transitioned careers. It was through her new interest in real estate that she came to take ownership of Salerno’s when the previous owners sold it in November 2024.

1310 Cypress Creek Road Suite 120, Cedar Park salernocucinaitalianatx.com

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