☕New Academy Sports coming to town

Good morning Waco! Some say the statute of limitations on saying “Happy new year” has expired. But happy greetings is the Waco way, so keep on keeping on.

Let’s get to it!

— Sam Harper

If “get active” is on your 2026 list, this is a strong way to start.

HOTWORX Woodway is offering Waco Buzz readers a $99 all-in Fit in ’26 promo. That covers enrollment, January dues, plus a mat and towel. A $276 value, bundled to make it easy to say yes. Offer runs through January 31.

So what is HOTWORX?
It’s a locally owned, 24/7 infrared sauna fitness studio where workouts are short, guided, and efficient. You choose 15-minute HIIT or 30-minute isometric sessions, all led by virtual instructors inside a semi-private sauna. The combo of heat, infrared energy, and movement helps you get more out of less time.

Why locals like it:

If you want to build a routine you can stick with, this is a smart on-ramp.

📍 13701 Woodway Dr., Woodway
📞 (254) 870-4508
🌐 hotworx.net/studio/woodway

Just mention The Waco Buzz to lock in the $99 Fit in ’26 deal.

🦍New Arrival at Cameron Park Zoo

The Cameron Park Zoo welcomed a baby orangutan named Ravi, born to mom Mei and dad KJ. Mei and Ravi can be seen daily from 11 AM to 1 PM in the night house bedroom. A pretty special reason to stop by the zoo and support one of Waco’s favorite community spaces.

Last week’s Paris deal got a lot of attention. As of the last check, you could still find round-trip flights from Waco to Paris for about $514, which is still wild.

This week’s deal is another good one, especially if you are already looking for a reason to use some PTO.

Waco → Dublin — $480 round-trip
If a global adventure is on your 2026 wish list, this is one of those prices that makes it very easy to say yes. Think pubs instead of emails, castles instead of conference rooms, and a perfectly valid reason to be out of office.

See this flight deal*
*Price is subject to change and may no longer be available at the time you check this link.

🏪 Academy Sports Expanding in the Waco Area
Academy Sports + Outdoors is opening a second Waco-area location after purchasing a huge space in Lacy Lakeview at 1205 N Loop 340. The site, originally built as a Kmart and later used as a call center, will be redeveloped into Academy Sports soon. The deal was handled by Cromwell Commercial Group, and it is exciting seeing growth in that space.

🩺 New Physical Therapy Option Opens in Waco
Therapy323 is now open, adding another locally owned healthcare option to the mix. The clinic is led by Thomas Anderson, a physical therapist with more than 10 years of experience, and is located near the former Hollywood Theatre site, which is about to see new life as the future home of the Waco Warriors. Always good to see more activity filling in that stretch of town.

🥗 Salad and Go, go, gone.
Drive-thru salad chain Salad and Go is closing its remaining Texas locations, including the Waco store on S. 6th Street. If you were a regular, two solid local swaps are Harvest on 25th and Revival Eastside Eatery, both reliable options for a good, feel-better lunch.

☕ Dichotomy Shifts Its Focus
After 12 years as both a coffee shop and cocktail bar, Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits announced it will close its bar program at the end of the month. The coffee side stays open, with the team refocusing on daytime community, connection, and world class coffee.

🧱 Something New Is Brewing Downtown
Construction is underway at the former Lighthouse Coffee location, and for now, details are scarce. It is encouraging to see investment and movement in a downtown space that has been quiet for a number of months. We will keep an eye on this one.

🧪 A Big Win for Learning in Waco: STEAM Center Opens This Week
Waco adds a major community asset this Friday with the ribbon cutting for the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center. The new space is designed for “K to gray” learning, blending science, technology, engineering, arts, and hands-on creativity under one roof.

Think robotics labs, recording studios, makerspaces, teaching kitchens, gaming labs, and flexible classrooms built for kids, teens, adults, and seniors alike. This is not just a kids’ museum. It is a workforce pipeline, creative hub, and community gathering place rolled into one.

🗓 Ribbon Cutting: Friday, Jan 16 at 10 AM
📍 300 N. MLK Blvd
💵 Free and open to the public

More programming and grand opening events are coming later this month, but Friday marks the official start.

🏙️ Waco PD + Polar Plunge
The Waco Police Department is participating in this weekend’s Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics Texas. The plunge takes place Saturday morning at Hawaiian Falls Waco, with registration at 8 AM and the jump at 9:15 AM. You can donate, cheer them on, or join a team and take the plunge yourself.

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Looking Ahead

🎪 Waco Wellness Festival – Jan 17, 10 AM to 1 PM
Move, stretch, breathe, and explore all things health and wellness at this community-focused festival. Expect workshops, local vendors, fitness demos, and plenty of ways to reset for the new year. Details and tickets here.

🎭 Songs for a New World – Jan 16, 17, 24 & 25
A powerful, song-driven musical about the moments that change everything. Songs for a New World weaves together stories of love, risk, hope, and second chances, all set at those crossroads where one choice can reshape a life. With music by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, expect soaring vocals, emotional punch, and storytelling that sticks with you long after the curtain falls. Details and tickets available through the Waco Civic Theatre box office.

🔥 Helberg BBQ Class: Brisket 101 – Jan 25, 4–8 PM
Join Texas Monthly Top 50 Pitmaster Phillip Helberg at Helberg Barbecue for a hands-on brisket class covering fire management, wood selection, and smoker fundamentals. You will leave with a full meal, merch, and the know-how to cook better BBQ at home.

Written by Shane Parrish and reMarkable, this workbook helps you pause and reflect. Rather than add pressure, it relieves it, bringing clarity to what truly matters.


A simple reset for January. A thoughtful way to review your year.

Download the workbook

🏀Women’s Basketball (15–3, Ranked No. 16)
The Bears took care of business on Sunday, knocking off Kansas 79–64. A strong Big 12 win in front of a white out crowd at Foster Pavilion. They are back on the road this week, heading west to face Utah on Wednesday night at 8 PM, followed by BYU on Saturday. Two road tests that should give us a clearer picture of where this team stands as conference play ramps up.

🏀 Men’s Basketball (10–5)
A little context goes a long way here. This roster was built from the ground up just a few months ago. Zero players returning. They even added a new center only a couple of weeks back.

Last week highlighted the growing pains, with losses to No. 3 Iowa State and No. 7 Houston. There is still work to do, but the bigger goal is having this team clicking by March, not peaking in January.

They are back at it tonight in Stillwater against Oklahoma State, then head to Lawrence for a tough Friday night matchup with Kansas at 7 PM. On a three-game skid, this feels like a get-right week if they can put things together.

🔥Kick off 2026 with the Fit in ’26 deal from HOTWORX Woodway: just $99 all in for enrollment, January dues, plus a mat and towel. This Waco Buzz reader promo ($276 value) expires Jan 31, 2026. Call (254) 870-4508 or stop by 13701 Woodway Dr. to claim it.

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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. From red light therapy and PEMF to alterG anti gravity treadmill sessions & home to CrushCycle Waco, we combine science backed recovery with your training that fits your life. Click the link to the get the exclusive offer for Waco Buzz readers.

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