Monkey Sports is bringing sports gear, apparel, shoes and accessories to The Crossover in Cedar Park later this year. The new sporting goods shop plans to open its doors to customers in late spring or early summer, said marketing manager Tony Yourell. 

What they offer: The store, owned by John Naaman, has multiple different branches, including HockeyMonkey, GoalieMonkey, BaseballMonkey and LacrosseMonkey, providing gear fit for hockey, soccer, baseball and lacrosse. 

The new location on the Cedar Park and Leander border will offer a selection of gear for men, women and youth. The storefront may also sell pickleball-related items and additional offerings, such as trading cards, said Yourell.

Dig deeper: Monkey Sports has several storefronts across the country in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Colorado and California. The business has one other Texas location in Allen.

• Coming soon in late spring/early summer
• 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Ste. 100, Leander

Check out the top trending stories in the Austin metro Jan. 5-8. 
1. City of Bee Cave reaches settlement agreement with West Austin Business Park developers
2. Bastrop Starbucks takes coffee break through late January
3. Georgetown’s largest development projects moving forward in 2026
4. The new Old Settlers Park: Round Rock makes progress on $259M expansion
5. Construction on a new Chipotle Mexican Grill expected to begin in Leander this year
6. Mercado Libertad now open in Liberty Hill

Far Horizon Coffee Co. is now operating at The Secret Lantern Books and Games in Cedar Park, the bookstore announced in its newsletter on Jan. 6. The coffee truck has been in partnership with the bookstore since early this year, according to The Secret Lantern Books and Games co-owner Dan Condaxis.

On the menu: The coffee truck offers lattes, cold brew, matcha, hot cocoa, lemonade, Italian soda, and ice cream. 
The monthly special for January is a New Year’s Chocolate Orange made with mocha, French vanilla, orange, whipped cream and orange peel topping. 

• Opened January 2026
• 151 S. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park 

Williamson County renewed its annual partnership with Bluebonnet Trails Community Services for three behavioral health resources totaling almost $500,000 during a Dec. 30 commissioners court meeting.

The overview: The three initiatives made possible by the BTCS partnership are:

• Providing child welfare court case coordinators to help with court-ordered treatment
• Offering services to reduce homelessness and increase housing sustainability in the county
• Providing dedicated, qualified mental health professionals in 911 dispatch

The city of Leander plans to build a railroad bridge over Crystal Falls Parkway at the intersection with US 183.

The project would eliminate the railroad crossing on Crystal Falls Parkway and improve traffic flow by eliminating the need for vehicles to stop when trains pass.
Assistant to the City Manager Kent Souriyasak and Lance Ballard of engineering firm Kimley-Horn spoke to the city council about the project at its Jan. 6 meeting.

The project: Souriyasak said the city’s US 183 Corridor Study identified three places where grade separations–changing the elevation of either the road or the rails to eliminate the railroad crossing–were needed. Of those three places, Crystal Falls Parkway at US 183 was identified as the highest priority.

The proposed project would elevate a portion of the railroad tracks by constructing a bridge supported by pillars over Crystal Falls Parkway.
The city is considering opening the elevated portion of the railroad in 2032.