Pilates, cocktails and jazz: 13 updates to Austin’s downtown scene
Austin’s downtown area has seen some recent changes with six business openings, three businesses coming soon and celebrations of anniversaries and relocations. This list is not comprehensive.
HokkaiSan Owned by Jason Qiu, the Japanese-style grocery store now offers a curated selection of food, Asian snacks and beverages for visitors to get a taste of Japan. Customers looking to indulge in a meal can check out the store’s fresh sushi and hot meals, including teriyaki bowl options, which are prepared daily.
Opened Aug. 23
609 Congress Ave., Austin
VanHorn’s The chef duo behind Bill’s Oyster and Teddy’s Restaurant & Bar are opening a New York-inspired steakhouse in Downtown Austin this fall. The new concept will be led by chefs Daniel Berg and Dylan Salisbury. The menu blends fine dining with casual fare, featuring Pat LaFrieda steaks—sourced from the renowned East Coast butcher—alongside burgers, cocktails and wines at a range of price points.
East Austin intersection sees mobility improvements under Project Connect initiative
City of Austin and CapMetro officials celebrated the completion of multimodal transit improvements at 51st Street and Manor Road on Sept. 12, aimed at boosting safety and accessibility for all travelers.
The overview: The project, part of CapMetro’s Project Connect initiative, includes two new Route 837 MetroRapid bus stations, upgraded sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and a protected intersection for cyclists. Route 837, which follows a more direct path downtown compared with the old Route 37, connects East Austin to key destinations including the Austin Convention Center, The University of Texas, Dell Seton Medical Center, Mueller Development, LBJ High School, and the Travis County Exposition Center.
A closer look: Funded through a combination of $65.6 million in federal funds and $35.6 million from Project Connect, the upgrades are expected to be fully complete by 2026, with bus frequencies increasing to every 10-15 minutes. Future plans include electric buses and two new park-and-ride facilities to expand access. Officials said the project reflects a broader commitment to safer, more sustainable and more connected transit options across Austin.
Flood recovery costs hit Travis County homeowners' pockets
Travis County homeowners will see an average $200 increase in property taxes this year after commissioners approved a one-year 9.12% tax hike to fund flood recovery efforts. The increase is allowed without voter approval due to state and federal disaster declarations following July’s severe flooding.
The breakdown: The higher tax rate—roughly 3 cents more per $100 of property value—is expected to raise about $42 million for a special reserve dedicated to flood repairs and road recovery. County officials have already spent over $21 million from emergency funds, covering debris removal, temporary road fixes and personnel costs. An additional $1.8 million is proposed for ongoing projects, including Cow Creek, Sandy Creek Bridge and a community resource liaison role.
The outlook: Commissioners emphasized the need to repair substandard roads, with roughly 100 miles still in need of upgrades, while ensuring transparency in emergency spending. Residents like Robert Ruggiero expressed concern about the impact on those on fixed incomes, worrying the law enabling the tax hike could lead to “government abuse.”
Small’s Pizza now serving up New Haven pies in East Austin
The East Coast-style pizzeria Small’s Pizza has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in East Austin in the East Austin commune-style commercial district Springdale General.
The overview: After years of operating as a food truck in various spots around the neighborhood, this local pie purveyor has found a home for its specialty crispy-crusted New Haven-style pizza.
The menu offers pies like the Tomato Pie—a classic New Haven staple with garlic, oregano, olive oil and pecorino on a blistered, thin crust. The Anchovy Pie builds on that same base with salty anchovies and capers for a bold, briny bite, while the Sausage & Peppers pie adds sweet peppers, Italian sausage and a touch of mozzarella, all without losing that signature coal-fired crunch.
About the owner: Owner Kelsey Small, a Connecticut native who grew up near New Haven, first moved to Austin in 2013. He Launched Small’s Pizza as a pop-up in 2021 and has since been serving New Haven–style pies across Austin.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.
A new location of Mendocino Farms is opening soon in Sunset Valley.
The menu at Mendocino Farms offers fresh sandwiches, salads, soups and sides. The “chef’s specials” menu features sandwiches and salads made with seasonal fruits and vegetables, such as the sweet peach and goat cheese salad, summer heirloom BLT and watermelon ‘poke’ salad.
To drink, the restaurant serves housemade beverages, including a passion fruit black tea and pomegranate mint lemonade.
TC4 & Co plans to construct the new restaurants at 1411 S. I-35 frontage road, Georgetown, on property it owns, according to a representative with Pennington Public Relations.
The League Kitchen & Tavern serves burgers, chicken pot pie, weekend brunch and a variety of drinks at four locations in the Austin area.
Tony C’s Pizza & Beer Garden currently has five locations in the Austin area, including offerings at the Moody Center and Dell Diamond. Menu items include mozzarella sticks, lasagna, pizzas, sandwiches, and a selection of beer and wine.
