Howdy, Hutto. I’ve got good news and bad news.

The good news: We finally have a site plan showing what Cottonwood Marketplace could look like near US 79 and CR 132. The bad news: No retailers have been officially announced yet, so we’re looking at the layout, Fidelis’ track record, and a few realistic possibilities while we wait.

Also this week: sidewalk repairs are underway, Hutto’s recent parks investment is adding up, The Curious Hippo is officially open, and the Hutto Chamber has raffle tickets available for its leadership cruise.

All of that, this week’s events and plenty more are waiting below. Thanks, as always, for stopping by.

Quick local updates from around town.

Cottonwood Marketplace | Hutto officials have received Fidelis’ site plan for the planned retail development near US 79 and CR 132, with road and traffic upgrades being coordinated while tenant announcements and a construction timeline are still pending.

The Curious Hippo Opens | The Curious Hippo is now open at 101 East St., with hours from noon to 8:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6:00 PM Sunday.

Sidewalk Repairs | Hutto is replacing about 1,745 feet of sidewalk and four ADA curb ramps across several neighborhoods through August 21, with temporary pedestrian detours possible but no road closures expected.

Teacher Pay Overhaul | Hutto ISD plans to launch a performance-based teacher compensation system in 2027–28 that would weigh student growth, classroom evaluations, and student feedback, with final scoring and pay bands still being developed during the 2026–27 school year.

Park Investment | Hutto has invested $13.4 million in parks over the past four years, led by the $10.75 million Fritz Park overhaul, which is expected to reopen this summer with no date announced.

Adult Softball Registration | Registration for Hutto Parks and Recreation’s fall adult softball season opens August 1, with limited team space available.

Coed Kickball Registration | Registration for Hutto Parks and Recreation’s fall adult coed kickball season opens August 1, with limited team space available.

Fiber Shop Opening | Heritage Bloom Fiber Co., a mother-and-daughter-owned shop offering fabric, yarn, embroidery supplies and classes, is set to open October 10 at 115 East St., Unit B.

Things to do around town from Tuesday through Sunday.

Fiber Friends
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Tuesday, July 28 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Bring a knitting, crochet, embroidery or other portable fiber project for a free, relaxed evening of crafting and conversation. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Chemistry Roadshow
Hutto Discovery United Methodist Church
Wednesday, July 29 • 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
A free, interactive science show for ages 5 and older featuring colorful reactions and hands-on learning. Tickets are required and available through the Hutto Public Library.

Hutto Farmers Market
350 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
Wednesday, July 29 • 3:00–7:00 PM
Local farmers, ranchers, artisans, food vendors, coffee, handmade goods, and more.

Free Pool Wednesday
The Downtown Hall of Fame
Wednesday, July 29 • 4:00–10:00 PM
Stop by for free pool throughout the evening at The Downtown Hall of Fame.

The Crafty Corner: Sun Catchers
Hutto Public Library
Wednesday, July 29 • 5:00–6:30 PM
Adults ages 18 and older can make a sun catcher during this relaxed library craft night, with supplies provided while they last. No admittance after 5:45 PM.

Free Bingo
The Hutto Wine Bar
Wednesday, July 29 • 6:30 PM
Play free bingo for fun prizes at The Hutto Wine Bar. Kids are welcome.

The Art of the Board & Bottle
Grapes & Rye
Wednesday, July 29 • 6:30 PM
Build your own charcuterie board while sampling three curated wines during this hands-on pairing workshop led by Grapes & Rye and The Sacred Flame Charcuterie Mobile Bar. Tickets are $65 per person and prepaid registration is required.

Adult Book Club: Matrix
Hutto Public Library
Thursday, July 30 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Adults can join the library’s monthly book discussion featuring Matrix by Lauren Groff, a historical novel about power, faith and community.

Meet the Brewers
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Thursday, July 30 • 6:00 PM
Meet the team behind Cottonwood Creek’s house-brewed beer, ask questions and get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s on tap.

Live Music: Perry Savard
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Thursday, July 30 • 7:00 PM
Enjoy a live performance from Perry Savard at Cottonwood Creek Brewery.

Mixology Class: Mod & Tiki
Grapes & Rye
Thursday, July 30 • 7:00 PM
Learn how to shake, stir and muddle cocktails during this hands-on class featuring a rotating surprise menu and guidance from an expert mixologist. Tickets are $60 per person and prepaid registration is required.

Live Music: Jim and Hillary
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Friday, July 31 • 6:00 PM
Kick off the weekend with live music from Jim and Hillary at Cottonwood Creek Brewery.

Mixology Class: Mod & Tiki
Grapes & Rye
Friday, July 31 • 7:00 PM
Learn how to shake, stir and muddle cocktails during this hands-on class featuring a rotating surprise menu and guidance from an expert mixologist. Tickets are $60 per person and prepaid registration is required.

Yoga at the Gin
Hutto Gin Building
Saturday, August 1 • 10:00–11:00 AM
Join Hutto Parks and Recreation for a free flow yoga class led by Ellen Hill. Bring your own mat; tips are accepted.

Cocktail Brunch
Grapes & Rye
Saturday, August 1 • 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Enjoy cocktails and brunch during Grapes & Rye's weekly Saturday brunch.

Middle-Earth D&D Campaign (18+)
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, August 1 • 1:30–5:30 PM
Join an ongoing, old-school-inspired tabletop campaign set in Middle-Earth, with a homebrew rules system focused on exploration, creative problem-solving and immersive storytelling. Tickets are $10 per session.

Mixology Class: Mod & Tiki
Grapes & Rye
Saturday, August 1 • 7:00 PM
Learn how to shake, stir and muddle cocktails during this hands-on class featuring a rotating surprise menu and guidance from an expert mixologist. Tickets are $60 per person and prepaid registration is required.

Hutto Silent Book Club
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Sunday, August 2 • 3:00–4:30 PM
Bring any book and settle in for a free afternoon of reading, book talk and casual socializing. No assigned reading is required.

The new site plan points to major retailers, smaller shops, and restaurants, but the tenant list is still the big mystery.

Hutto finally has something more than a project name and an empty piece of land to look at.

The Hutto Economic Development Corporation announced last week that it received a site plan for Cottonwood Marketplace, a roughly 58-acre retail development planned near US 79 and CR 132.

No tenants have been announced, and there is still no construction timeline. But the plan gives residents the clearest look yet at what Fidelis Realty Partners may be trying to build.

The image released by the city is labeled as a marketing site plan, which means the layout could still change.

For now, it shows two large retail buildings toward the back of the property, several smaller buildings closer to US 79, pedestrian walkways and plenty of parking.

That points to a familiar shopping-center formula: one or two major anchor stores that draw regular traffic, surrounded by smaller retailers, restaurants and everyday services.

It is also important to remember that Cottonwood Marketplace represents only about 58 acres of the larger 250-acre Cottonwood property. This is a significant piece of the puzzle, but it is not the entire picture.

Before the Hutto rumor mill gets too far ahead of itself, one thing needs to be clear: no retailer has been confirmed.

Still, Fidelis’ existing portfolio gives us an idea of the kinds of businesses the company has experience working with.

Its shopping centers include brands such as H-E-B, Target, Kroger, Ross, T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Burlington, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, Five Below, PetSmart and Petco.

That does not mean those stores are headed to Hutto. It does suggest that Cottonwood Marketplace is being designed with larger national retailers in mind, not simply another row of small storefronts.

Based on Fidelis’ track record, stores such as T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Ross, Burlington, Ulta Beauty, or Five Below feel like reasonable wish-list candidates.

Those kinds of clothing, beauty, home, and discount retailers appear throughout the developer’s portfolio, and many would fill shopping gaps that currently send Hutto residents toward Round Rock, Pflugerville, or Georgetown.

It is unlikely that all, or even most, of those brands would come together. But the overall category fits both the site plan and Fidelis’ usual approach.

H-E-B may be one of the more interesting possibilities because Fidelis has developed multiple H-E-B-anchored shopping centers.

Hutto already has the H-E-B plus! on Gattis School Road, but that store sits near the western edge of town. A grocery option near CR 132 could serve eastern Hutto and the neighborhoods continuing to develop in that direction.

Would a second H-E-B make sense someday? Possibly.

Is there any public evidence that H-E-B is involved with Cottonwood Marketplace? Not yet.

A Target would probably generate the most immediate buzz.

Many Hutto residents currently use the Target at Stone Hill Town Center in Pflugerville, so a location closer to home would fill a noticeable retail gap. Fidelis also owns shopping centers that include Target, and the Cottonwood plan appears to provide enough room for an anchor-sized store.

But there is an important distinction: owning a shopping center with an existing Target is not the same as recruiting a brand-new Target to Hutto.

For now, Target belongs firmly in the “wouldn’t that be nice?” category.

Trader Joe’s is the fun one to imagine.

Fidelis owns at least one shopping center that includes Trader Joe’s, but there is no public indication that the grocery chain is considering Hutto, or that Fidelis has a broader development relationship with the company.

Call this one the true wild card: popular enough to start a lively Facebook thread, but not supported by anything public at this point.

The buildings along the US 79 frontage may eventually be just as interesting as the two large retail spaces.

Comparable Fidelis developments include fast-casual restaurants, sit-down dining, coffee shops, banks, urgent care clinics, dental offices, salons, and other personal services.

That means Cottonwood Marketplace could become more than a place to make an occasional big shopping trip. The smaller tenants will help determine whether it becomes an everyday stop for dinner, appointments, errands and coffee.

For a property the city has spent years trying to move forward, receiving a site plan is a meaningful step.

A successful retail center could bring more shopping and dining choices closer to home, create jobs and keep more sales-tax revenue inside Hutto. It could also give the eastern side of town a major commercial destination as residential growth continues nearby.

The traffic piece will matter, too. The city, HEDC, and Fidelis say they are coordinating road and safety improvements around the site, although specific projects and timelines have not been released.

The biggest clue will come when Fidelis announces its first anchor tenant. That name will likely shape the rest of the center and tell us what kind of destination Cottonwood Marketplace is becoming.

Until then, H-E-B, Target, T.J.Maxx, and Trader Joe’s are possibilities, not announcements.

But after years of waiting to see what might happen at the Cottonwood property, Hutto finally has a clearer picture of what one corner of it could become.

A quick recap of what Mayor Mike Snyder shared last week.

Polling Place Search | Mayor Mike Snyder said he has asked Williamson County officials to make the vacant county annex available for future Hutto elections, while City Hall’s council chambers remain a last-resort option and no final location has been announced.

Mayor’s Role | Mayor Mike Snyder said the City Council is expected to discuss possible City Charter changes at its next meeting, including whether to keep, expand or reduce the mayor’s current authority, which does not include directing staff or vetoing council decisions.

Sports news and updates from Hippo Nation.

It may still feel like summer, but the Hippos are already gearing up for their first season under head coach Casey Walraven. Hutto opens with a home date against Manor on August 20, followed by the regular-season opener against Harker Heights on August 28 at Hutto Memorial Stadium.

2026 Varsity Football Schedule

August: Aug. 20 vs Manor — 5:00 PM | Aug. 28 vs Harker Heights — 7:30 PM

September: Sept. 4 @ Judson — 7:00 PM | Sept. 11 @ Copperas Cove — 7:00 PM | Sept. 18 vs Temple — 7:30 PM | Sept. 25 @ East View — 7:00 PM

October: Oct. 2 vs Vista Ridge — 7:00 PM | Oct. 9 @ Cedar Park — 7:00 PM | Oct. 16 vs Leander — 7:00 PM | Oct. 22 @ Rouse — 7:00 PM

November: Nov. 6 vs Vandegrift — 7:00 PM

Season Tickets | New season tickets are available through August 28, while single-game ticket sales are scheduled to begin August 24.

A running list of businesses, restaurants and developments headed our way.

Heritage Bloom Fiber Co. | 115 East St., Unit B • Soft opening planned for October 10

Jason’s Deli | Sprouts development at SH 130 and US 79 • Announced; opening date TBD

Buffalo Wild Wings | 2270 Muirfield Bend Drive • Buildout scheduled through September 2026; opening date TBD

7 Brew Coffee | 130 Chris Kelley Blvd. • Construction scheduled through September 2026; opening date TBD

Dollar Tree | 150 Alliance Blvd. • Building work scheduled through October 2026; opening date TBD

Petco | 150 Alliance Blvd. • Building work scheduled through October 2026; opening date TBD

Antioch Pizza | 199 Co-op Blvd. • Planned; opening timeline TBD

El Pollo Rico | 901 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Under construction; opening date TBD

HTeaO | Across from the KFC on Chris Kelley Blvd. • Announced; permitting and construction timeline TBD

Munch Munch Waffles & More | 170 Alliance Blvd., Suite 100 • Buildout planned through January 2027; opening date TBD

Sprouts Farmers Market | SH 130 and US 79 development • Construction planned from September 2026 through February 2028; opening expected in 2028

LongHorn Steakhouse | Sprouts development at SH 130 and US 79 • Lease announced; opening date TBD

Residence Inn by Marriott | 328 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Hotel development approved; construction timeline TBD

Crunch Fitness | 320 Ed Schmidt Blvd. • Construction listed November 2026–December 2027; opening date TBD

Pepper Lunch | Sprouts development at SH 130 and US 79 • Planned; opening timeline TBD

Cottonwood Marketplace | North of US 79 and west of CR 132 • 58-acre shopping, dining and entertainment project planned; tenants and timeline TBD

Mostly accurate forecast until Texas decides otherwise.

The heat builds as the week goes on, with highs near 99° Tuesday and Wednesday before reaching 100–101° through the weekend. Rain chances stay low, so expect mostly sunny skies, warm nights and very little relief after sunset.

☀️ Tuesday–Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with highs near 99° and lows around 76–77°.

🌤️ Thursday: Partly cloudy with a high near 100° and a low around 76°.

🌤️ Friday–Saturday: The hottest stretch of the week, with highs near 101° and lows around 76–78°.

☀️ Sunday: Sunny with a high near 100° and a low around 75°.

👉 TL;DR: Triple digits return.

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