By Moses Leos III

A recent posting on the Hays Free Press Facebook page asked Kyle and Buda residents their opinion about healthy food options in the area. The post accompanied a map of eateries, asking if the two towns were a healthy food desert.

Of the 92 businesses on the map, 24 are dedicated fast food establishments with a drive through. Roughly half of those 24 are located along the IH-35 corridor. 

A firestorm of comments resulted, with more than 100 posts on the topic. Many lambasted local economic development leaders for the perceived lack of eating establishments that aren’t fast food.

Amanda Simon Rickman wrote, “Everytime [sic] something is being built, it’s a taco bell [sic] or some other unhealthy chain.”

She added, “I would love to see a Juiceland, Thundercloud Subs, Chipotle or Kerbey Lane.” 

“Every time we see a new restaurant opening in the Buda/Kyle area, it is a fast food restaurant that we will never visit,” Barbara DeaKyne wrote. “So we drive to San Marcos, New Braunfels, or Austin for healthier choices.

Kyle Mayor Todd Webster took to the web to share his thoughts with area residents about Kyle’s food options, saying businesses are not being dissuaded from locating here. 

“I can assure all of you, the City is not turning away healthier options. I personally don’t fully understand how it is that our community can support as many fried chicken and other fast food restaurants as it does,” he wrote. 

He added that a healthy option would be welcome, and that the city’s growth determines which restaurants come to town, so long as they can make a profit.

“Bottom line – if a health food restaurant thinks it can make a profit in Kyle they will be welcomed here with open arms. And, I will eat there if the food tastes good,” he wrote. 

He agreed with another poster about one restaurant in particular.

“Chipotle would be great,” he said.

The owner of Sustainacycle in Kyle, Gordon Wybo, heard the message. He believes Kyle’s next step should be to actively recruit healthier eating options, which he said would keep money local.

“That’s the bottom line. They need to recruit, not just say, ‘no one has come to us because they haven’t done the demographic research,” Wybo said.

Wybo said the city “has to become proactive” in recruiting businesses that offer healthier alternatives. 

In addition, he said the city, specifically Economic Development, should offer incentives for small “mom and pop” businesses that could offer healthier eating options.

Also hearing the message was the city of Kyle and Kyle Economic Development. City of Kyle spokesperson Jerry Hendrix said in an emailed response that the city understands citizens “want more variety and better options for dining out.” 

It’s led to a discussion area on healthy restaurants in the city’s recently launched website, StyleKYLE.org. The city hopes to use the website to engage citizens in sharing issues and ideas. 

He also maintained the city is actively recruiting more sit-down restaurants; he also wrote most of the city’s restaurants “offer healthy options on their menu.”

“That being said, how they may fall into any individual’s definition of ‘healthy’ is a function of that individual’s preferences,” Hendrix wrote. 

While he couldn’t specify any prospects the city has talked with, Hendrix said Kyle has been “actively” promoted to the “type of developers that have access to the types of restaurants mentioned” in comments. 

In addition, Hendrix wrote that available land for retail development has been incentivized by the developer. He wrote it would be redundant to incentivize an individual store or restaurant. 

“However, it is possible we could consider an incentive package to bring in a ‘destination’ type of retail or restaurant,” he wrote. 

Kyle Chamber of Commerce CEO Julie Snyder said “good things” can come from locals wanting healthier eating options. She said it helps Economic Development with recruiting. She also said it could help drive more businesses to set up shop in Kyle. 

She ultimately believes “any restaurant that comes to Kyle” will do well based on the city’s growth. She said it would be helpful if Kyle Economic Development had the capability to leverage businesses with incentives. 

“I do believe that incentives make a difference,” Snyder said.

Buda Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Ann Miller maintained recruitment of establishments with healthy options, and not fast food. 

And while the EDC was not opposed to recruiting healthy establishments, vegan type establishment are currently not on the list. 

Miller said she was not aware of a vegan restaurant chain. 

“As far as recruiting national retailers, it’s difficult to recruit a chain when one does not exist,” she said.

Native Food Café, a California based chain, recently announced its plans to go national, according to an article in the Eat Drink Better.com newsletter.

Buda Area Chamber of Commerce Managing Director J.R. Gonzales wasn’t surprised by the clamoring for healthier eating options. He said Buda’s demographic of upward, mobile young professionals and high average income were the primary reasons. 

But for Gonzales, sustainability is the key factor. He believes a Chipotle or Jason’s Deli can thrive along the IH-35 corridor, but could be better suited near subdivisions along FM 1626 or RM 967.  

The open market ultimately determines a successful or failing restaurant. 

“There are so many factors they (businesses) have to take into consideration,” Gonzales said. “The last thing you want to see is one of these healthy (restaurants) come in, but not support itself in the community.”