Good Morning Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the local newsletter that feels like finding $20 in your old jeans pocket.
In this edition:
Mucho Gusto Supermercado Expands in Waco 🥕
State of the State Recap 🎤
The Best Live Music and Events Happening This Week🎶🎶
Parent’s Weekend with Lauren Daigle at Baylor 🐻
Let’s get to it!
— Sam Harper
Together With Adam Rogers of Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
Q: Why is it important to meet face-to-face with your insurance agent?
Because insurance is an education process. Too many people think all coverage is the same—it isn’t. Adam Rogers and his team at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance focus on building long-term programs for families, not just selling one-off policies. That starts with trust, and trust is built in person.
Q: Are all insurance policies created equal?
No. Home, auto, and life insurance each come with a wide range of coverage options, and the “right” plan changes as your life changes. Having an agent who knows you—and can educate and advise you along the way—is what protects your family best.
Adam’s approach: educate first, tailor coverage second, and walk with your family for the long haul.
👉 Ready to start the conversation? Fill out this quick form to book a meeting with Adam.
BUZZWORTHY NEWS
What’s Happening Waco
Best of the Buzz: Powerball Dreams
Last week I asked: What would you do if you were the City of Waco and held the winning Powerball ticket? (For context, the actual jackpot was won in Texas — close, but not here.)
Here are some of the best responses from Buzz readers:
💊 “I’d set up a fund so senior citizens never have to choose between meds or food.”
🚋 “Build a real transit system with trams, bike trails, even high-speed rail to Austin so Waco could be a model for car-free living.”
🛒 “Get Costco and Trader Joe’s for sure… and maybe toss in a TJ Maxx while we’re at it.”
🎡 “BRING BACK KIDDIELAND to all its pristine glory!!”
New neighbor for Cameron Park.
Turner Brothers are starting work this fall on a 151-home subdivision along the edge of Cameron Park — one of the largest residential projects to hit that area in years. Read more →($)
Big upgrade for pets.
Pet Circle Waco is getting a $4.4M overhaul, transforming the shelter into a modern clinic with more space, better care, and upgraded facilities for animal welfare. Full story
✈️Waco Cheap Flights.
Starting Oct. 1, parking at the Waco Airport won’t be free anymore as it’s moving to just over $5/day so the city budget isn’t left covering the gap. The goal is to keep improving the airport overall with this move.
This week’s best deal: Waco to Tokyo for just over $700 roundtrip—yes, Tokyo, Japan.
BUSINESS NEWS
September Openings & Moves
Mucho Gusto, Waco.
Two new Mucho Gusto Supermercado locations are opening this fall. One will bring groceries back to the former Mission Waco Jubilee Food Market spot at 15th & Colcord—an area long called a food desert. A second location is moving into the old CVS off S. Valley Mills, set to open in November. The Austin-based chain already runs six stores around Central Texas.
Don’t call it a comeback.
With the closing of The Craft Gallery on Bosque (Valor Prep is moving into that space), a new option is rising: the 254 Craft Mall in the former Ritchie’s Western Wear Co. building on Waco Drive. They’re already hiring and looking for vendors — check out 254craftmall.com if you want to get involved.
This week’s movers:
🌮 Tia Juanita’s opened Monday in Central Texas Marketplace.
👗 Uptown Cheapskate cuts the ribbon Wednesday at 1001 Webster downtown.
Civic News
State of the State Recap
Governor Greg Abbott chose Waco to deliver his State of the State last week, hosted at the Baylor Club and co-presented with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.
Big picture recap:
🚧 Infrastructure & Growth – Texas is pouring a record $146B into roads. Abbott even joked that I-35 construction has been going on since the 70s (maybe he saw my viral I-35 Instagram post?).
💼 Jobs & Economy – Waco led Texas in job growth last year, outpacing Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Statewide, Texas hit $2.7T GDP (8th largest in the world).
🎓 Education – Over $8B for schools and $4B for teacher pay raises—the largest in state history—plus a strong push for school choice.
🏠 Property Tax Relief – A historic $50B package: homestead exemptions up to $140K ($200K for seniors). Nearly half of Texas seniors now pay $0 in school property taxes.
⚡ Power & Water – Grid capacity is up 25% since the 2021 freeze, making Texas #1 in energy production.
🌊 Flood Response – Over $100M raised for recovery after this year’s devastating floods, with $50M already distributed.
Why it matters:
More jobs. Better schools. Relief on your tax bill. And maybe—just maybe—fewer orange cones on I-35.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Local Businesses You Can Trust
🏢Cromwell Commercial Group - Your trusted partner to assist in finding and acquiring the perfect commercial property for your investment needs.
🏗️Arise Construction - Waco’s trusted commercial contractor, currently building the new Gibbons Island at Cameron Park Zoo.
🏠 Evergreen Enterprises - Honest, reliable, and on time general contractor
⭐Adam Rogers - Texas Farm Bureau Insurance - Local, trusted guidance designed specifically for your family.
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LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN & MIDWEEK EVENTS
Coming up this week 📆
📆 Tuesday:
100th Birthday Celebration @ Waco Civic Theatre - 5:30 PM
Fabled Book Club: The Whyte Python World Tour @ Fabled Bookshop & Cafe - 7 PM Registration
Beer Garden Yoga @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM - $15
Smarty Pints Trivia @ Southern Roots Brewing Co - 7 PM
Trivia Night @ Dancing Bear Pub - 7 PM
Slap Stix Trivia @ Freight Bar - 7:30 PM
📆 Wednesday:
The Meetup @ Startup Waco – 9 AM
Story Time @ Fabled Bookshop & Café – 10:30 AM
Levitt AMP Waco Music Series with the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market @ Bridge Street Plaza - 5 PM
Meet the Winemaker: Edge of the Lake Winery @ Marie’s Wine Bar - 5:30 PM
David Smith: Public Perception of the American Military @ Mayborn Museum Complex - 6 PM
Wednesday Game Night @ The Will - 6 PM
Trivia Night @ Hemingway’s Watering Hole - 6 PM
Slap Stix Trivia @ Torchy’s Tacos - 6:30 PM
Music Bingo @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
Madam Radar @ Texas Music Cafe - 8 PM Tickets
📆 Thursday:
Music Bingo @ Waco Ale Co - 6 PM
Karaoke @ Torchy’s Tacos - 6:30 PM
A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh @ The Highlands Gym MCC - 7 PM - SOLD OUT
Trivia @ Brotherwell Brewing - 7 PM
Dance Hall Night (Free Lesson at 7) @ The Will - 7 PM
To Kill a Mockingbird @ Waco Civic Theatre - 7:30 Tickets
Notable Events This Weekend
Lauren Daigle @ Foster Pavilion Friday Night - SOLD OUT - resale tickets going for $115.
Baylor Football vs Samford @ McLane Stadium - 11 AM Saturday Tickets from $27
Looking Ahead
🎭 Baylor New Play Initiative
Brand-new plays. Fresh voices. And a $15,000 prize on the line. Baylor Theatre is hosting the first-ever Baylor New Play Initiative Sept. 26–28, and they want the whole Waco community to be part of it.Across three days you’ll see staged readings of four new works from rising and established playwrights, plus panel discussions, roundtables, and receptions that bring artists and audiences together. It’s a chance to experience bold new theatre before it hits bigger stages and to support Waco’s growing arts scene while you’re at it.
👟 IronKids Waco
Give your kids their own race day moment! On Oct. 4 at 8:30 AM, little runners can take on the Toddler Trot, mile runs, or the new Splash & Dash at Bridge Street Plaza. Learn more here.
SPORTS
Baylor Sports This Week
🏈Baylor Football stunned SMU in a double-overtime thriller, rallying late to knock off the Mustangs and keep the rivalry streak alive.
This Saturday, the Bears host Samford at 11 AM for Parents Weekend, when campus will be buzzing with families and alumni. Some favorite traditions include the Taste of Waco event Friday afternoon and the After Dark variety show at Waco Hall Friday night. 🎟️ Grab tickets here.
And just announced: Baylor’s matchup against Arizona State on on September 20 will kick off at 6:30 PM, marking the second night game of the year—a big win for fans who’d rather stay out of the heat and cheer under the lights at McLane.
THANKS!
Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something helpful, please share it with someone who has the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack on repeat at their house.
