New Restaurants in the Area

From Impact News, January 23, 2009...

• Einstein Bros. Bagels opened Dec. 9 at 1465 E. Whitestone Blvd. The 3,000 sq. ft restaurant seats up to 65 inside and 20 on the patio, and offers soups, sandwiches, fresh bread, coffee and sweets in addition to bagels. Hours are Mon.-Fri. 5 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 6 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 259-3985 or visit http://www.einsteinbros.com/.

• Piñata Grill opened in November in the food court at Lakeline Mall, 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive. Owners John and Susan Seay and Lupe and Lucina Barragan serve up authentic, made-to-order Mexican food. They also offer vegetarian fare and South American blend coffee. Catering is also available. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 249-7130.

• Freddy’s Frozen Custard opened Jan. 20. The restaurant, at 1465 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. H360, is about 3,500 sq. ft. and will seat about 120, including the patio. Freddy’s serves steakburgers, Chicago-style hotdogs and frozen custard desserts. Hours are Sun.-Thu. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Call 259-9292 or visit http://www.freddysfrozencustard.com/.

• Cedar Park residents will have two new dining choices at the Galleria at Red Oaks, 500 Cypress Creek Road. King Noodle, Ste. 100, will serve traditional Vietnamese cuisine, including Pho, as well as sushi. It will be open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. King Noodle will seat 125 diners and should be open by the end of January. Call 203-6752 to find out more about King Noodle. Contenders Sports Bar and Grill is aiming to be open in time for March Madness. The bar and restaurant will feature plenty of TVs to watch the games and will serve a variety of American classics, such as rib-eye steak, burgers and salads, as well as chips and salsa, fish tacos, nachos and calamari.

• Smokey Mo’s Bar-B-Q opened its latest location Jan. 5 at 1505 Cypress Creek Road, Ste. 101. The restaurant serves a variety of side dishes, wraps and barbecue by the pound. Hours are Mon.-Sat. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Call 336-0500 or visit http://www.smokeymosbbq.com/.

• Firehouse Subs opened its second Cedar Park store Jan. 13 at 1465 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. H340. The restaurant offers many types of hot and cold subs. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Call 259-9696 or visit http://www.firehousesubs.com/.

• James Mowery opened a Dickey’s Barbecue Pit at 401 W. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. C100. The Dallas-based franchise restaurant serves salads and sandwiches in addition to the smoked offerings. The store opened Jan. 13. A grand-opening celebration is in the works for mid-February. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Call 250-1495 or visit http://www.dickeys.com/.

• Carl’s Jr. opened Jan. 16 at 1315 E. Whitestone Blvd. The burger chain is open from 6 a.m.-midnight daily. Call 259-5159 or visit http://www.carlsjr.com/.

• The owner of McDonald’s in Leander, 1445 US 183 S., is aiming for a Jan. 28 opening date. The 3,000 sq. ft. restaurant will seat about 170 diners and features an indoor play area. The store’s hours will be 5 a.m.-1 a.m. daily. Call 331-9590.

CP, Leander continue to see sales tax increase

From Hill Country News, Januaary 23, 2009...

While many cities in Central Texas are seeing a drop in sales tax revenues due to an economy that's been in a tailspin since October, Cedar Park and Leander are sitting pretty, with numbers that are on the rise.

Both cities have seen an overall increase in sales tax revenue over the last two years, with increased development and population growth fueling the increase.

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Leander State of the City

From Hill Country News, January 23, 2009...

Leander Mayor John Cowman will deliver his annual State of the City address on Tuesday afternoon at Central Baptist Church immediately after the Greater Leander Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. The address will start at approximately 12:15 p.m.

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Cedar Park arena project on the rise

From Hill Country News, Januaary 23, 2009...

It was the dream of a few and now it's becoming a reality to all. The Cedar Park Center is going up.

A year ago, the concept of an arena in Cedar Park was still a pipe dream, the deal hadn't even been signed with the Hicks Sports Group yet. The plan had been laid out and many of the details taken care of, but it wasn't a reality yet. Now, fast forward a year; not only is the arena no longer just a dream, it's a structure going up in front of the eyes of everyone in Central Texas.

The steel beams are in place and the shape of the arena, including the rounded front, is now distinguished. John Frew, with Frew Management Group, told the Cedar Park City Council on Jan. 8 that almost 600 tons of steel were in place.

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Growth leads to more hotels on the horizon for Cedar Park

From Hill Country News, January 23, 2009...

Cedar Park is a city on the move. Growth is booming in the area, just look around at 1890 Ranch, the new hospital or the Cedar Park Center. With this growth comes people to the area who are helping open new businesses or who are relocating to the area, which brings about another need - places to stay.

The city currently has three hotels, a Best Western, Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn and Suites. The last hotel that came to Cedar Park was the Holiday Inn Express that opened seven years ago.

However, with an influx of people, the city now has three hotel projects in the works, which will provide more than 200 guest rooms and create the tallest building in Cedar Park.

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Capital Metro plans open houses at rail stations

From Impact News, January 22, 2009...

Open houses are planned at five rail stations along Capital Metro’s 32-mile commuter rail route from Leander to downtown Austin. Attendees will have an opportunity to see a train, learn how to use the ticket vending machine and read schedule information.

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Capital Metro to stage train crash in Leander

From Hill Country News, January 23, 2009...

Capital Metro will conduct an emergency drill on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., simulating a collision between a MetroRail train and a vehicle at the Metro Drive railroad crossing at the entrance of the Leander Station. Residents should be advised that they may see numerous emergency vehicles in the area during this drill.

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Capital Metro releases tentative rail schedule

From News 8 Austin, Januaary 22, 2009...

Commuting in and out of Austin might get easier when the 32 mile commuter rail line begins offering services between Leander and Austin on March 30.

It's never too early to plan ahead, and despite it being over two months away, Capital Metro announced its tentative schedule for the commuter rail line on Thursday.

The first train will leave Leander at 5:40 a.m. while another train will follow every 30 minutes thereafter until 8:40 that morning. The evening trains will begin leaving Austin every 30 minutes from 3:45 until 6:45 p.m.

To view the tentative schedule, please visit the Capital Metro Blog here.

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Hayashi Sushi and Grill • Georgetown

From Impact News, January 16, 2009...

Sushi restaurants have proliferated over the last decade or so, and while that is undoubtedly a good thing for raw fish fanatics, it is important to keep in mind that unlike people, all sushi restaurants are not created equal. Hayashi Sushi and Grill, which opened in Georgetown in 2006, is a cut above much of its competition.

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HEB issues candy recall

From Austin Business Journal, January 16, 2009...

H.E. Butt Grocery Co. has issued a precautionary recall for Luvs Candy Text Messages, a hard candy that is sold in all of its stores.

The San Antonio-based company, which is the largest grocery chain in Austin, said the fruit-flavored candy may contain “foreign material.” There have been no reports of illnesses or injuries, but the grocer adds that it is taking all necessary precautions. ZED Candy is the manufacturer of the product.

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Leander city council approves land deal

From statesman, January 15, 2009...

The Leander City Council tonight unanimously approved a land agreement to develop about 2,000 acres of land next to of the city’s largest master-planned community.

The agreement allows local developer Bill Hinckley, president of Lookout Partners LP, to begin building roads and utilities on the land for a future mixed-use project southwest of the 3,000-acre Crystal Falls community and golf course.

Hinckley hopes to eventually build as many as 6,000 homes, along with offices and retail on the land. That would be in addition to the 5,000 to 6,000 homes planned for Crystal Falls, of which about 1,300 have been built.

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New Thai restaurant opens on Parmer Lane

From Impact News, January 13, 2009...

A new restaurant is bringing traditional cuisine from Thailand to Northwest Austin. Thai Cuisine opened in December at 4101 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. F and serves authentic, flavorful meals including curries, noodle and rice dishes, soups and desserts. The restaurant is available for catering and take out but the best option is to dine in.

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Burger chain bringing ‘smashing’ concept to Austin

From Austin Business Journal, January 13, 2009...

Denver restaurant company Smashburger has inked a franchise agreement with San Antonio operator SB Alamo Development LLC to bring the Smashburger concept to a region that includes Austin.

Financial terms were not disclosed.The agreement gives SB Alamo rights to open Smashburger restaurants to a broad region that includes San Antonio, Austin, West Texas and New Mexico.

The long-term plan calls for SB Alamo to open a total of 45 stores over the next eight years.

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Fleming's, The Domain's newest steakhouse and wine bar, opens Jan. 26

From Impact News, January 9, 2009...

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Texas' fifth location, is scheduled to open Jan. 26, in The Domain off Mopac and Braker Lane at 11600 Century Oaks Terrace, Ste. 140.

The team behind the Austin restaurant is operating partner Reuben Rolf and chef partner Boyer Derise, who will oversee operations for the 7,558 sq. ft. space, which seats approximately 225 patrons. The Austin restaurant will feature a private dining room that can accommodate up to 60 guests or can be divided into two separate rooms.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar was launched in Newport Beach, Calif. in 1998, and was recognized shortly thereafter by Nation's Restaurant News as one of its ten "Hot New Concept" award winners.

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Leander could get new town center in Crystal Falls

From Hill Country News, January 9, 2009...

Leander may soon get an upscale town center that could rival one in the ritzy Dallas suburb of Highland Park. The Crystal Falls Town Center could be the same architectural quality as the Westlake Medical Center, but it would be a centralized place for retail, office space, medical practices and multi-family units.

The Crystal Falls Town Center would be a unique mixed-use development. But first, it must get through all the planning stages.

“It's going to come in stages,“ said Clay Bebee, an Austin-based developer who was part of the development team that built the Westlake Medical Center. “We don't have a deal yet and I can't give a timeline. It could drag on forever or strike up quickly.”

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Leander McDonald's waiting for lawyers to drive thru paperwork

From Hill Country News, January 9, 2009...

Leander has waited for a fast-food joint like McDonald's for a long time. It looks like the city will have to wait even longer.The McDonald's in the Gateway Shopping Center that was expected to open in late December is now hoping to open before February. The problem is a glitch in paperwork.

“The reason it has been delayed is because the property changed hands,” said Brad Rich, the general contractor of the project. “They're getting the attorneys to sign off on it and it should be in PEC's hands in a couple of days.”

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) will not install the necessary transformers and electricity until the paperwork comes through.

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Leander cracking down on signs in public spaces

From KEYE, Januaary 8, 2009...

There's a crackdown on roadway signs in Leander. The fine for right of way violations goes from $50.00 to $500.00. The city says this is an effort to clean up intersections.

A sign for a beautiful manufactured home sits on a Leander corner at a busy intersection. And it sits in the city's right of way. John Curtis drives around town spotting signs that are not at least eight feet away from curbs or in back of phone poles. The city increased the fine to $500.00 hoping that forces folks to pay attention to the ordinance.

"There was a severe problem with these bandit signs throughout intersections polluting the sides of the road,” said Curtis a Leander code enforcer. “By again by instituting this increase in fine and letting people know the problem has decreased."

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HEB recalls peanut butter snacks

From Austin Business Journal, January 19, 2009...

H.E. Butt Grocery Co. is recalling all of its H-E-Buddy snack packs that contain peanut butter in response to a national outbreak of salmonella linked to one of its suppliers.

No HEB customers have reported any illnesses, the company adds.

The affected products include H-E-Buddy Celery w/Peanut Butter; H-E-Buddy Apples w/Peanut Butter and H-E-Buddy Snack Tray w/two Dips, all with expiration dates between Jan. 16 and Jan. 22.

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Kellogg says FDA confirms salmonella in Austin crackers

From News 8 Austin, January 19, 2009...

Food maker Kellogg says federal authorities have confirmed that salmonella has been found in a package of one of its peanut butter crackers.

Last week the Battle Creek, Mich.-based company recalled 16 products due to possible salmonella contamination.

On Monday it said that contamination was confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration in a package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter.

Also Monday, Meijer Inc. is recalling two types of crackers and two varieties of ice cream due to possible salmonella contamination.

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Leander’s X Park gains momentum

From Austin Business Journal, January 19, 2009...

Plans for a proposed extreme sports complex in Leander are continuing to move forward, say partners involved in the project.

The park, which started out as the Texas X-Park, got an approval from Leander’s city council last week to change its name to X Park USA, said Tommy LeVasseur, a project team member. LeVasseur said he’s also hoping the project will be able to break ground on its first phase by the spring or summer of 2009.

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Visit the X Park website.

Leander considers nearly 2,000-acre deal

From statesman, January 15, 2009...

The developer of Leander's largest master-planned community is hoping to develop about 2,000 additional acres nearby.

The Leander City Council tonight will consider entering into a land agreement with Bill Hinckley, president of Lookout Partners LP, that would allow him to begin building roads and utilities on the land for a future mixed-use project southwest of the 3,000-acre Crystal Falls community and golf course.

Hinckley hopes to eventually build as many as 6,000 homes, along with offices and retail.

That would be in addition to the 5,000 to 6,000 homes planned for Crystal Falls, of which about 1,300 have been built.

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Leander Resident in Critical Condition from Blackhawk Helicopter Crash

From KTRE, January 13, 2009...

A Texas National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff at Duncan Field at Texas A&M University, during a routine mission flight shuttling cadets from the university to Camp Swift, Texas.

One active-duty Soldier was killed in the crash, and four National Guard Soldiers were injured.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew J. Smith, 41, C Co., 1/108th Avn. Reg., from Leander, Texas is listed in critical condition.

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