SATX-BNE: Impact 10/7/2025

As an avid Star Wars fan, toy collector and 1980s film junkie, Michael Hawes didn’t expect to open his own pizza joint.

But, in 2024, he opened Darkside Brick Oven Pizza Co., a restaurant concept that blended all of his favorite ideas together in a scenic spot off of Hwy. 46, just outside Boerne.

The backstory: Beginning his collection at age seven, Hawes said he now has “one of the largest private Star Wars collections in the world.”

Then, after working in the film industry for several years and even directing some of his own features, Hawes said he wanted to do something else with his passion for Star Wars and the 1980s.

What’s special about it? Darkside Brick Oven Pizza Co. is filled to the brim with 80s memorabilia—life-size statues of Star Wars characters, like Luke Skywalker, hang from the ceiling while movie posters from era flicks line the walls.

“Even though it's named after Star Wars, it’s everything from the 1970s, 1980s,” Hawes said.

• 25 Truss Drive, Boerne

A new primary care doctor and clinic is now in operation in the Boerne area.

The details: Ramon G. Reyes Primary Care Medicine officially opened on Sept. 8 at 1201 S. Main St., Ste. 114.

Clinical office manager Imelda Higle said a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Oct. 2 to commemorate the new practice.

After owning and operating the Bandera Family Medical Group from 2000 to 2022 in locations across San Antonio, Dr. Reyes decided to create his own independent practice in the Hill Country this year, Higle said.

He’s been a practicing physician for over 30 years in total.

What’s special about it? The new clinic will focus on a “holistic, integrative approach” to primary care treatment, according to the practice’s website.

There’s also an opportunity for prospective patients to participate in clinical research studies for Idiopathic Gastroparesis, high-risk asthma and moderate to severe asthma.

Aside from traditional one-on-one primary care health management and research, Dr. Reyes will also specialize in Type 2 Diabetes care.

• 1201 S. Main St., Ste. 114, Boerne

With the first three segments of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Loop 1604 North Expansion Project over 60% completed, District 9 council member Misty Spears said the expanded interstate will have a tremendous impact on the quality of life for North San Antonians.

In a nutshell: The $1.4 billion, six-segment project began in 2021 and aims to upgrade the transit corridor from a four-lane expressway to a 10-lane expressway. Additional upgrades include reconfiguring the layout of auxiliary lanes and entrance and exit ramps, adding a HOV lane in each direction, building accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians, and water protections to protect commuters from flood roadways.

A closer look: Brett Finley, president and CEO of Metro SA Chamber of Commerce, said that construction has negatively affected existing businesses along the transit corridor.

All Texas retailers are barred from selling consumable THC products to customers under 21 years old after the Texas Department of State Health Services adopted two emergency rules Oct. 3.

The details: The new rules, which took effect immediately, state that businesses may lose their hemp licenses for selling THC products to minors.

Ten days earlier, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved emergency rules prohibiting bars, liquor stores and other alcohol retailers from selling THC products to anyone under 21. A TABC spokesperson told Community Impact the two state agencies are working together to enforce a Sept. 10 executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott, who called for age restrictions on THC sales and tighter guardrails on the multibillion-dollar industry.

More context: Approximately 8,000 businesses are licensed by the DSHS to sell consumable hemp products in Texas, including some retailers that also sell alcohol.

The emergency rules from both agencies will be in effect for 120 days and could be extended for an additional 60 days while permanent regulations are drafted.