The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce recently stated its goal of realizing a “Billion Dollar Decade” for downtown aiming to attract more than one billion dollars worth of new private investment in the area over the next ten years and the area is well on its way. In the past 2 years more than $200 million of new private investment has been announced in downtown Waco. Restaurants, bars, boutiques, beautiful new office space and unprecedented residential development including Austin Avenue Flats, Heritage Quarters and the renovation of the old Waco High building is transforming downtown into an important and sustainable place that attracts residents, visitors and investors to the area because it is where they want to be. In short, downtown Waco is becoming a destination again.

The renaissance is in full swing. A group effort is underway, transforming the heart of a thriving downtown and riverfront. It’s a change led by downtown merchants who are providing exciting opportunities for individuals, friends and families to live, work and play in the heart of our city. Business owners and operators in the downtown area are working together today like never before through the Downtown Merchants Association in order to promote downtown interests, increase business opportunities and facilitate communication between businesses while maintaining the downtown area as a thriving place to do business. As a result, today there is energy and excitement spilling into the streets as downtown businesses are busier than ever

Several projects are currently in various stages of completion and are bringing people into the downtown area. Waco Town Square between Third and Fourth Streets and Franklin and Austin Avenues is the city’s newest retail and residential complex. With the Greater Waco Chamber building as the cornerstone, people are presently moving in to the Austin Avenue Flats, and Square Bar and Kitchen is now open for business. The square is now one of the more bustling spots in Waco.

Austin Avenue’s new restaurants, bars and cultural venues make a great scene for downtown nightlife. Showcasing live music 4 nights a week at Austin’s on The Avenue, it is a great place to meet your friends downtown, as is the 5^th Street Ice House. The city’s best fine dining experience is without a doubt at the Green Room Grille. Dinner at the Green Room and a drink at Austin’s can both be accomplished either before or after taking in a musical or movie at the historic Hippodrome theater. Later this year it will also be possible to take in a gallery show and what promises to be one of Waco’s most exciting fine art galleries, the Croft Gallery.

If night life is not your cup of tea there are plenty of great things to do in downtown before the sun goes down. Flowers at Bloomingals, antiques and home decor at Bloom and Be Swanky or trips to Spice, The Shops at River Square and Honey’s Home + Style should satisfy your shopping itch. If you are hungry after shopping all day, there are plenty of great places to eat lunch downtown. The best sandwiches in town can be had downtown. Downtown pioneers Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shop and the Olive Branch, which has recently relocated to Waco Town Square, have both been around for years and new options are consistently springing up like Se Cocina which is offering up a white tablecloth twist on traditional Mexican Cuisine. Café Cappuccino also offers up local favorites for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.

Whatever you’re looking for be it living, working, playing; or all of the above it can all be done downtown. So, join us, bring your friends and meet us downtown!