BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Bryan-College Station is in the middle of a business boom — and a wave of new openings this month is putting that growth on full display.
Researchers at Texas A&M’s Real Estate Research Center say retail has been the best-performing commercial real estate sector in Texas for three consecutive years. Bryan-College Station is no exception — and much of the growth is Aggie-owned and operated.
Here’s a look at what’s new:
Lucky Goat Coffee Co. – 3349 University Dr., Bryan (Hudson Oaks) | Grand Opening: Aug. 20, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
The Florida-based roaster — already operating a College Station location — holds its Bryan grand opening Thursday. Owners Jimmy and Jana Rourk signed their lease in October 2025 and have been building out the space since last May.
The Rourks bring 20+ years of hospitality experience through ministry work and say community is the core of their vision. Notably, Lucky Goat has no drive-through — by design.
“We want people to come in, experience a handcrafted cup of coffee,” Rourk said. “We want to build into relationships, you know, that three to 5 minutes that it might take to make that latte, we want to really engage our customers.”
The location features local pastry vendors including Small House Sourdough, Nonnie’s Bake Shop, Sugar Squirrel, and Kolache Ralphs. Lunch options are also in the works.
Grand Opening Perks: Drawing for free coffee for a year; swag bags for the first 100 customers.
Unreined Whiskey – WildHorse Ranch, College Station | Opened: Aug. 8
The official whiskey of Texas A&M opened a 30,000-square-foot visitor center and rickhouse at WildHorse Ranch on Aug. 8. Co-founder and blender Nelson Ingram — a Texas A&M Class of 2013 graduate — says the facility was years in the making, with design beginning in 2023 and groundbreaking in 2024.
The four-story rickhouse can hold 6,668 barrels of bourbon and sits on a 600-acre working bison and cattle ranch.
Why College Station? It comes down to the climate.
Ingram pulled 20 years of climate data before choosing the location, comparing College Station’s conditions to the major bourbon-producing regions in the country. The verdict: College Station’s humidity nearly mirrors Northern Kentucky’s — the heart of bourbon country.
“College Station’s humidity is almost the exact same as Northern Kentucky,” Ingram said. “So that was checkbox number one.”
Humidity controls the chemistry inside the barrel and directly affects flavor development. Temperature matters too — and Texas has a surprising edge. Below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, barrels go dormant and stop absorbing oak. College Station’s mild winters mean the barrels keep working year-round, something Kentucky can’t match.
The rickhouse itself was engineered to maximize airflow — built on stem walls with oversized windows.
Debuting alongside the grand opening is Unreined Wheated Bourbon — a 7-year blend of straight wheated bourbons distilled in Kentucky and Texas at 104.2 proof. Food is available on-site through a partnership with restaurateur John Harvey Slocum, serving farm-to-table bison burgers and tallow fries sourced from WildHorse Ranch.
Hours: Tue–Wed, Noon–5 p.m. | Thu–Sat, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Tours available — reservations recommended at unreinedwhiskey.com.
JD Ranch Boutique – Former Charli’s location | 505 University Dr E #100, College Station, TX 77840 | Open Now
Texas A&M alum Jackie Doss — Aggie Class of 2021 — has opened the second location of her boutique, JD Ranch, taking over the former Charli’s space. Doss says the growth happened faster than she expected.
“The town is kind of exploding right now…the town is about to just boom,” Doss said. “It’s exciting to be here during this time with all the growth.”
The new space opened last week after roughly a month and a half of construction. Doss says the Charli’s legacy has resonated with customers.
“Everyone’s been coming and talking about the memories they had here growing up and going to Charli’s,” she said. “I feel really honored.”
Grand Opening Weekend: Sept. 4–6, timed to Texas A&M’s first home football game.
Javi’s – 1200 University Dr. E., College Station | Open Now
Javi’s, a new Tex-Mex restaurant serving classic dishes and handcrafted margaritas, has opened on University Drive East in College Station.
Sprouts Farmers Market – 1913 Texas Ave. S., College Station | Opens: Sept. 25
Sprouts Farmers Market opens September 25th at Texas Avenue and Holleman Drive East. Grand opening weekend runs Sept. 25–27, with a ribbon-cutting at 6:45 a.m. Friday.
The first 200 in-store shoppers each day receive a free reusable tote, and the first 400 customers Friday receive a free long-stem rose. Shoppers can also get 20% off all weekend by joining Sprouts Rewards.
Dave & Buster’s – Post Oak Mall, College Station | Expected: Late 2026
Dave & Buster’s is under construction at Post Oak Mall and is expected to open later this year.
Final Score Sports Bar and Arcade – 121 N. Main St., Historic Downtown Bryan | Open Now
Owner Dustin Batson — a former partial owner of Vice Downtown Bryan — has opened a two-story sports bar and arcade in the heart of Historic Downtown Bryan.
Club4 Fitness – 1901 S. Texas Ave., Bryan | Opens: Aug. 19
A 65,000-square-foot, 24/7 gym opens in the former neighborhood Walmart on South Texas Avenue. The facility includes a women-only area, cycling studio, and five pickleball courts.
La Botana – 1819 San Antonio Rd., Bryan | Under Construction
A $1.5 million, 3,028-square-foot drive-thru restaurant is under construction on San Antonio Road.
Smith Dairy Queen – 2400 E. SH 21, Bryan | Expected: December 2026
A new Dairy Queen drive-thru is under construction on State Highway 21, replacing a location closed during TxDOT highway work.
Copyright 2026 KBTX. All rights reserved.