🎸 Mt. Joy Is Coming to Waco

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like the AC finally catching up after that walk in from the parking lot.

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time Sunday to take the World Cup. Our monthlong excuse to watch soccer at 2 PM on a Tuesday is over. Silver lining: we're one step closer to football season, and today's edition has plenty to help you count down the days.

In this edition:
🎸 Mt. Joy is coming to Waco
☕ For Keeps Coffee is opening location #2
✈️ Flight deal: Waco to Fort Myers, FL in August
🍣 Waco's new all-you-can-eat sushi spot is open
💰 Waco’s $10.7M budget challenge

Let's get to it!
— Sam Harper

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Schedule your free tour today and discover what your body has been trying to tell you.

👉 Book your tour at wacobodymend.com/bookatour*

🎸 Mt. Joy Is Coming to Waco

Few people had "Mt. Joy announces a Waco show" on their 2026 bingo card. Mt. Joy, the Philadelphia and LA-based indie rock band behind "Silver Lining" and "Lemon Tree," headlines the Silobration kickoff concert Thursday, Oct. 22. Magnolia and Baylor University are presenting the show, and Chip and Joanna Gaines are hosting the full Silobration weekend, Oct. 22-25.

Mt. Joy has sold out Madison Square Garden, played two nights at Red Rocks, and crossed 1 billion streams. Here's when tickets go on sale: Fan club presale starts today at 10 AM and runs through Thursday at 10 PM. Magnolia Perks members, Bear Foundation members, and Baylor students get their window Wednesday through Thursday (students, use code SILVER). Everyone else can buy starting this Friday at 10 AM.

Here is the rest of the live music lineup for Silobration coming in a few months. The Fray headlines the Silos Friday, Dylan Gossett plays Saturday, and Cory Asbury closes it out Sunday morning.

👉 Get tickets for Mt. Joy here as well as Silobration here.

🧇 A Second Waffle House Is Already in the Works

Waco hasn't even opened its first Waffle House, and a second one is already lined up. The city issued a building permit for a new location at 2301 South New Road, right by the Cottonwood Creek Market strip that's home to Topgolf, Cinemark, and Main Event.

The first Waco location is planned for 722 South 7th Street near Baylor. Neither has an opening date yet.

☕ For Keeps Coffee Is Opening Location #2

For Keeps Coffee is doubling its footprint. Founders Cameron and Danielle Philgreen are opening a second location inside Baylor's new Baptist Student Ministries building at 4th Street and Daughtrey Avenue, targeting an Aug. 15 opening.

Huge congrats to Cam and the whole team. The original Bosque Blvd. location has become one of Waco's go-to coffee spots, and this puts a second one right in the middle of campus.

🍽️ Dinner Club Is One Week Out

The July Waco Buzz Dinner Club is Tuesday, July 28, and more than 80 locals have already signed up. You'll get matched with a small group, go to dinner somewhere in Waco, then everyone meets up at the after-party. I'll see you there.

👉 Grab your seat here.

Waco to Fort Myers, FL: $396 roundtrip, Aug. 22-28.

Warm gulf water, key lime pie, and an excuse to disappear for a week as school starts back up. It's hurricane season down there, so keep an eye on the radar before you book anything nonrefundable.

👉 Check the deal here*
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📌 Quick Hits

🍣 Umiya Sushi & Hot Pot is officially open next to Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp and Old Chicago. It's an all-you-can-eat format covering sushi, hot pot, and grilled items, a first for that stretch of town. Good to know: All you can eat sushi is $34 for dinner and $21 for lunch.

🧴 Lather Ritual (formerly Magnolia Soap & Bath) held its soft opening this past Saturday at 193 Archway Dr. in Woodway. Owner Charis Echterling is keeping the handcrafted soap and bath products and adding bookable DIY parties for birthdays, girls' nights, and team events. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday noon to 5.

🏪 A new 7-Eleven at 4701 S. 12th St. (corner of Highway 6) throws its grand opening party this Friday, July 24, with giveaways all day.

🎬 Encore looks like it's taking over more of the Hippodrome. They already run the rooftop bar and the billiards floor there, and their teaser about a "brand-new screen" and a theater that's "sat quietly" for years points to them bringing the old movie screen back to life too. More when they make it official.

🤖 AI has gone from “interesting” to “you probably should understand this.” Whether you’re still wondering “what is ChatGPT?” or you’re already building with AI every day, the YOU × AI Summit on Sept. 12 brings Waco founders, creators, and curious locals together for a full day of learning what’s working. Early bird tickets are $59 through the end of the month. 👉 Get early bird tickets here.

💰 Waco's Staring Down a $10.7 Million Budget Gap

City staff are working through a seven-part plan to close a projected $10.7 million hole in next year's budget. It's the city's third straight year of tight budget decisions. A weak sales tax month and flat property tax growth are part of the challenge.

Two cuts for locals to be aware of: library hours drop 10 to 14 hours a week across the system, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum closes on Tuesdays. Street repairs and planned raises for city employees, police, and fire are staying put. The city is also weighing a $1 million cut to its economic development contribution this year, which the county would likely match.

The proposed budget goes to City Council on Aug. 8 and takes effect Oct. 1. Read the full article and scope of things possibly impacted from The Waco Bridge.

🥬 Check your fridge if you bought bagged iceberg lettuce recently. Taylor Farms expanded a recall to 27 states, including Texas, tied to a Cyclospora outbreak linked to a supplier in central Mexico. Affected bags carry best-by dates through Aug. 3.

The good news for Taco Bell fans: the chain says the affected lettuce has been removed from its restaurants nationwide. So yes, you may return to your regularly scheduled Crunchwrap Supreme activities. 🌯

🛍️ Waco’s next business owners?

They might be sitting at your dinner table.

The first-ever Waco Kids Market is giving young entrepreneurs a chance to create a product, set up a booth, meet customers, and experience what it’s like to run a business.

Plus, every participant gets a free Kidpreneur ebook to help them take the next step.

📅 Aug. 1 | 2-4 PM
📍 Crestview Church of Christ Gym

Booths are limited. Registration closes July 26.

👉 Reserve a table at wacokidsmarket.com*

🧊 How do you beat the heat this week? Add 2,000 pounds of ice.

Hawaiian Falls Waco is bringing back its annual ice dump this Wednesday, turning the wave pool into the closest thing Waco will get to an ice bath. (Or at least cool enough to stop feeling like bath water.)

Expect a whole lot of cold water, happy kids, and more than a few parents jumping in too.

📍 Hawaiian Falls Waco
🗓️ Wednesday, July 22 | 2 PM*

Tuesday, July 21:

Wednesday, July 22:

Thursday, July 23:

Want your event featured? Reserve an upcoming Featured Event listing here.

🔥 Waco Buzz readers can join HOTWORX Woodway and get your first workout free.

🧗‍♀️ This summer, Basin Climbing + Fitness is offering $25 off their summer camps using code WACOBUZZ. If you or your child wants to try climbing before signing up, swing by the gym any day and give it a try together.

🚗 Your neighbors at Chevrolet of West have been taking care of Waco drivers for years with new and pre-owned trucks, SUVs, and cars just 20 minutes up I-35 in West, TX. Stop by or browse their inventory today.

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💧 Need a boost? IViT Hydration & Wellness offers IV therapy and wellness treatments to help you feel better, recover faster, and boost energy. Waco Buzz readers get $35 off by clicking the link.

💪Move better. Recover Faster. Live Stronger. Waco Bodymend is a world class space built for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with your neighbor who's still wearing a Messi jersey three days later.

Before you go — two things worth knowing about:

1. Job Board: The best open roles at growing Waco companies across media, marketing, sales, tech, and engineering. Hiring? Get your open role featured in front of thousands of locals.

2. Want to reach Waco? This newsletter lands in 15,000+ local inboxes every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. If you're a business owner looking to get in front of people who actually live here, let’s talk.

3.Dinner Club: Meet five other locals over dinner on July 28. You'll make new friends regardless of stage of life and help make Waco a smaller town.