Real Estate Photographer in Liberty Hill, TX

Liberty Hill, a tiny Texas suburb north of Austin, has been attracting major retailers like Costco and Target, and now Bojangles. It will be one of the first Austin-area locations planned by the Southern chicken fast-food chain.

City officials approved the Bojangles site plan during a city council meeting on September 24. It will be located on 1.58 acres of land near State Highway 29 and will be part of the growing Heritage Ridge development, which is slated to have a few drive-thru establishments.

David Higgins, one of the partner owners of the Bojangles group in Austin, said during the meeting that his group has been working on bringing the chain to Austin over the last three years. Bojangles doesn't have any Austin area locations open at this time, but has announced some of its expansion plans. In May, the company shared its goal of launching one of its first locations in the area in Georgetown, a suburb of Austin.

Higgins said the group has also intentionally chosen Liberty Hill as one of the places to open some of its first stores. Bojangles was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the late 70s. There are currently about 820 locations in the southeast and about a dozen in Texas. The Liberty Hill City Council unanimously approved the plan; however, details on when it will open were not immediately shared.

Liberty Hill's booming market

Liberty Hill once had a population of about 4,000 people, according to the 2020 Census. But numbers have increased dramatically after the most recent census recorded a 2025 population of 14,850, growing by 236% from five years ago.

In addition to Bojangles, Costco Wholesale and Target are also heading to the area, MySA reported in May. Project documents registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) showed a combined $75 million project in development to bring a Costco and fuel station to the town. A December 2024 TDLR filing also revealed that a $22 million Target was set to kick off construction this July.

Liberty Hill City Council also approved a new Whataburger location during the September 24 meeting. It will be in the same Heritage Ridge development as Bojangles, according to city documents. The $2.6 million Whataburger is the first location for Liberty Hill. It was expected to begin construction on July 1 and be completed by November 1, according to a TDLR filing.

Popular chain Buffalo Wild Wings will soon be opening a Liberty Hill location, according to recent public records. The restaurant, managed by Rahil Karedia, will be found at 14241 W State Highway 29 in Ste 305.

Public records examined by What Now Austin will cost $450,000 to build out, per estimates. Construction notes delineate an “Inline tenant upfit within existing tenant space for Buffalo Wild Wings GO concept. +/-1,250 sq. ft.” The space is projected to wrap up construction in December.

“The year was 1982. Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery had recently moved to Ohio from Buffalo, New York. All was fine until one day when the two were craving wings. Not just ordinary wings, but authentic Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. With none to be found nearby, Jim and Scott had two choices: road trip to New York or open a wing joint close to home. Lucky for us, they chose the latter. Hence, the beginning of Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck, now Buffalo Wild Wings®, the welcoming neighborhood atmosphere with a front-row seat for every sports fan that offers 21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings,” the official website states.

“We may have added a few tap lines and come up with a couple more kinds of sauce, but the important parts are still the same. It’s still the ultimate place to eat wings, grab a cold one and meet your friends to watch a game.”

“There you have it. If you love wings, beer and sports like we do, then this is the place for you. If you don’t like any of those things… we still might have something you’d like.”

No opening date has been announced.

With class back in session, Texas schools continue to encounter challenges trying to recruit teachers. Here's how Liberty Hill ISD is handling the situation.

LIBERTY HILL, Texas — With the school year now in full swing at Liberty Hill ISD, about 120 new teachers are filling district halls. This year, the district is hosting its new teacher academy, where teachers can get familiar with technology and special programs.

"I would say in 1997 is when I first decided that I wanted to be a teacher," Liberty Hill ISD teacher Michelle Calabresi said.

Calabresi worked as a paraprofessional for five years at Liberty Hill ISD before becoming a teacher. She earned her degree in 2024 and helps students in the special education department who struggle in the classroom.

"Whether it's through using a picture, using sign language, or just using their own voice to say, 'Hey, I'm not OK, and I need a little extra help, or I need some time.' That's what I'm hoping to be able to do to help these kids," Calabresi said.

Interim Superintendent Travis Motal welcomes the new and fresh energy, especially as some Texas teachers quit their jobs.

"Every year, it seems to get a little harder and that there are less and less people going into the teaching profession," Motal said.

While Motal feels positive about the recruiting done in Liberty Hill ISD, August Plock – an 11th grade teacher at Pflugerville High School – said his big concern for Texas schools is hiring certified teachers with experience.

"Most of your teachers are coming into the profession are nontraditional teachers. So, either they're changing careers or they've gone through an alternative certification program," Plock said.

Plock worries about what will happen when a good portion of state teachers – including himself – retire.

"Are we preparing in the next five years to replace one third of the teachers in the state of Texas? And I would say no, we are not prepared for this and it's going to create confusion, more chaos," Plock said.

As Plock hopes to see more teachers enter and stay in the profession, Calabresi agrees that it's still a calling worth pursuing.

"I have a big heart, and I have a heart for it. And I'm all about loving the kids and giving them their voice and helping them be successful no matter what they do," Calabresi said.

The district returned to the classroom on Aug. 12, starting the new school year with a hybrid four-day schedule.