New rooftop event center planned for Cedar Park

Happy almost October, everyone!

It’s one of my favorite months of the year. The weather hopefully starts cooling down, the calendar fills up with Halloween and fall festival fun, sports are in full swing for the kids and, oh yeah, it’s my birthday month too!

There’s so much to look forward to this time of year, and I’m extra thankful to live somewhere with so much happening right in our own community. We’ve got a really fun month ahead, and we can’t wait to share some of the best of it with you!

One quick note: we’re no longer sending our separate monthly events-only issues now that our full events calendar is live on WilCo Guide. You can check it anytime to see all the best local events happening near you!

🏛️ New event center coming to Cedar Park

The Gist: A former pharmacy building at Parmer Lane and Whitestone Boulevard is getting a new life as the RIA Event Center. The venue at 3100 E. Whitestone Blvd. is being renovated for private celebrations, corporate events and community gatherings. Cedar Park City Council approved the special use permit Aug. 27, and construction is expected to wrap up around December.

Why It Matters: The plans include an enclosed, greenhouse-style rooftop space, giving Cedar Park another option for weddings, parties, corporate events and other gatherings. The venue is expected to operate from 11 a.m. to midnight and will bring a long-vacant commercial space back into use.

🚀 Firefly expands Cedar Park spacecraft facility

The Gist: Firefly Aerospace just celebrated the completion of a major expansion at its Cedar Park campus. The new cleanroom is four times the size of its previous space, giving the company room to build and work on up to 12 lunar landers and orbital vehicles at once instead of just three. The project received support from the Texas Space Commission.

Why It Matters: Some pretty incredible space technology is being built right here in Cedar Park. The expansion gives Firefly more room to ramp up production of its Blue Ghost lunar landers and Elytra orbital vehicles as demand for future missions grows, while continuing to grow Central Texas’ role in the space industry.

🛍️ Northline secures Koreatown-style market district

The Gist: A new 30,000-square-foot Market District is planned for early 2028 as part of the 116-acre Northline development in Leander. The project is expected to bring together South Korean and international shops, restaurants and more in one walkable destination.

Why It Matters: This could bring something really different to Leander. Instead of heading into Austin for this kind of dining and shopping experience, locals would have a new destination much closer to home. It also adds another unique piece to Northline as the downtown development continues to grow.

🫓 Big Mediterranean flavor on Hero Way

11880 Hero Way W ste 201, Leander, TX 78641

Zeytun Mediterranean Grill is bringing a mix of Persian, Mediterranean and Italian flavors to Hero Way in Leander, with everything from grilled kabobs and koobideh to gyros, pasta, homemade hummus and tzatziki.

The menu has a lot to choose from, whether you’re stopping in for a quick lunch or feeding the whole family. You’ll find plenty of grilled meats, rice plates, wraps and shareable platters, including family-style combinations with kabobs, rice, salad, hummus and pita.

Meet Dizzle

If you're looking to welcome a sweet companion into your home, Dizzle might be the perfect match for you. This small mixed breed pup is ready to find a loving family to call her own.

🐾 Name: Dizzle
🎀 Sex: Female
🎂 Age: 10 months
⚖️ Size: 16.3 pounds

👓 Eyemart Express opening Oct. 12 in Leander

8481 W State Hwy 29, Ste 130, Leander, TX

Eyemart Express is opening its first Leander location Oct. 12, across from H-E-B. The new 3,024-square-foot store will carry more than 2,000 frames for adults and kids, including brands like Kendra Scott, Nike, Michael Kors and Versace.

The big perk here is speed: the store has an in-house lens lab that can have most glasses ready in about an hour. Customers can bring in a current prescription or schedule an eye exam there, and the opening will also include a limited-time buy one, get one free offer on prescription frames.

Teachers, school staff, military families, veterans, healthcare workers and first responders also get 20% off eyewear purchases every day!