Your Complete Guide to New Businesses in Dripping Springs (2026 Edition)
Dripping Springs is growing fast, and nowhere is that more obvious than on Main Street and beyond, where new storefronts have been opening at a steady clip all year. Whether you're new to town or just haven't kept up, here's your complete, categorized guide to what's new in Dripping Springs in 2026 — updated as businesses open, close, and change hands. Bookmark this one.
Retail & Shopping
Target is officially coming to Dripping Springs, and it's a big one: a 145,000-square-foot store anchoring The Village at Dripping Springs, sitting on a 26.45-acre site near Belterra, between CVS and Dripping Springs Racquet Club. No grand opening date has been confirmed yet, but it's the clearest signal yet of how quickly the area's retail footprint is expanding.
Southern Roots Boutique opened downtown at 330 West Mercer St., Ste. 7, on June 5, selling apparel, boots, and accessories, with a grand opening celebration featuring live music from local artist Thomas Babiak.
Drip Swag Shop, a Dripping Springs merch brand that started as e-commerce only, opened its first physical storefront this spring after two years of pickup-from-the-owner's-house logistics. Owner Katie Walker, a Dripping Springs native, now offers custom embroidery and personalized gifts alongside her original apparel line.
Dining & Drink
Golden Chick opened near the intersection of Hwy. 290 and RR 12, adding fried chicken, tenders, and southern sides to the downtown dining scene. It's owned by Austin local Tariq Khan, who also operates two Austin-area locations.
Beerburg Beer Garden opened a new outdoor space with native landscaping on May 28, celebrating with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Nectarine Cafe and Bakehouse isn't brand new — it's been serving Dripping Springs since 2018 — but it deserves a spot on this list for anyone who hasn't discovered it yet. Founded by Kate and Charles Smith after they struggled to find dining options for their two sons with celiac and dairy allergies, Nectarine (2001 Hwy. 290, Ste. 116) now serves a full menu built for celiac, vegan, keto, and vegetarian diners — including a standout hot chicken sandwich with crispy plantain-crusted chicken, pickles, hot honey, and spicy mayo aioli on a gluten-free brioche bun.
Health & Wellness
Hear in Texas, a veteran-owned audiology practice run by Sally and Carlos Miranda, opened at the Arbor Center, offering hearing assessments, cognitive screenings, cochlear implant support, and tinnitus management.
Dripping Sweat, a mat pilates and barre studio that started in 2025 through pop-ups and rented spaces, has settled into a permanent home inside the Meta Mixed Martial Arts building. Owner Nevin Spinosa still shows up at community pop-up events, but now has a dedicated studio base.
Education & Kids
Band Aid School of Music opened its Dripping Springs location on April 19 at 30307 RR 12, Ste. 700. Founded by James Mays — whose approach to teaching youth bands helped inspire the movie School of Rock — Band Aid takes a performance-first approach, with students learning guitar, bass, drums, piano, and voice while working toward real shows, plus band programs and summer camps.
Businesses to Note: Closures & Changes
Not every 2026 update is a new opening. Oakwood Public Market recently announced its closure, and Desert Door Distillery, the Texas sotol distillery, quietly closed its doors in April. If either was a regular stop for you, it's worth checking their social channels for final details or relocation news.
Why This Matters for Dripping Springs
New business openings are one of the clearest signs of a community's health — and 2026 has brought a genuinely diverse mix, from a national retail anchor to family-run cafes to niche wellness studios. It's also a reminder of how much opportunity there is for entrepreneurs willing to plant roots here, as the population and new-home construction continue to climb.
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We update this guide regularly and love featuring new openings first.
