Between July 29 and September 9, five restaurants and a barbershop opened in side-by-side suites at 1312, 1314 and 1316 W. University Ave. That's six openings in 42 days, about one a week, at a single center. It was the densest run of openings Georgetown saw all summer.
The places built for staying awhile opened elsewhere. The Junction brought a food hall to Blue Springs Boulevard in August. In early September, a coffee truck that had spent two years on wheels moved into a yellow historic house on South Rock Street, with a backyard under a large pecan tree. So the new map has two layers. W. University now handles the quick weeknight stops. The Junction, the Rock Street backyard and the fall calendar around the Square give the town places to spend a weekend.
Bluebonnet Plaza, one opening a week
The center is Bluebonnet Plaza, a project from developer Endeavor. Here's the order it filled in:
Opened | Business | Address |
|---|---|---|
July 29 | Velvet Taco | 1316 W. University Ave., Ste. 103 |
Aug. 8 | Summer Moon Coffee | 1312 W. University Ave., Ste. 102 |
Aug. 14 | Paris Baguette | 1314 W. University Ave. |
Aug. 21 | Birds Barbershop | 1314 W. University Ave., Ste. 105 |
Sept. 2 | Mountain Mike's Pizza | 1314 W. University Ave., Ste. 101 |
Sept. 9 | Shake Shack | 1316 W. University Ave., Ste. 101 |
The brand names are national, but several of the people running them are local. Georgetown residents Saige and David Lee own the Paris Baguette franchise. Summer Moon owner Randy Findley runs six other Austin-area locations. Rajeev Dewan, who owns the new Mountain Mike's, also operates stores in Manor and Cedar Park. This is also Shake Shack's first Georgetown location.
The plaza isn't full yet. As of Community Impact's September 15 roundup, Tomlinson's Feed was still expected this fall at 1316 W. University Ave., Ste. 102, and Snarf's Sandwiches was listed as a planned tenant. With two more openings on the way, the one-a-week pace looks set to continue into the fall.
A center where tacos, coffee, pastries, pizza, burgers and a haircut sit a few doors apart works well for errands. It isn't built for a long evening, which is what the next two places offer.
The Junction brings a food hall to Blue Springs Boulevard
The Junction is a nearly 60,000-square-foot dining, events and entertainment venue at 210 Blue Springs Blvd. It was scheduled to open Tuesday, August 18. By August 26, the local newsletter GTown Buzz described Georgetown as "a week into The Junction," so it opened in mid-to-late August.
The food hall lineup:
- Sweet Lemon Kitchen
- Dough-Go Pizza
- King's Chicken Wings
- Taconmaye
- JABS Smashburger
- Shawarma Point
The lineup changed before opening day. An earlier plan included Wholly Cow Burgers, and JABS Smashburger and Shawarma Point took that slot. A table of four can order from six kitchens and still eat together, something no single storefront on University Avenue can offer. The Junction also covers events and entertainment, which puts it in weekend territory.
A yellow house on South Rock Street
Rose & Dagger Coffee Co. spent two years as a coffee truck. Owners Madison and Jackson Vacek opened their brick-and-mortar shop at 1005 S. Rock St. on September 5. A grand opening had been announced for August 29, so if you saw that date, the doors actually opened a week later.
The shop is in a yellow historic house and serves handcrafted lattes, teas and refreshers. Out back is The Grounds, a yard shaded by a large pecan tree. Three local food trucks park there: El Hombre Tacos, Churros ATX and Sanford Sourdough. You can get coffee, tacos, churros and sourdough without leaving the yard. That makes Rose & Dagger one of the few new spots this summer built for an unhurried morning.
Downtown also gained a shop this summer. On July 16, Urban Cottage Boutique moved to 218 W. Eighth St. Owner Cameo McGraw sells women's fashion and accessories, vintage items, decor and gifts. It's one more reason to walk a block past the courthouse.
Everywhere else that's new this summer
A few more openings are worth knowing about, depending on where your weekday routine takes you.
Perky Beans Coffee opened July 30 at 2651 E. University Ave. Owners Ron and Angie Diaz serve coffee, tea, smoothies and grab-and-go food, plus mixed drinks in the evening. It's the east side's newest stop that works for both morning coffee and an evening drink.
PickleTex opened nine shaded outdoor pickleball courts at 6827 W. Hwy. 29 on June 29. Melissa Rubey is the general manager. Shade makes a big difference on Central Texas courts in September.
Whataburger was set to open June 15 at 28713 Ronald Reagan Blvd. Local franchise operator Marcia Rios runs the Parmer Ranch location.
Texas Roadhouse at 2209 N. I-35 is now listed to open November 16, with managing partner Alexis Love leading the location. The opening date has already moved once, and an image caption on the same story still mentions October 19, so check again before you plan a birthday dinner there.
The fall calendar keeps weekends downtown
Most of the new places above are built for the week. The recurring events around the Square fill up the weekends. These dates are on the published schedules for October and November 2026:
- First Friday Live Music, Friday, Oct. 2 and Friday, Nov. 6, 6 to 8 p.m. on the Square. Free.
- Second Saturday Market Days, Saturday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. around the Square.
- Pistons on the Square, a monthly gathering of classic cars and motorcycles on the Square, 8 to 10 a.m. The Downtown Georgetown Association lists Saturday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 21 around 710 S. Main St.
- Día de los Muertos, Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Light and Waterworks District Plaza, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Downtown Candy Crawl, Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. around the Square. The Downtown Georgetown Association lists Oct. 25. One City page still shows Oct. 26, which isn't a Sunday this year.
- Field of Honor, Nov. 7 to 15 at San Gabriel Park, 445 E. Morrow St. The display is free and, according to the City, open around the clock during the event week.
- Lighting of the Square, Friday, Nov. 27 on the east steps of the Williamson County Courthouse. Festivities run 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the lights come on at about 6 p.m.
- Shop Small Business Saturday and the Coffee & Cocoa Crawl, Saturday, Nov. 28. The crawl runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and starts at the Downtown Development & Special Event Offices, 505 S. Austin Ave. The Downtown Georgetown Association's listing mentions November 29 in one spot, so check the crawl date that week.
Some of these event pages carry no publish date, and one listing already contradicts another, so confirm on dgagtx.org or visit.georgetown.org before you head out.
The calendar pairs well with the new openings. Rose & Dagger opens a few blocks from where Pistons on the Square and Market Days take place, so a Saturday could start with a latte under the pecan tree at 1005 S. Rock St. and continue at the Square by 9:30 a.m. for Market Days on Oct. 10.
If this fall's openings have you thinking about where you'd like to live in Georgetown, whether that's near the Square or out by W. University, the agents at JBGoodwin Realtors know how these corners of town fit together and are glad to talk it through over coffee. Contact Us whenever you're ready.
