🧇 Waco is getting a Waffle House

Good morning, Waco! This is The Waco Buzz, the newsletter that feels like grabbing a free cone from the ice cream machine at Jason's Deli after convincing yourself you were "just going in for the salad bar."

In this edition:
🧇 Waco is officially getting a Waffle House
💼 The world's largest asset manager just put Waco on its map
🏙️ Downtown's biggest development project just got real
🎾 Baylor tennis is headed to the Elite Eight
✈️ Flight deal: Waco to Nashville

Let's get to it!
— Sam Harper

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🧇 Waco Is Getting a Waffle House

It's finally happening. At last week's City Council meeting, officials announced that Waco is getting its first Waffle House. A location and opening date haven't been shared yet, but the chain gave the city permission to break the news.

Waco District 3 Representative Josh Borderud probably said it best: "I don't consider myself a sentimental man. I'm not often moved to tears... but this here today, a breakfast loving Baptist like myself, to know we're going to be united to other southern metros by this beautiful chain, which is generally peaceful in the daytime, this is a great gift."

💼 BlackRock and Governor Abbott Were Just in Waco. Here's Why It Matters.
Last week, Governor Abbott visited TSTC for a fireside chat alongside BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. That's the world's largest asset manager, and the CEO flew to Waco to talk about skilled trades.

The reason: BlackRock's foundation committed $30 million to a program called Future Builders, designed to invest in young people pursuing technical careers. TSTC was their first call. As Fink put it, it was "a pretty easy decision."

The bigger picture is significant. Texas has pumped $8 billion into career and technical education over the last two legislative sessions, and the state has more than 400 economic development projects currently in the pipeline. The workforce to support all of it has to come from somewhere, and TSTC is one of the places training the electricians, welders, and technicians who will actually build it.

Mike Rowe has been saying for years that the country undersells the trades. TSTC’s answering that call.

💦 Splash Pads Are Open for the Season
The city officially turned on Waco's splash pads for summer, and they run 8 AM to 10 PM daily. If you've got kids who need somewhere to burn energy before it hits triple digits, now's the time. Find the one nearest you at Waco-Texas.com/SplashPads.

Waco to Nashville: $366 roundtrip
With gas prices doing what they're doing, it's worth checking what it costs to fly instead of drive. Country music, bachelorette party mecca, and so much more make
Nashville in June hard to argue with.
See Flight Deal →*

If this flight deal caught your eye, Denae at Traveluxe can handle the flights, hotels, and insider perks at no cost to you. Just email [email protected] and she’ll take it from there. ✈️
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🎳 New This Week
Escapology Waco is now open next to Sagrado Cocina, in the old Bicycle World space downtown. Escape rooms, just in time for graduation weekend. Check it out at escapology.com/waco-tx.

7 Brew Coffee is doing a ribbon cutting at its new location at 1707 S. Valley Mills Dr. (at Bagby) on Wednesday, May 13 as they continue to grow their Waco footprint.

Arrowhead Bow Shop held their grand opening in McGregor. If you've got a kid (or a spouse) who is really into archery, this is your place. arrowheadsbowshop.com.

🏌️ Waco Golf Simulator Business for Sale

A 24/7 virtual golf facility in Waco is on the market for $384,900. It reports $92,000 in cash flow, runs on automated software, and doesn't require staff on-site. If you've got the capital and love golf, this is an interesting one to look at.

🏙️ Downtown's Big Moment: Barron's Branch District Takes Shape
City Council voted last week to move forward with three development teams for the Barron's Branch District, an 8.5-acre stretch along the creek corridor between Washington Ave, 4th Street, Jefferson Ave, and University Parks Drive. No contracts are signed yet. Negotiations are next, and final agreements come back to Council for approval.

Here's what's planned for each site:

A bar and restaurant along the creek, plus two mixed-use condo buildings with 54 residential units. Construction on the first building targets 2027. Total investment: $42 million.

A six-story office building with a hub designed to connect local startups and businesses with venture capital. That one represents $115 million in investment, with construction aimed for late 2027.

A six-story mixed-use building with ground-floor retail, a second-floor fitness and spa concept, upper-floor office space, and a rooftop restaurant. The team includes former Waco Mayor Dillon Meek. Investment: $36 million. Target delivery: 2029.

Combined, these five sites represent nearly $200 million in planned private investment right in the heart of downtown Waco.

🗑️ Household Hazardous Waste Day: This Saturday
May 16, 7 AM to 1 PM, at 501 Schroeder Drive. Free disposal for paint, motor oil, batteries, electronics, tires, and chemicals. Open to residents of Waco, Bellmead, Hewitt, Lacy Lakeview, and Woodway.

Don't let those paint cans sit in the garage another summer.

Tuesday, May 12

Featured Event: Spring Lone Star Luncheon at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Tuesday, May 12 | 11:30 AM | 1108 S University Parks Dr

Two major champions, Charles Coody and Tom Kite, are coming to Waco for the Spring Lone Star Luncheon where they will be sharing stories over lunch by George’s you can only hear if you're in the room.

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame exists to honor athletes, coaches, and leaders whose stories inspire generations. Events like this one are how they bring that mission to life. You just have to be in the room.

👉 Get Tickets Here

Wednesday, May 13:

Thursday, May 14:

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

🎾 Men's Tennis: Elite Eight Bound
The Baylor men's tennis team beat Pepperdine 4-3 in the NCAA Sweet 16 this past Friday at the Hurd Tennis Center in front of 1,329 fans. The match came down to Court One, where junior Devin Badenhorst fought through cramps to win a third-set tiebreaker and clinch it. Baylor now faces No. 2 Texas in the Elite Eight in Athens, Georgia on Thursday, May 14.

Women's Golf: Playing at Home
The NCAA Women's Golf Waco Regional is underway at Ridgewood Country Club, hosted by Baylor. The Bears are the 5th seed in a 12-team field that includes Texas A&M, Oregon, Tennessee, and SMU. This about as close to a home-court advantage as golf gets. The top five teams advance to nationals in Carlsbad, California. Round two is today. Admission is free.

⚾ Baseball: Road Trip Matters
Baylor closed out the final home series of the season against UCF. The Bears head to Utah this week and need a strong finish to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

🧗‍♀️ This summer, Basin Climbing + Fitness is offering $25 off their summer camp 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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Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with your friend who has been saying "we should really go to Nashville sometime" for three years running

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