Michelle Ly, a Round Rock City Council member entering her third term, continues to expand her business portfolio while balancing civic duties and motherhood, as revealed in Episode 76 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast. Hosted by Bryan Eisenberg and published June 2, 2026, the episode offers a candid look at Ly's relentless schedule and her commitment to the city's growth.
Ly, who moved to Round Rock as a child when her Vietnamese refugee parents came for the semiconductor industry, now operates Hall Roofing & Construction with her husband Eric, owns downtown establishments The Rock Sports Bar, The Flats, and Alcove Cantina, and serves on multiple boards including the Round Rock Chamber, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, and Rotary. She recently stepped off the YMCA board after two three-year terms when she felt her effectiveness waned.
Managing such a portfolio requires sacrifice. Ly told Eisenberg she averages only three to four hours of sleep most nights and time-blocks the slivers between meetings for payroll, phone calls, and roof inspections. When asked why she keeps showing up, Ly emphasized the importance of seeing downtown Round Rock thrive. After losing the original lease for The Rock Sports Bar, she and her husband decided to rebuild rather than close, with Ly recalling, "My husband was like, this is not the way we end the Rock Sports Bar. Our landlord doesn't get to tell us the end of our story."
The episode explores Round Rock's transformation since Ly's graduation, when downtown was "a ghost town" anchored by a funeral home and Round Rock Donuts. Ly credits Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Stevens and colleagues for cautiously reshaping zoning to foster growth. She also discusses donating a roof after hearing nonprofit leader Philip Golden speak, leading by example on trash duty at her bars, and her hope to take her daughter Reagan to Vietnam to immerse her in the family's culture.
Ly's story reflects the broader narrative of Round Rock, a city the mayor recently described as able to be "picky" about new arrivals. Her journey from the daughter of immigrants to a key figure in the city's business and civic landscape underscores the importance of servant leadership and community investment. As Eisenberg notes, the podcast profiles the entrepreneurs and civic leaders shaping Round Rock, spotlighting the people behind the businesses listeners pass every day. Episode 76 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
