In this week’s edition, read more about a $500,000 boost for Rail District businesses in Frisco. Plus, find out more details about the community farm agreement McKinney officials are poised to consider. Finally, learn about Northwest ISD’s upcoming tax-rate election.

The overview: Frisco is considering $500,000 in support for Rail District businesses amid construction in downtown.

Mayor Jeff Cheney said at a Sept. 16 meeting that City Manager Wes Pierson would be going to the Community Development Corporation to ask for $500,000 to support these businesses.

This comes as some business owners and residents express concerns about how construction downtown is impacting establishments.

“In the coming weeks, city staff will meet with business owners in the Rail District to talk about their ideas to use and leverage $500,000 to bring visitors downtown,” an emailed statement from the city reads. “Staff intends to present a plan to city council in early October.”

The details: The construction downtown is part of a redevelopment project in the area that is set to cost more than $80 million.

The project includes:

“Substantial completion” of Main Street construction is expected by the end of 2025, according to the city statement. Landscaping and sidewalks will be finished in January of next year.

The late-night ice cream place, Scoop N Scootery, is opening a new location at the Alliance Shopping Center in 2026.

Chief marketing officer Isabella Sidoruk said Scoop N Scootery offers more than 75 signature ice cream sundaes until midnight. Sidoruk said the store is known for their cores and tunnels, where sundaes are hollowed out for a filling.

Some sundaes offered at other locations include the Strawberry Blonde, made with strawberry cheesecake ice cream with a red velvet core topped with strawberries, graham crackers and cream cheese frosting, or the Mint City, which has a mint chocolate chip ice cream with a chocolate frosted cake core and is topped with chocolate fudge, chocolate chips and homemade Oreo frosting. Read now.

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China Pearl Restaurant recently opened in Plano, a company representative said.

The Chinese cuisine menu features beef, chicken and vegetable dishes. A wide variety of lobster dishes are available, including: Baked lobster with cheese; Lobster with ginger and scallion over e-fu noodles; Typhoon shelter lobster; and Pan-fried lobster. 

Noodle dishes include seafood stir-fry flat rice noodles, Singapore-style fried vermicelli, pan fried hand made thick rice noodles, pan-fried crispy noodles with beef and more. Read now.

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A new exotic reptile store called The Serpentarium is now open along South Central Expressway in McKinney, Manager Darius Davis said.

The store sells supplies and services for exotic reptiles, Davis said. The Serpentarium also sells reptiles such as snakes, lizards and tortoises. The store is staffed with reptile specialists that ensure any animal sold is sent home with the proper products to ensure they live a full life, Davis said.

“We’re here to really show the community that reptiles are awesome; amphibians are awesome,” he said. Read now.

🧑‍🌾 McKinney council to consider community farm agreement for Gray Branch Parkland (Full story)

📈 Northwest ISD voters to consider $12M boost from November tax rate election (Full story)

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