Southwest Austin Impacts

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Southwest Austin Impacts — January 2010

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By Community Impact Newspaper Staff Friday, 29 January 2010

1. South Asian grocery

SOUTHWEST AUSTIN — From snake gourd to tandoori paste and idli rice, you can find it here at Man Pasand Grocery, located at 3601 W. William Cannon Drive, suites 750 and 850 (behind Hollywood Video). Owner Suresh Sitapara also plans on serving Indian fast food through a “chaat corner” inside the store, which opened in October. Call 892-9600.

2. Something’s brewing

Jeffrey Stuffings ditched his full-time job as a lawyer to open Jester King Craft Brewery in Dripping Springs, offering unique ales like La Danse Macabre, Impaler Vlad and Rex Machina as well as other more classic tastes. The brewery, located at 1305 Fitzhugh Road, is scheduled to open this summer. For updates on tours, tastings and live music events, call 364-7278 or visit www.jesterkingbrewery.com.

3. Float through the air

Trapeze Austin opened last fall at 9501 Manchaca Road inside SoccerZone. Children and adults at beginner and advanced levels can sign up for flying trapeze lessons and “frequent flier” passes. Trapeze Austin is the only indoor trapeze facility in the south central region of the country. Call 507-7920 or visit www.trapezeaustin.com.

4. Engineering a move

Espey Consultants Inc. moved from South Second Street to 4801 Southwest Parkway, Parkway 2, Ste. 150 last fall. The Austin company provides engineering services in fields including municipal infrastructure, environmental services and comprehensive planning. Call 326-5659 or visit www.espeyconsultants.com.

5. Colonial change

The Colonial Bank at 4220 W. William Cannon, Ste. 300 became BB&T last fall. Open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call 358-2300.

6. Diaper changing on the go

When Kenneth Chuah and his wife found themselves having to change their son’s diaper on the floor of a subway station, it was the last straw. Chuah invented Abiie, the first stroller with a built-in changing pad. The Abiie stroller debuted late last year at Walmart, Babies R’ Us and other retailers. Abiie’s main office is located at 8708 S. Congress Ave., Ste. A-170. Call 514-6325 or visit www.abiie.com.

7. Walgreens on the way

A new Walgreens is being constructed at 120 Slaughter Lane, at the corner of Congress and Slaughter. The store is scheduled to open this fall. Visit www.walgreens.com.

8. Life is sweet

In December, Sweet Leaf Tea Company relocated its headquarters from Congress and Riverside to its new location at 3601 S. Congress Ave., Ste. D-100, inside the Penn Field business park. The new location has double the space of the former and features amenities like showers for employees who bike to work. Call 628-2106 or visit www.sweetleaftea.com.

1. Man Pasand Grocery (which means “pleasing to the mind” in Hindi) stocks hard-to-find items like Indian bittermelon. Photos by Yvonne Lim Wilson4. Owner Russell Cage (right) catches one of his students on the trapeze. 6. Kenneth Chuah invented the Abiie stroller with built-in changing pad after he was fed up with unsanitary changing options for his son. 8. April Riggs, Sweet Leaf consumer services manager, enjoys the extra space inside the company’s new headquarters. “We’re really stoked to be here,” she said. “There’s a lot of natural light, and I can bike to work.” 10. “God had given us this place, and He would help us turn it around and make it a home,” Bishop Paul Ojeda said inside his office at the Austin Power House Church.

9. Subs on SoCo

Thundercloud Subs opened a new location at 3801 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 109 in November. This is the local chain’s 27th restaurant in Texas. Call 447-7827 or visit www.thundercloud.com.

10. Higher power

In October, Bishop Paul Ojeda led his 800-member congregation of the Austin Power House Church to transform an industrial magazine warehouse into a church. The church moved from its former location at 2201 W. William Cannon Drive to 4414 E. St. Elmo Road. Call 416-1600 or visit www.austinpowerhouse.com.

11. Hospital expansion

St. David’s South Austin Hospital, located at 901 W. Ben White Blvd., will begin a $72 million renovation and expansion project in April. The expansion will increase the hospital by three floors, more than 100,000 square feet and 25 percent more beds. In addition, the hospital is changing its name to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. Call 447-2211 or visit www.stdavids.com.

12. Food to go

Albert Garcia launched ATX Delivery, a restaurant delivery service, in January, delivering from local restaurants to South Austin homes, hotels and offices. Customers order directly from ATX by phone or online, where full restaurant menus are available. Participating restaurants include major chains and local restaurants such as Waterloo Ice House and Thai Passion. ATX Delivery is based at 4719 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 208. Visit www.atxdelivery.com or call 443-TOGO.

13. Zen comfort

Sam Chen wanted to offer peace and tranquility to lodgers, so he named his new hotel casulo, which means “cocoon” or “pod” in Portuguese and connotes quiet restfulness. Casulo Hotel, located at 3017 S. IH 35, opened in October. The hotel offers 52 rooms ranging from $80 to $160 a night. Call 610-1116 or visit www.casulohotel.com.

14. Moving southwest

Nationwide agent Michael Lezam opened up The Lezam Agency, a Nationwide Insurance branch, at 4301 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. B-120. The office was previously located in the Lakeway area and moved to the southwest Austin location on Jan. 1. Call 263-4333 or visit www.thelezamagency.com

15. New principal

On Dec. 15, Dr. Rosa Peña was appointed principal of the new Southwest Elementary School, located on Meridian Park Boulevard at Espina Drive. Dr. Peña is the principal at Zavala Elementary School, a post she has held for the past nine years.

Closings

Yassas (Greek for “goodbye”)

South Austin said goodbye last month to Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet, 4301 W. William Cannon Drive. Dimassi’s has locations in Houston, Dallas and one in north Austin at 12636 Research Blvd. Call 258-0395 or visit www.dimassisaustin.com.

Wine online

National wine boutique Wine Styles closed its retail store location at 4301 W. William Cannon Drive in November. To shop online, visit www.winestylesstore.com.

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