Tex-Mex restaurant Javi's is headed to the long-vacant former Red Lobster location along University Drive in College Station.

About the project: Construction has been underway at 1200 University Drive East, where state project filings list a $950,000 restaurant remodel. Work was scheduled to begin in April 2025 and finish this March, but construction is ongoing.

The project is Javi's first expansion outside of Tyler. The restaurant is known for its elevated Tex-Mex dining, handcrafted margaritas and lively atmosphere.

What Javi's offers: Javi's offers a modern southwest dining experience, featuring dishes such as sizzling fajitas and handmade enchiladas in an indoor-outdoor setting designed for gatherings of all sizes, according to its website.

Some context: The former Red Lobster building has been vacant since around 2020.

Before you go: An estimated opening date for the College Station location has not been announced.

• 1200 University Drive E., College Station

Bryan ISD trustees will review potential changes affecting student attendance flexibility, transportation safety technology and future learning options during a May 4 special meeting and workshop.

What's happening: Board members will receive updates and consider action items tied to district operations, budgeting and instructional programs.

Key topics in the agenda include:

• Flexible and virtual learning options
• RFID cardreaders for tracking bus ridership
• Low attendance waiver for Jan. 27
• Ongoing 2025 bond and budget planning updates
• Partnerships with Sam Houston State University for long-term teacher recruitment and retention

Need to catch up on news around the Bryan-College Station area? Check out five stories from the week of April 27-May 1.

• UPDATE: Bryan meat market to remain open under new ownership

• Final phase underway for College Station's Lincoln Avenue rehabilitation project

• City of Bryan gathers public feedback for long-term growth with Comprehensive Plan open house

• College Station lands major slate of sporting events in 2026

• City of Bryan celebrates opening of Amazon delivery station

Demolition of the vacant Northwest Mall is underway within the Hwy. 290 and Loop 610 corridor, the site for a proposed train station that would offer high-speed travel between Houston and Dallas, a project spokesperson confirmed with Community Impact.

What we know: Demolition began in mid-April and is expected to take approximately 12 months, the spokesperson said. The historic mall opened in 1968 but shuttered its doors in 2017, causing the building to sit abandoned for nearly 10 years.

The spokesperson did not answer questions regarding the approval process for the proposed high-speed rail project, which has not received an official green light, or a timeline for any construction beyond the demolition.

Some context: Texas Central, which has since rebranded to Texas High Speed Rail, originally led the project as a privately-funded venture, Community Impact previously reported. Amtrak then temporarily joined the project after receiving a $63.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

However, the federal government pulled the grant last year due to ballooning costs, pushing the project back to the private sector.