ATX-CPF: Impact 10/1/2025

Boot Barn, one of the largest Western wear retailers in America, will be scooting into a new location in Lakeline Plaza this November.

The store will be moving into the space formerly occupied by Bed, Bath & Beyond, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023.

What they offer: The retailer sells a wide variety of boots for men, women and children, including cowboy boots, work boots and hiking boots. In addition, the store offers a range of hats, clothing and home decor to capture a Western aesthetic.

• 11066 Pecan Park Blvd., Cedar Park

Simply Pho House, which serves Vietnamese cuisine along with other Asian staples, held its soft opening in Cedar Park on Sept. 18.

What they offer: The restaurant specializes in pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. Simply Pho House also offers a range of vermicelli noodle dishes, fried rice and Chinese favorites like General Tso’s chicken.

The Cedar Park location is the fifth Simply Pho House in Texas, following locations in Marble Falls, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs and McKinney.

• Opened Sept. 18
• 905 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. A, Cedar Park

The Round Rock Express, the Round Rock-based Minor League Baseball team, marked the completion of its 25th season on Sept. 21. 

What you need to know: The team was founded in 2000 by Ryan-Sanders Baseball, a partnership between Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and Don Sanders, a former minority owner of the Houston Astros, according to the league.

Law enforcement and medical personnel will soon jointly respond to serious mental health emergency calls in Central Austin.

The details: The local management of such incidents has evolved over recent years, with notable updates like the addition of a mental health option for 911 callers. After City Council recently asked for a review of how Austin handles mental health response, the Austin Police Department, Austin/Travis County EMS and Integral Care are pooling resources for the new joint unit starting up this fall.

The "Austin FIRST" team will both patrol the downtown area and take 911 calls for the highest-acuity, or most severe and potentially dangerous, mental health crisis events. The new team is starting a pilot initiative that will likely be adjusted and potentially expanded after a six-month trial run.