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Plano North Edition VOLUME 12, ISSUE 8 MAY 17 JUNE 20, 2025
Realizing a vision Collin Creek redevelopment turns focus above ground
INSIDE
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Construction on the building that was formerly the Collin Creek Mall is set to start late this year.
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INTERSECTIONS EXPANDING FOR BETTER TRAFFIC FLOW & 20+ Intersection Improvements in Design 11
Midway Rd: Spring Creek Pkwy to Park Blvd Estimated Start: Summer 2025 | Estimated Completion: Fall 2025 2 West Parker Rd: Parkwood Blvd to Preston Rd Estimated Start: Summer 2025 | Estimated Completion: Fall 2025 3 Independence Pkwy: Spring Creek Pkwy to SH 121 Estimated Start: Summer 2025 | Estimated Completion: Fall 2025 4 Alma Dr: Parker Rd to Hedgcoxe Rd Estimated Start: Summer 2025 | Estimated Completion: Fall 2025 5
Completed Overlay 2025 Overlay 2025 Rehab (Future Overlay)
View the current projects map at Plano.gov/CIP Sign up for weekly news updates from the City of Plano at Plano.gov/News
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PLANO NORTH EDITION
Impacts
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C YRD.
3 Galaxy Golf Cars The company sells high-quality electric (EV) golf cars, low speed vehicles (LSVs), electric utility task vehicles (EV-UTVs) and custom carts. A Galaxy Guarantee and bumper-to-bumper warranty is available on every new cart. • Opened March 24 • 1721 N Central Expressway, Plano • www.galaxygolfcars.com 4 Nan Hot Pot The menu includes hot pot options featuring a variety of soup bases like tomato, pork bones and more. Signature dishes include sichuan style tender beef, sichuan style tender chicken feet and more. • Opened in March • 2380 N. Central Expressway, Plano • www.nanhotpottx.com 5 First Watch The brunch spot’s menu includes pancakes, omelettes, breakfast tacos and rotating seasonal specials along with breakfast cocktails like mimosas and bloody marys. • Opened April 14 • 3204 East Hebron Parkway, Carrollton • www.firstwatch.com 6 Reformed Pilates The studio at the corner of Preston Towne Crossing offers a variety of group Pilates classes. • Opened February • 2085 Preston Road, Ste. 102, Plano • www.reformedpilates.com/location/plano 7 Street by Chef Jimmy Li The menu currently includes three food items: basil chicken, American Pink and pan roast. A variety of drink options including brown sugar milk tea and peach iced tea are available. Lopez said within two weeks the food menu will be expanded. • Opened April 11 • 7800 Windrose Ave., Plano • www.streetbychefjimmyli.com
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2 Tompson Liquor Mart The store has been in business for 10 years, and was previously located at the corner of Parker Road and Independence Parkway. The business also offers a loyalty program where customers can earn points for discounts on purchases, Alyatim said. • Opened April 25
Now open
1 Dentists of Plano Dentist Matthew Stephens offers general dentistry services including teeth cleaning, fillings, dentures, whitening and more. • Opened April 16 • 9613 Coit Road, Ste. 107, Plano • www.dentistsofplano.com
• 2757 West 15th St., Plano • Instagram: tompsonliquor
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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11 Kickin’ Crab The eatery’s menu features clam chowder, raw and fried oysters, grilled shrimp tacos and tilapia. Other items include bags of shrimp, mussels, clams and crab legs which are sold per pound at market prices. • Opening this summer • 3420 K. Ave., Ste. 160, Plano • www.thekickincrab.com 12 Plano Midpoint Upon completion, the facility will include two modern industrial buildings: one totaling 226,900 square feet and the other 96,100 square feet, both featuring 32- foot clear heights. • Opening early 2026 14 San Martin Bakery The establishment serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also sells bakery items such as bread, cookies and cake. The breakfast menu features omelettes, french toast, pancakes and more. Lunch and dinner options include sandwiches, salads and pizza. • Opening this summer • Near the intersection of Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway in Plano • www.sanmartinbakery.us • 2700 W. Plano Parkway, Plano • www.foundrycommercial.com
15 Zaza Thai The eatery’s menu features pho, dumplings, fried rice, wings and more. Another Zaza Thai is located in McKinney. • Opening in May • 9615 Coit Road, Ste. 103, Plano • www.zazathai.com
Coming soon
8 Paris Baguette The eatery’s menu includes cakes, tarts, donuts and other sweet options. • Opening TBD • 3420 K Ave., Ste. 100, Plano • www.parisbaguette.com 9 Gloria’s Latin Cuisine The restaurant is known for their various Latin dishes, margaritas and black bean dip. The new Plano location will replace the current restaurant 8600 Gaylord Parkway, Frisco. • Opening late 2025 10 IMAGE Studios The business will offer beauty and wellness services, Jessica Hutson, owner at IMAGE Studios Plano said. • Opening in May • 6505 W. Park Blvd., Ste. 160, Plano • www.imagestudios360.com • 8601 Preston Road, Plano • www.gloriascuisine.com
Closings
17 Burn Boot Camp Burn Boot Camp offered a variety of group fitness classes, and still has several locations open in North Texas, including gyms in Richardson and Frisco. • Closed February • 2108 Dallas Parkway, Ste. 210, Plano • www.burnbootcamp.com 18 Denny’s The diner served breakfast, burgers, chicken tenders and more. The restaurant announced plans to close 150 locations through 2025, according to an October investor report. • Closed in March • 1305 Preston Road, Plano, TX • www.dennys.com
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PLANO NORTH EDITION
Government
BY ADAM DOE & ALEX REECE
Plano to permanently close Water Street A portion of Water Street inside Plano’s Legacy West will close as part of a push for pedestri- an-friendly spaces in the mixed-use development. “With competition coming around us, it’s so imperative and important that we update and upgrade our facilities to match future demand,” said Rupesh Bhakta, chief operating officer for Prism Places, an operating partner for Legacy West Investors. Breaking it down Plano City Council members unanimously amended a portion of Legacy West’s development agreement and discussed the changes coming to the area, including the street closure, during an April 14 meeting. The amendments change allows for the closure of Water Street, a small side street between Win- drose Avenue and Communications Parkway, in order to build a platform stage, incorporate more pedestrian spaces, add signage and more. It also changes the open space requirements and signage development standards for a little over 275 acres. “Really our focus here is to drive people to stay
City to purchase more than $5.5M in vehicles Plano City Council approved the purchase of $5.6 million in new tractor trucks, ambu- lances and a pothole repair truck in April. Digging deeper Three of the five new tractor trucks are scheduled replacements, and the remaining two are preorders for the 2025-26 fiscal year. City Works uses the trucks to transport tree trimmings and yard debris to the 21 Regional Composting Facility, according to city documents. Council also approved roughly $4.4 million in new six ambulance chassis and 11 new ambulance bodies. The new pothole patcher truck is also a scheduled replacement.
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longer,” said Jessica Clements, a principal and partner with the architectural firm Studio Outside. A total of 13 parking spaces will also be lost as part of bringing in the people spaces, Clements said. Turning Water Street into a pedestrian park is a part of a larger plan for the area similar to the plans for the former JCPenney site, Clements said. “To create a green spine where Water Street currently is we think will really amplify the area,” she said. “There are plenty of places for the car but there really are not plenty of places for the pedestrian.” The city received more than 20 comment letters related to the project , a majority of which were in opposition of the changes. No residents chose to speak during the public hearing for the item. Council to consider Chick- fil-A lot expansion A preliminary site plan for a Chick-fil-A parking lot expansion on the east side of Coit Road will head to Plano City Council following approval from an April 21 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The gist The lot expansion is designed to improve the restaurant’s drive-thru service, according to Benjamin Garza, a civil engineer for Chick-fil-A. “We’re trying to improve Chick-fil-A’s customer service quality through the drive-thru lane and provide sufficient parking for tenants who come to visit the restaurant,” Garza said. Zooming in The expansion would net Chick-fil-A an additional 50 parking spaces, and create 17 more spaces for the shopping center at Coit Road and Spring Creek Parkway, bringing total parking in
Vehicle purchases
$900K
Ambulance bodies Tractor trucks Ambulance chassis Pothole repair truck
$5.6M total budget
$310K $350K
$4.1M
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Longhorn Park to see $2M renovation Longhorn Park on Robin Road will receive a new playground and improved amenities as part of a $2 million renovation approved by Plano City Council during its April 28 meeting. Other park improvements include a new irrigation system, improved lighting, new exercise equipment and updates for full Americans with Disabilities Act compli- ance. The city expects to begin construc- tion in late spring 2025 and complete in late summer 2026, according to a City Works representative.
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the area up to 327 parking spots, according to a presentation to the commission. The commission unanimously voted to approve
the expansion. Quote of note
“I have been in other municipalities, like Santa Barbara where they shut down the Chick-fil-A because it was causing too much traffic,” Commis- sioner Doug Bender said in the meeting. “I think it will improve the traffic flow.”
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Election
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY
Election results breakdown
Place 5
Proposition F 67% For 33% Against Proposition G 72% For
2025 Plano bond referendum
58% Steve Lavine 42% Gary Cary
72% For Proposition A
Place 8
28% Against
54% Vidal Quintanilla 46% Hayden Padgett
28% Against
Proposition B 60% For
Plano City Council
Plano ISD board of trustees
40% Against
56% Bob Kehr 21% Carson K. Underwood 23% Douglas Reeves Place 2
Place 2
Proposition C 62% For
86% Sam Johnson 14% Xiomar Pierre
38% Against
Proposition D: 65% For 35% Against Proposition E 56% For
Place 3
71% Nancy Humphrey 29% Harper Weaver
55% Christene "Chris" Krupa Downs 45% Cody Weaver Place 4
Place 6
57% Elisa Klein 13% Andrew Rettke
44% Against
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PLANO NORTH EDITION
Transportation
BY COLBY FARR
Texas lawmakers heard testimony from dozens on a bill that could potentially redirect 25% of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s sales tax revenues back to its member cities. HB 3187, a bill filed by Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano, seeks to mandate that 25% of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s sales tax revenue is made available to its member cities for general mobility improvements. The bill was passed through the House’s Transportation Committee in May. As of May 13, the bill has not been scheduled for a vote on the Plano officials talk DART funding at Texas House
Expenses vs. sales tax contribution by member city A report by Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors showed seven of DART’s 13 member cities contributed more sales tax revenue in 2023 than operations, capital and interest expenses cost to maintain transit service.
Sales tax contribution Expenses
$0M $20M $40M $60M $80M $100M $120M
Carrollton
Farmers Branch
Highland Park
Plano Richardson University Park
Addison
SOURCE: ERNST AND YOUNG INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
officials project “devastating” cuts for the entire system’s maintenance and overhead times. “That will create a downward spiral until the entire system collapses,” she said. Plano Mayor John Muns testified in support of the bill. Muns also referenced the Ernst and Young study completed in 2024 saying Plano was the second largest contributor to DART behind Dallas. In 2023, Plano contributed $109 million to the transit authority and received less than 50 cents on the dollar of that investment, Muns said. “This is an inefficient, indefensible use of the tax dollars that my taxpayers committed to benefit transit and our city,” he said. Muns said Plano was committed to transit but that structural change was needed for DART’s “outdated” member city model. “We really want to rightsize a 42-year old model that really hasn’t changed in those 42 years,” he said.
Abbott, it would mandate that 25% of DART’s sales tax revenue is made available to its member cities for projects on city highways, sidewalks, trails, traffic signals and more. Also of note DART’s board of directors approved a resolution in March signaling its own intention to establish a general mobility program that would be funded by 5% of its annual sales tax collections. What they’re saying Nadine Lee, DART’s president and CEO testified against the bill saying taxpayers have voted twice to invest billions of dollars into the transit author- ity’s system, referencing elections that came in 1983 when DART was first formed and in 2000 when the voters approved $2.9 billion in long-term financing for system expansion. Defunding DART by 25% in perpetuity will reduce available revenue for transit investments by $7 billion over a 20-year period, she said. DART
House floor. In a nutshell
Shaheen said the transit authority is bringing financial harm to many of its member cities. He referenced a study completed by Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors in 2024 which found that multiple member cities contributed more sales tax revenue in 2023 than operations, capital and interest expenses cost to maintain transit service in those cities. “Because of DART’s unwillingness to address these overpayments, I have filed HB 3187 that provides a legislative fix to these imbalances DART refuses to fix.” What’s in the bill? If HB 3187 were approved by the Texas House and Texas Senate and signed into law by Gov. Greg
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Transportation
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY, ADAM DOE & ALEX REESE
Plano to spend $620K on sidewalk repairs Plano City Council approved a contract that will allow crews to fix sidewalk repairs as they come up. The context The traditional sidewalk repair method involves completely removing and replacing the panels at an average cost of $864 per repair, city documents state. Previous repair locations include several sidewalks in the Country Place Plano and Park Forest neigh- borhoods on the northwest side, according to information from Plano City Works. In the previous contract, Precision Concrete removed 26,000 sidewalk trip hazards at an average cost of $55 per repair by cutting the uneven surfaces away with a horizontal saw to smooth out uneven sidewalk panels, according to 2022 city documents. Diving deeper Repairing the 26,000 trip hazards would have cost the city more than $21 million with the traditional panel replacement method, based on the average cost of $864 per repair.
Section of McDermott Road in Plano to undergo concrete, sidewalk work Plano City Council members unanimously approved a $765,558 contract to V.A. Construc- tion, Inc. for various repairs to McDermott Road between Preston Road and Coit Road during an April 14 meeting. The gist This project itself will include repairing: • Approximately 2,000 square yards of arterial concrete • 11,000 square feet of sidewalk • 48 barrier-free ramps Construction is expected to finish in late September 2026, according to an April 10 update on the city’s community investment program website. While Plano’s Public Works department is usually tasked with isolated road repairs, the city typically turns to outside contractors for larger areas of repair like McDermott Road, according to meeting documents. Breckinridge Trail set for 1.6 mile extension Plano will add 1.6 miles to Breckinridge Trail, from Bradshaw Drive to Shiloh Road to provide a path to a future Dallas Area Rapid Transit Silver Line station, and improve access to off-street trails, according to city documents. The gist Plano City Council voted to award a roughly $800,000 contract to Beau- mont-based contractor Schaumburg & Polk to build the trail extension.
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The city would not be able to repair the road if council had chosen to deny the April 14 contract request, according to a statement included in the meeting documents. Funding for the project comes from the city’s 2024-25 Street Improvements community invest- ment program budget. Also of note Just south of the upcoming project, one lane is currently closed on Preston Meadow Drive between Hedgcoxe Road to McDermott Road due to ongoing construction. The project is expected to finish on May 30, according to the city’s website. Two Independence Parkway projects finishing work in late May, mid-June A pair of projects causing lane closures along Independence Drive are expected to complete work in late May and mid June. What you need to know A project to replace asphalt on a section of the roadway from Maumelle Drive to Legacy Drive is set to finish on May 30, according to an update from Plano’s public works department. Two lanes are currently closed on northbound Independence Parkway from Maumelle Drive to Legacy Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with one lane will be closed all day through the end of construction. The other project includes the replacement of
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a screening wall on Independence Parkway from Charring Cross to Val Verde Drive, and is expected to finish on June 13. As a result of the work, two outside lanes north- bound are closed through the completion of work. Another nearby project is expected to finish on May 30 as well. One lane is currently closed on Legacy Drive from Independence to Quarry Chase, with two lanes closed daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Realizing a vision From the cover
What you need to know
Work is under way on several sections of Collin Creek. Progress on the plan
Four years after work started, drivers on US 75 are nally seeing the progress at Collin Creek Mall. Two of the ve large piles of dirt blocking the view of the soon-to-be mixed-use development— which will feature retail, homes, apartments, two parks and more—are now gone, with the other three set to be removed “in short order,” Plano Director of Special Projects Peter Braster said. Braster added that the piles of dirt were there for a reason. “They had to dig a really big hole,” he said. That really big hole is now a 1,976-space underground parking garage, which nished construction in March, allowing work to start on several above-ground projects, Braster said. The next steps are to nish work on the park, street network and other infrastructure on the development’s east side. Construction on two apartment buildings and the main mall building is also set to begin later this year, Centurion American Vice President Rob Romo said.
Unbuilt areas Built housing Built underground parking structure Future green space Built roads
Above-ground retail
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SOURCE: CENTURION AMERICAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Diving in deeper
A closer look
Romo said that the redevelopment “will breathe new life into the historic mall,” adding that the development’s two parks will enhance the mall’s productivity. Romo said that the “indoor-outdoor experience promotes fluid movement and will enhance the overall visitor experience.” Part of that vision also includes leveling out the entire mall to be on one floor, with the parking garage underneath. “You’ll be able to walk from Alma [Drive] all the way through to US 75, basically all at one level,” Braster said. That’s where the piles of dirt come into play— Braster said the dirt is being used to fill in areas needed to level off parts of the mall. He added that some of the material in large piles are actually asphalt, which is being used to make the roadways on the development. Braster said that the redevelopment will make Collin Creek “a destination” on the east side of Plano. “Look at the mall before 2018—it was dying for decades, because there was newer and better,” he said. “Legacy West is popular because it feels like a great place to visit ... Collin Creek is not going to be Legacy West on the east side, but it’s going to be its own special place that people want to come to.”
The main mall building is being updated to feature a more walkable design and improve “connectivity,” Romo said.
Collin Creek Mall originally opened in 1981 and closed in 2019.
The developer is hoping to attract “a diverse tenant mix” for the retail space, Romo said.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY
Why it matters
What’s next
Around 200 of the allotted 500 single-family homes set for Collin Creek have already been built, Braster said. Braster added that the houses are being built as they’re bought. “What that means is that people want to live in Plano,” he said. “Which we all knew, but now you actually have new homes.” The homes help address a need in Plano, which has very little space left to add new housing units. Only about 9% of Plano homes have been built since 2009. North Texas realtor Pamela Harris added that longtime homeowners in the area can be “hesitant to sell,” as they usually bought the home when interest rates were much lower, adding to Plano’s shortage of housing. More than 55% of homes in Plano were built between 1980 and 1999, when Plano was experi- encing massive population growth, according to the U.S. Department of Housing data. Braster added that he expects Collin Creek to
Construction on the redevelopment of Collin Creek started in 2021.
Housing stock Collin Creek is located in the 75075 ZIP Code, just west of 75074.
Culverts finish construction March 2025 : Underground parking garage finishes construction Summer 2025: Amenity center finished Late 2025 : Street network, parks completed and main building construction starts
2024
6000
75075 75074
2025
4000
2000
Mid-2026 : Southern residential developments finished
2026
Year Built
2027
improve the entire surrounding area as well. “It’s going to be a total revitalization,” he said. “You’ll get better retailers, better tenants and the neighborhoods will appreciate that.”
2028
Project is fully built out
SOURCE: CENTURION AMERICAN, CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PLANO NORTH EDITION
Education
Events
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & SHELBIE HAMILTON
BY ADAM DOE
Plano ISD receives ‘B’ rating from TEA for 2022 23 Plano ISD received an overall ‘B’ rating, 84 out of 100 points, from the Texas Education Agency’s 2022-23 accountability ratings. School Year Student Achievement School Process
Collin College adds 5th bachelor’s degree Collin College will o er a new baccalau- reate degree during the fall 2025 semester, according to a news release. The Bachelor of Applied Technology in Software Development is the college’s fth baccalaureate degree program. The college received nal approval for the program from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College on April 4. The details The program will be housed at the Collin College Frisco Campus. Students in the program will learn “real- world software development practices” and modern programming frameworks through hands-on experience, the release states.
• May 25, 4:45-6:45 p.m. • $50 • 6121 West Park Blvd., Plano • www.tinyurl.com/petpaints
May
‘Heathers: The Musical’ Enjoy the musical adaptation of the 80s classic teen drama “Heathers” with “Heathers: The Musical” at the North Texas Performing Arts Willow Bend Center. • May 23, 7 p.m.; May 24, 2 and 7 p.m.; May 29, 7 p.m.; May 30, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.; May 31, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. • $12-$25 Gumbo & Friends Grab a drink and have a laugh at Gumbo & Friends, a comedy show from Jeremy “Gumbo” Christian, an award-winning comedian. • May 25, 6 p.m. • $25.50 • 7301 Lone Star Drive, Plano • www.tinyurl.com/gumbofriends • 6121 West Park Blvd., Plano • www.tinyurl.com/heathers88 Paint your Pets Bring a photo of your pet to Pipe and Pallette to create a painting of your furry friend under the direction of skilled art teachers. Guests are allowed to bring alcoholic beverages and a light snack.
Closing the Gaps
June
2018-19
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The ratings were released April 24 following a delay that lasted more than one year due to an injunction blocking the release of the scores. What you need to know The score measures “how much students are learning in each grade and whether or not they are ready for the next grade. It also shows how well a school or district prepares their students for success after high school in college, the workforce, or the military,” according to TEA’s website. PISD received a ‘B’ in all three performance categories. More than 100 Texas school districts, including PISD, sued TEA Commissioner Mike Morath in August 2023, arguing that the agency’s revamped accountability system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts.
Jason Eady at Love and War in Texas Mississippi-native country musician Jason Eady will perform at the bar and live music venue Love and War in Texas. Eady’s fourth album AM Country Heaven made the top 40 country albums in 2012, according to Billboard. • June 6, 8-11 p.m. • $25 • 601 E. Plano Parkway, Plano • www.tinyurl.com/jeadyloveandwar ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’ Enjoy the Repertory Company Theater’s production of “Legally Blonde” at the Courtyard Theater. The musical follows Elle Woods on her journey to Harvard Law School. Reese Witherspoon starred in the lm adaptation of the comedy novel by Amanda Brown. • June 20-21, 7:30 p.m.; June 22, 2:15 p.m. • $12-$25 • 1509 H Ave., Plano • www.tinyurl.com/planolegallyblonde
2021-22
89
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88
2022-23
85
81
80
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
A Travis County district judge blocked the release of the ratings in October 2023, before that ruling was reversed by Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals earlier this month. A second lawsuit currently blocks the TEA from releasing scores for the 2023-24 school year. Mor- ath also said the agency intends to release ratings for the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15, as required by state law. Additional reporting by Hannah Norton
Brunch Market at the Boardwalk Peruse locally crafted artisanal goods and play lawn games at the Granite Park Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is home to several restaurants with waterfront seating. • May 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free • 5800 SH 121, Plano • www.tinyurl.com/brunchboardwalk
PLANO 5930 West Park Blvd (972) 250-0500 PLANO NORTH 5420 State Hwy 121 (469) 687-2581
ALLEN 1839 N Central Expy (972) 908-3488 EAST PLANO 3404 N Central Expy (972) 423-6688
COIT ROAD 1453 Coit Rd (972) 867-2821
Business
BY KAREN CHANEY
Ann Kang opened Chally Bridal and Prom, with her husband James Kang, in The Shops at Willow Bend in 2023.
Disney Fairy Tale Wedding bridal gowns are a top selling designer at Chally Bridal and Prom.
PHOTOS BY KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Chally Bridal and Prom o ers ‘wedding wonderland’
While trying to settle into retirement following 25 years of owning and operating a bridal boutique in St. Louis, Missouri, James and Ann Kang found the draw to once again walk the aisle, albeit trade show aisles, too hard to resist. “I love bridal fashion,” Ann said. “I retired for a year and a half. Then I got to go to bridal trade shows and couldn’t stay away.” The Kangs moved from Missouri to North Texas to be closer to their children, Chris and Ally. When they opened Chally Bridal and Prom in 2023, they merged their children’s names to create the business name. Looking for a bridal gown? Blending their decades of industry experience with strong vendor connections, the married busi- ness partners have created what Ann describes as a “wedding wonderland.” “O cially this is the biggest bridal store in Texas, maybe in the nation,” James said. “Obviously we want to have the best and largest selection of inventory in Texas.” Bridal gowns are available in sizes ranging from 4-through-32. “We have the largest amount of curvy dresses in stock,” James said. “We felt like the plus size consumer was kind of neglected.” Ann said she chooses inventory based on
material, workmanship and price. “I look at the dresses like I’m a consumer—I’m very fashion forward,” Ann said. “I like to present unique styles to our brides.” Customers will nd a large selection of design- ers to choose from including two of the more popular lines from Disney Fairy Tale Wedding and Randy Fenoli, of ‘Say Yes To the Dress’ fame. “We listen to our brides [to learn] what they’re looking for. After she tries on what she’s looking for, we’ll also suggest what we think would look best on them,” Ann said. “The bride will decide. It’s ultimately her day and her decision.” The experience Reservations are required to try on bridal gowns and Quinceañera dresses. There are two types of bridal appointments—regular and VIP. There is no charge for a regular appointment, which is 90 minutes long and guided by a stylist. “The VIP is a little bit more enhanced. It’s two hours, private showroom, private runway, drinks and hors d’oeuvre are served,” Ann said. What else? In addition to bridal gowns, Chally also sells special occasion dresses including Quinceañera, prom, mother of the bride and more. “Prom girls don’t want to buy the same dresses,”
Reservations are required to try on Quinceañera gowns.
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Ann said. “They are very happy that we have di erent designers they are able to choose from ... which are more exclusive to our store.” Many customers come from out of state to have the Chally bridal experience, the Kangs said. Once they say yes to the dress, the Chally robot brings them celebratory champagne. “I love working with the brides and customers,” Ann said. “Finding the beautiful, perfect gown they are dreaming about excites me and it is rewarding for me as well.”
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!
A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison
OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts
Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.
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DETOURS
Clods and Monsters
Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.
acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”
The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314
YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”
The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH
OH. —Lauren Larson
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
MADE IN TEXAS
The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL
OUT THERE
Meanwhile, In Texas
In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.
THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.
Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda
Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.
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Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.
for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.
IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing
FEATURE PREVIEW
Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE
TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.
TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Dining
BY KAREN CHANEY
A variety of macaron avors are available at Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop.
Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop owners enjoy experimenting in the kitchen to create new recipes.
Some of the most popular cupcake avors include salted caramel, lemon ricotta and cookie dough.
PHOTOS BY KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop thrives on custom orders Rachel Arrieta and Ana Torres, Plano residents and co-owners of Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop, said the division of the shop’s space is re ective of their business model in that approximately two-thirds of their shop is designated kitchen space while the storefront lls the remaining space. What makes them special? Arrietta said she came up with all the base recipes when she started the business and from there every avor comes from a base. For example, all chocolate avors come from the chocolate base.
Custom frosted cookies are popular requests for bridal and baby showers.
“Once you have a solid base recipe, you can create any avor from there,”. Arrieta said. “We have to be priced where we’re priced because we get the highest quality ingredients. We use all pure ingredients, there is no Crisco, shortening or fake butter. It is all cream cheese and real butter.” Meet the owners Arrieta opened Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop in 2013 after developing a following by selling her baked goods at local cafes and Neiman Marcus Trunk Shows. “I didn’t even know I was good at baking. I did not go to school for it—I never took a class. I kind of just taught myself,” Arrieta said. “I was exper- imenting in the kitchen after I graduated college and made one cake for my mom, and it kind of just took o .” Torres became a business partner three years ago after working at Sugar Ray’s for two years. Arrieta said she and Torres have always been able to naturally split responsibilities based on one another’s strengths.
“Our catering and custom order business is 90% of our business,” Arrieta said. “When I started, I knew that the walk-in [business] was just going to be gravy on top.” On the menu The bakery sells cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, pies and more. “We bake fresh everyday seven avors of cup- cakes,” Torres said. “We also always have a variety of avors of macarons and brownies. For custom orders we can do cakes, frosted sugar cookies and decorated cupcakes” Four of the made-everyday options are red velvet, milk chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla. “We switch our menu every month ... based on popularity and avors we invent that we think would be fun and good,” Arrieta said. “That’s what we love—experimenting in the kitchen.” Arrieta said their chocolate chip cookies are top sellers which she describes as “crunchy and soft and the chocolate chips are so gooey.”
Rachel Arrieta, left, and Ana Torres co-own Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop in Plano.
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