Howie Hsieh began meal prepping while serving as a pilot in the United States Air Force.

“We had 12-14 hour days sometimes, and we needed to be fit to fight. Meal prepping was the solution,” Hsieh said.

Some details: Hsieh’s last duty station was at Universal City’s Randolph Air Force Base, and when he was relieved from his pilot duties, he thought it would be a good idea to continue meal prepping, inspiring him to open a Clean Eatz in San Antonio’s Stone Oak area at 158 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 106.

He wanted to open another Clean Eatz in Universal City because it’s where his last base was.

“I thought it would be good to be back where I started,” Hsieh said. “Also, there is a lot of growth happening in this part of town.”

Quote of note: “Healthy eating can be fun, it can be tasty and it can be affordable,” Hsieh said.

A locally-owned yogurt franchise location has closed its doors in New Braunfels.

What residents should know: Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt—located at 160 Creekside Way, Ste. 502, at the Creekside Town Center—officially closed its doors on Dec. 29.

“My landlord has decided not to renew the lease, giving us no other option but to close our doors,” franchisee and owner Nusha Bladinieres said in a Dec. 26 Facebook post detailing the closure.

The establishment first opened 15 years ago in 2010, according to the post.

While this location has closed, the chain has another shop in New Braunfels that remains open, situated at 1667 Hwy. 46, south of Creekside.

The context: Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt offered a selection of customizable fruit and dessert smoothies at its Creekside location, according to the restaurant’s menu.

The business also offered cakes, bowls and more food options as well.

• 160 Creekside Way, New Braunfels

Plenty of new dining and business options opened in New Braunfels last year, as seen in Community Impact coverage of the area. Here are 10 of the top business updates from New Braunfels in 2025.

• New Braunfels locals to convert downtown historic building into Irish bar
• Comedy club opens inside existing New Braunfels restaurant
• Custom mac'n cheese joint coming soon to New Braunfels
• The Hungry Waffle opens in New Braunfels
• Willy B’s Burgers and Pizza closes in New Braunfels
• All-you-can-eat sushi restaurant opens in New Braunfels
• Costco Wholesale eyes New Braunfels for new location
• Academy Sports + Outdoors now open in New Braunfels
• Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe coming soon to New Braunfels
• Whataburger to open new location in New Braunfels

The 2025-26 school year will be the last spent at an existing campus for some students in KIPP Texas Public Schools. 

What you need to know: Seven Central Texas-area KIPP Texas Public Schools are set to close at the end of the current school year, the charter school district announced Dec. 11. The charter school system operates over 45 schools across the state.

The details: Seven KIPP schools will close at the end of the current school year, spread across the system's Commerce, Austin South and Austin Ridge campuses.