An old Austin favorite has officially been resurrected, with a new take on an old concept officially opening in Kyle.

The restaurant A Little Shady has opened near Kyle Crossing, inspired by Austin's original Shady Grove, which was founded in 1992 at 1624 Barton Springs Road in Austin. Shady Grove closed in May 2020, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The restaurant honors the original spirit of the Shady Grove restaurant, while introducing a new space and fast-casual service, according to a news release.

Quote of note: "We're excited to finally open the first A Little Shady in Kyle," owner and operator Rusty Zagst said. "Our team is passionate about great food, genuine hospitality and creating memorable experiences. We can't wait to welcome longtime Shady Grove fans and introduce a new generation to what made it so special."

On the menu: Customers can enjoy Shady Grove’s "greatest hits," offering a taste of nostalgia, alongside new menu items and indoor and outdoor full-service bars.

• 5172 S. FM 1626, Kyle

A new counseling practice has opened an office in San Marcos, bringing individual and group counseling services to the city.

The gist: Jessica Lepore, founder, owner and primary counselor at Mella Counseling, opened her San Marcos office to serve emerging adults, around 18 to 28 years old, and seniors aged 55 and up, she said.

Lepore decided to open her practice in the city so she could serve the Texas State University and Kissing Tree populations, she said. As a graduate of the university, she views Mella Counseling as a way to give back to the community.

The details: Mella Counseling provides mental health support to community members experiencing challenging times, transitions and seasons.

Lepore offers a free 15-minute consultation for interested clients. New clients will determine their first steps with Lepore and participate in an intake session to begin services.

• 220 Opportunity Blvd., San Marcos

Check out the latest transportation updates across the Austin metro from local and state sources.

Upcoming projects

Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road pedestrian improvements
Project: Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road in Bee Cave will undergo pedestrian improvements including the construction of signals, crosswalks, sidewalks and ADA curb ramps.
Update: The final package of design documents will be completed in August.

• Timeline: Construction is expected to begin in March 2027

• Cost: $1.06 million

• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation and the Bee Cave Development Corporation

Ongoing projects

Austin Avenue vehicular bridges
Project: This project includes reconstruction of two vehicular bridges crossing the San Gabriel River in Georgetown.
Update: The southbound Austin Avenue bridge decks were demolished starting in early June, and reconstruction will take approximately two months. The contractor will then do the northbound bridge decks.

• Timeline: 2024-27

• Cost: $12.8 million

• Funding sources: city of Georgetown, developer fees

Ahead of the 2026-27 school year, public school leaders in Community Impact’s coverage areas shuttered at least nine individual schools to respond to repeated state accountability issues and stave off state intervention. A new Texas Education Agency rule may make it harder for districts to do so in the future.

The details: Beginning Aug. 16, if a district closes a D- or F-rated campus and transfers the largest share of students from the closed campus to a school with a C, D or F rating, the closed campus’ rating will be assigned to the new campus. 

Districts will only avoid transferring a shuttered school’s rating history if they relocate a plurality of students to an A- or B-rated campus.

Stay tuned: The TEA is scheduled to release A-F ratings for the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 14. If a school receives five failing ratings in a row, the TEA is required under state law to close that campus or replace the district’s board of trustees with a state-appointed board of managers.