As renovations begin to warp up at The Faust Hotel, located at 240 S. Seguin Ave. in downtown New Braunfels, Lark Hospitality is also showcasing a new dining experience—Wilhelm & Werner—ahead of the hotel’s official spring opening.

The boutique hotel closed for renovations in November 2023, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What we know: Wilhelm & Werner, a Texas Brasserie with European influences, will operate as a dining space and bar with the ability to seat 130 patrons. The restaurant will serve "Heritage-inspired" food and beverages, according to a news release.

Learn more: The Faust Hotel will also feature a speakeasy called Walter's in the basement below the restaurant, a nod to the Prohibition era, in which the hotel originally opened its doors. The hotel will also open with the Prince Solms Lobby Bar, servicing the Magnolia Patio, an existing outdoor space that has been refreshed during the remodel, the release states.

• 240 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels

Schulenburg-based Iron Oak Apparel Co., a luxury golf apparel retailer, officially opened its doors in New Braunfels’ Gruene Historic District on Dec. 6 at its second storefront at 1258 Gruene Road.

Notable quote: “We set out to create a shirt for every kind of man—one polished enough for the course, but designed to feel right at home in a dancehall, a steakhouse, or a Saturday afternoon in jeans and boots,” Laura Daniels, director of human resources at Iron Oak Apparel Co., said.

Iron Oak Apparel Co. sells pearl snap polos, hats and other western lifestyle apparel.

• 1258 Gruene Road, New Braunfels

77 years ago, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo was born. Now, the popular event returns for the 2026 season, featuring a full lineup of competitors, live music, special events and more.

What’s happening: “We are excited about this year’s lineup and action-packed rodeo and look forward to all our rodeo fans supporting our mission and coming to the event for a great time,” Chris Derby, the chief marketing officer for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, said in a news release.

The 18-day rodeo will take place between Feb. 12 and March 1 at 723 Frost Bank Center Drive.

The context: The San Antonio Rodeo is sanctioned by both the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, or PRCA, and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association, or WPRA.

According to the rodeo’s website, there are five separate brackets of riders competing in three rounds to kick off the event.

• 723 Frost Bank Center Drive, San Antonio

Residents of Schertz and travelers on I-35 will soon have access to additional dining and retail opportunities.

In October, Panera Bread opened as the first tenant at Schertz Station, a 257,000-square-foot retail and dining hub that will feature a bevy of national chain restaurants and other shopping opportunities.

The big picture: The property off I-35 North and Cibolo Valley Drive was developed by San Antonio-based Merit CRE, which is investing over $65 million in the hub.

Schertz’s Economic Development Corp., or EDC, worked with Merit on Schertz Station’s surrounding infrastructure, such as adjacent road construction, EDC Executive Director Scott Wayman said.

Wayman said the development was a response to Schertz’s population growth.

“We have a large, growing population that expects services, they expect restaurants, and they expect those things to be within a driving distance of their house and make it convenient for them,” Wayman said.