It's Only Natural

Natural grocery store to close Austin location after store-wide sale

Natural Grocers at a different location in Reno, Nevada.

One of Austin's grocery stores has reached the end of its natural life. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. is closing its location at the Shops at Arbor Walk (10515 N. MoPac Expressway) on October 2.

This Natural Grocers is closing because the company could not come to an agreement about renewing its lease. Other ones in Austin and Texas will remain open.

The store will hold closing sales applicable to its entire inventory beginning Tuesday, September 2. Shoppers will get 25 percent off everything, including body care, beauty products, dairy, meat, produce, and supplements, according to a press release. All purchases will be final.

Natural Grocers is based in Colorado, but has been part of life in Austin since 2009. The Arbor Walk location was its second local store out of four in total, having opened in 2010. Natural Grocers is known for its organic products, supplements, and food that caters to special diets and sustainable lifestyles. Shoppers don't have to look for items that avoid artificial flavors, preservatives, or confining animals because the store applies these values and more to its entire inventory.

"From the day we opened our first Austin-area store in 2009, we have felt embraced by a community that values health, individuality and creativity..." said Natural Grocers co-president Kemper Isely in the release. "While we are disappointed to close our Arbor Walk location due to an unresolved lease renewal, this decision allows us to focus on strengthening our presence across the Austin area and beyond."

The release also assures customers that staff have been offered potential transfers to nearby stores or a transition package with severance and continuation of health benefits.

Natural Grocers will remain open in the following locations:

North Lamar Blvd: 4615 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 304
Cedar Park: 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd. G-17
Georgetown: 1301 W. University Ave.
Temple: 3621 S. General Bruce Dr.
Waco: 601 N. Valley Mills Dr.

Although the release attributes the closure to unsuccessful lease negotiations, it does not suggest that the store will reopen elsewhere.

let loose atx

Austin slips on new list of America's most fun cities for 2025

Rowing Dock downtown Austin Congress Avenue Bridge bats kayaking

Rowing Dock Facebook

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A new WalletHub study ranking the most fun American cities in 2025 has revealed Austin needs to learn how to let loose a little more next year.

Austin currently ranks as the 8th most fun city in the U.S., with Houston surpassing it as 6th most fun American city and the No. 1 most fun city in the Lone Star State.

WalletHub's "Most Fun Cities in America (2025)" study compared 182 U.S. cities across 65 metrics – spanning from the number of sports venues, music venues, and shopping centers per capita to the average cost for a restaurant meal – to determine how "fun" each city is. The metrics were split among three main categories: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and cost.

Las Vegas, Nevada, continued its multi-year streak as the No. 1 most fun American city.

Across the three key dimensions, Austin scored the highest for its nightlife and parties rank (No. 6), but its entertainment and recreation rank (No. 22) and costs rank (No. 82) still leave room for improvement. But overall, Austin's level of "fun" is far higher than most U.S. cities.

Austin's current "fun" status is two spots lower than its 2024 rank as the 6th most fun American city. In 2023, Austin ranked No. 7 on the list.

Other Texas cities that appeared in the top 100 include: San Antonio (No. 23), Dallas (No. 26), Fort Worth (No. 60), El Paso (No. 62), Arlington (No. 71), Plano (No. 78), and Corpus Christi (No. 94).

"The decision of where to live could save or cost you a lot of money and fun, so it’s fair to wonder what makes a fun city," the report's author wrote. "In a city with enough variety, you won’t have to compromise with your friends, family, or even yourself about the next fun activity to do alone or together."

WalletHub's top 10 most fun U.S. cities in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Miami, Florida
No. 4 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 5 – New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 6 – Houston, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Austin, Texas
No. 9 – Portland, Oregon
No. 10 – Cincinnati, Ohio

Surprisingly, both Chicago and New York City dropped out of the top 10 most fun American cities. Chicago now ranks as No. 11, and New York City ranks 14th on the list.

wallethub rankings austin