August saw a boom of business openings and closings, along with new restaurants and upcoming announcements. From a place for hard-to-find treats to the closures of two decades-old Mexican restaurants in Lubbock, here's what happened in August 2026.
In 2023, August saw 30 business announcements reported by the A-J. August 2024 saw at least 15, while the following year had at least 18. This year reported the most announcements so far this year with at least 29, just six more than July 2026.
New restaurants and businesses of August 2026
Backwood's Barbie'Q
What: Recently moving from Port Lavaca, this food truck serves up hearty barbecue, including a ribs plate honoring a late family member.
When: Aug. 28.
Where: Mobile food truck. Follow on Facebook for locations and schedule.
Blessed Beauty.
What: This is a new beauty salon.
When:
Aug. 8.
Where: 3206 34th St.
Bulba's Games
What: This is a new shop for card gamers, including a collection of Pokémon cards.
When: Aug. 7.
Where: 5137 69th St.
Charley B's
What: This music venue returned to the Hub City.
When: Aug. 7.
Where: 5004 Frankford Ave.
Classy & Co. Boutique
What: This new boutique is the second location for a Texas Tech alumna.
When: Aug. 15.
Where: 8201 Quaker Avenue, Suite #139.
Coach Outlet
What: The brand known for handbags opened an outlet location in the West End shopping center.
When: Aug. 21.
Where: 2910 W. Loop 289 Access Road.
Fatherhood Boxing Academy
What: This is a new boxing academy, offering classes and sparring.
When: Aug. 3.
Where: 2305 109th St., Unit 5.
Glo Tanning
What: Glo Tanning offers: Luxury skincare services, red light therapy, full-body wellness pods, automated wellness experiences, and tanning, both UV and spray.
When: Aug. 15.
Where: 411 University Ave., #120.
Goodwill Pathways to Success Retail Store and Career Resource Center
What: The new location combines a retail store and a career center, which offers workforce development, training, digital skills instruction, financial literacy education, paid work experience opportunities and employment support to the area residents. The Career Resource Center has a training room, career coaching services, community spaces for workforce programming and computer workstations.
When: Aug. 27.
Where:510 North Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Layne's Chicken
What: This Texas-based chicken franchise opened its third location in as many months, this time adding to Slide Road.
When: Aug. 25.
Where: 5204 Slide Road.
Llano Estacado Winery tasting room
What: After new ownership and a shakeup at Cactus Alley, Llano Estacado opened its new tasting room.
When: Aug. 6.
Where: 2610 Salem Ave., formerly Mano Negra Brewing Co.
Mellow Market
What: This new international snacks and drinks shop, with a chill space to play classic video games, is on the way to becoming iconic on social media for their fun taste-testing videos. The owners, Ben Jordan and Hayden Meek, started to come up with the idea on Thanksgiving of last year and made it a reality in August.
When: Grand opening was on Aug. 29.
Where: 3833 50th St.
Taqueria Mi Pueblito
What: A new Mexican restaurant opened.
When: Aug. 12.
Where: 3311 82nd St.
The Feathered Fox by Root & Co.
What: This is a new boutique shop.
When: Aug. 1.
Where: 4321 Woodrow Road, Suite 8.
Ulta Beauty
What: Ulta added another location to Lubbock.
When: Mid-August.
Where: 11915 Quaker Ave. #300.
Yate's Flooring Center
What: This flooring center officially moved into their new location in South Lubbock.
When: Aug. 24.
Where: 12109 Quaker Ave.
What closed in Lubbock in August 2026?
Curated Home
What: This home decor business closed after 10 months.
When: Aug. 8.
Where: 2614 130th St. Suite #504.
Digital Nomad HQ
What: This remote-worker hangout shut down after 8 months of business.
When: Aug. 31.
Where: 4620 50th St., Suite 9.
Lillie's Place
What: This Mexican restaurant closed with no prior notice after being open in Lubbock for more than 20 years.
When: Around Aug. 21.
Where: 6313 19th St.
Nora's Mexican Restaurant
What: After 25 years of serving Lubbock, the owners decided to close due to personal health reasons.
When: Aug. 1.
Where: 417 Frankford Ave.
Which rumored businesses announced or denied Lubbock-area locations in August 2026?
Ambrose
Announced: This Indianapolis-based developer for auto parts distribution will build a new facility at the Lubbock Business Park. This is expected to bring 30 new jobs and $14 million in investments.
Bargain Bins LBK
Announced: This bargain shop announced it is moving from 3225 50th St., Unit 4, to 5402 4th St. The new location will have a grand opening on Sept. 4.
CEBlades
Announced: This locally-owned business will offer knives, swords, and collectibles at 5217 82nd St, Suite 117. A grand opening is set for Saturday, Sept. 5.
Lowe's
Announced: A second Lowe's is coming to Lubbock at 12907 Quaker Ave. Opening timeline not confirmed.
Mr Gatti's Pizza
Announced: Back in 2021, Mr Gatti's Pizza closed in Lubbock amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2026, the company announced it wants to return, and is seeking a franchisee.
Redemption Aero
Announced: This company will build a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul operation. It is going through the FAA Part 145 certification process. Once completed, the facility will offer inspection, maintenance, repair and return-to-service for commercial aircraft parts and components.
Small Sliders
Announced: This cheeseburger slider concept that began in Louisiana in 2019 has announced West Texas expansions since 2023. While that deal, and the 2025 announcement, fell through, the company hopes this one will stick. Andrew Bailey and Justin Chick, first-time restaurant franchisees with backgrounds in IT and security, who hope to open at least three locations across Amarillo and Lubbock.
Tru Boutique Lubbock
Announced: Another boutique shop announced a Lubbock location. This one is expected to open at 12706 Indiana Ave. An opening timeline has not been announced.
West Texas Veterinary Specialists
Announced: This veterinary business will open an outpatient imaging and specialty center in Lubbock in 2027. It will remain as a referral-only specialty center.
Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: BBQ, boutiques, Lowe's among 29 Lubbock business shifts in August
