Cedar Park / Leander Impacts — January 2009

Cedar Park / Leander Impacts — January 2009

Friday, 23 January 2009

Avery Ranch

1. New high school

St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School is under construction and is expected to open for the 2009-2010 school year at 9400 Neenah Ave., Austin. The school plans to enroll 100 freshmen and sophomores during its first year and will add classes for juniors and seniors in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, respectively. A mascot has yet to be determined, but the school’s colors will be navy blue and gold. Enrollment is open to anyone. Call 388-8846 or visit www.saviochs.org for more information.

2 Green dry cleaning
In December, Louis Nicholson opened Martinizing Dry Cleaners at 9900 W. Parmer Lane, Austin. The full-service dry cleaner uses GreenEarth Cleaning product. Martinizing also offers on-site tailoring. Nicholson plans to open more locations in the Austin area in the near future. Hours are Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 341-9804 for more information or to make an appointment for tailoring.

Cedar Park

3 Book bargains
Half Price Books plans to open in Cedar Park in the spring. The book and music retailer will likely open March 25, and will occupy Ste. D155, an 8,500 sq. ft. site in 1890 Ranch, 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd. Store hours will be Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Visit www.halfpricebooks.com.

4 Brilliant bagels
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 www.einsteinbros.com.

5 Management training
GMR Tek opened in November at 201 S. Lakeline Blvd., Ste 201. The company offers project management training, consulting, leadership and communication training and other types of professional education. GMR Tek can host classes at its offices or at other venues. Business hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 686-2741 or visit  www.gmrtek.com.

6 Piñata Grill
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.

7 Guaranty Bank
Guaranty Bank opened Jan. 5 and hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 7 at 1455 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 125. The bank lobby is open Mon.-Thu. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The drive-through is open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 259-5753 or visit www.guarantybank.com.

8 Pho-tastic
Rosie’s Pho opened Nov. 12 at 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 100. In addition to Pho — a noodle soup typically made with beef — the restaurant offers other types of Pacific Asian dishes. Call 260-6363 or drop by from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

9 Suite deal
Yakub Dalal and Anisa Bhaiwala are building a Candlewood Suites hotel on Cottonwood Creek Trail. The $4 million hotel will feature 80 rooms, all of which will be suites. Construction should begin this month, with a completion projected for August. Wadhwa and Associates of Houston is the engineering firm handling the project.

10 Personal training
Catherine Fitzwater is opening EYS Fitness Studio at 351 Cypress Creek Road, Ste. 140. EYS will offer personalized fitness training tailored to each client. Call 535-8108 for an appointment. Visit www.eystrainingstudio.com.

11 Custard’s first stand
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 www.freddysfrozencustard.com.

12 New restaurants
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.

13 Smokin’ barbecue
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 www.smokeymosbbq.com.

14 Four-alarm subs
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 www.firehousesubs.com.

15 Cue Dickey’s
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 www.dickeys.com.

16 Burger broilers
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 www.carlsjr.com.

Leander

17 Hair salon
Forever Hair Salon opened Dec. 6 at 1904 Bagdad Road. Owner Vinia Torres cuts hair for men, women and children and also offers color, highlights and wax treatments. Torres has a station available for another stylist to rent. Walk-ins are welcome. Hours are Mon. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tue.-Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun. noon-6 p.m. Call 528-1711 to make an appointment.

18 Classical education
Sterling Classical School opened in August at First Baptist Church of Leander, 10000 FM 2243. In February, the school will begin open enrollment for the 2009-2010 year. Sterling offers kindergarten through sixth grade and will add one grade each year through grade 12. Class size is restricted to 16 students. The school uses a university format based on two- or three-day weeks, with students learning at home on off-campus days. This is designed to create self-disciplined students who will have an easier time adjusting to college. Tuition ranges from $2,800 to $4,200 per year. The school’s office hours are Mon., Tue., Thu. 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call 259-2722 or visit the school website, www.sterlingums.com.

19 Leander McDonald’s
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.

Public arts committee

At its Dec. 18 meeting, the Leander City Council approved an ordinance to create a public arts committee. The goal of the committee, which will be formed some time this quarter, will be to promote public art and performances in the city. The ordinance was inspired by, and partly modeled after, a successful arts program in Frisco, Texas. The committee will be made up of a city council member, a design professional, the director of a nonprofit arts organization and Leander citizens. Much of the arts funding will come from grants and private foundations. The city council will have final approval for any projects.

Community

Head count
The U.S. Census Bureau is seeking hundreds of temporary part- and full-time employees to help conduct the 2010 census of the United States population. Census takers, office and supervisory jobs are available. Call 942-6190 or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov.

Quiet crossings
A new Quiet Zone at railroad crossings in Cedar Park began Jan. 1. Trains will no longer sound horns as they approach Block House Drive, New Hope Drive, FM 1431, Discovery Boulevard, Park Street and Brushy Creek Road. Capital Metro has installed safety gates, which make it impossible to cross the tracks when a train is nearby, at most railroad crossings along the route of its commuter rail line. Trains will still sound horns any time they accelerate from a stopped position and in emergencies. Quiet Zones are already in effect at Leander crossings. For more information, visit http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail.shtml.

20 Umpires for softball

Williamson County Parks and Recreation needs umpires for its Softball League at the Southwest Regional Park, 3005 CR 175. Pay is based on experience, and games are about an hour long. For information on an upcoming umpire clinic or other questions, call 260-4283.