Railyard Shopping Center encourages local buying From the cover
Two-minute impact
The Railyard Shopping Center
A C.R. Surf and Turf Foot Specialists of Austin, Cedar Park and Restaurants, bars and social gathering
Medical and dental facilities
Retail
Salons, spas and grooming
Services
With a population of 103,466 residents, consistent growth in Cedar Park has spurred expansion and attracted major projects. Amid the in ux of new construction, local businesses want to draw attention to legacy retailers. While upcoming projects are slated to bring additional jobs, tenants at The Railyard Shopping Center are working to engage with the community by hosting annual events; the inaugural Holiday Bazaar was held Nov. 29. “People are getting lost in the tra c,” M.A. Dance Project owner Marianne Hakanson said. “I want to bring what I have here, in my little space, I want to bring to everybody. I want to bring love and kindness and joy and art.” New developments include projects such as CedarView, which will bring new Nebraska Furniture Mart and Scheels locations. Another project is the Bell District, which features a new public library, retail stores, dining options, o ces and multifamily units. “As [city leaders] started to dream about what the Bell District could be, it became pretty clear that there was an opportunity to do something iconic that would function as Cedar Park’s downtown,” Rob Shands, a partner with Bell District master developer RedLeaf, told Community Impact in 2024.
D Kids Dental Smiles Amour Bridal Derrick’s Barbershop M.A. Dance Project
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Georgetown Cigar Depot Paper Bark Birch
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Children’s Bookstore Bang Salon and Day Spa Luxe Laser Wellness Spa Dog Wash Spa Cedar Park Railyard Cleaners The All Good Shooters Billiards and Sports Bar Austin European Market
1431 Cafe Lighthouse Health Clinic HCCC Gameroom F Rockin J Piano Bar Delta Days
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Guns Warehouse Millennium Nails Edison Electricians of Cedar Park Cork2Glass Whitestone Fine Jewelry Poolwerx Cedar Park
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Cedar Park
C Cedar Park Dental Clinical Pathology Laboratories
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SOURCE: THE RAILYARD SHOPPING CENTER COMMUNITY IMPACT
The background
What's new
family-oriented vibe, Hakanson said, with brick buildings, architectural details and a backdrop of historic trains. As one of Cedar Park’s inaugural shopping centers, The Railyard has housed dozens of locally owned businesses, many of which have sought ways to engage with neighbors and residents. Throughout the years, past tenants have hosted community events at the space, but this year, organizers are looking to make the Holiday Bazaar an annual tradition. Hakanson; Stephanie Robertson, owner of Paper Bark Birch Children’s Bookstore; and Haley Poe at Whitestone Fine Jewelry teamed up with other business owners to celebrate the holidays and shop small. Robertson opened the children’s book- store in The Railyard two years ago due to the area’s charm, she said, with large trees, benches and its distance from the main road making it more safe for children.
The Railyard Shopping Center was established in Cedar Park in 1999 by Cypress Properties with health care clinics, market o erings, restau- rants, live music venues and more. Some of the long-standing occupants include Shooters Billiards and Sports Bar and M.A. Dance Project, which both opened in 2004, and C.R. Surf and Turf, which joined the shopping center in 2007. Hao Lien opened the seafood and steak restaurant after his family’s restaurant closed nearby from the proximity to new construction. “We were on 620 and 183 right where the intersection is,” Lien said. “When they started con- struction there, it just ruined the whole shopping center. … We ended up moving out. I just found an opportunity to do what I like, and we went with it, just opened up.” The Railyard also borders the Austin Steam Train Association, a nonpro t railroad in Cedar Park, giv- ing the shopping center a backdrop of restored train cars and connecting The Railyard to an Austin-area tourist destination. The space o ers an eclectic and
As growth in Cedar Park brings retail options to the area, the shopping center has seen a similar in ux of new tenants. In late September, Gail Hast- ings and Trey Dart, the owners of Shooters, opened The All Good sports bar serving beers and cocktails with a permanent smashburger food truck. “[It’s] a brand new concept that we think would be really helpful for [the] diversity and growth in Cedar Park,” Hastings said. “[There are] so many families, it’s growing so fast.”
“We always thought when there’s more going on in one area, all boats rise. We don’t look at anything as competitive. … These are all complementary [businesses], and it becomes like, ‘Oh, let’s all hang out at The Railyard.’” GAIL HASTINGS, CO OWNER OF SHOOTERS AND THE ALL GOOD
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