ENCORE: What Businesses Opened in Waukee in 2012?

Waukee is home to more than an ever-expanding array of schools. It's also gained new businesses in the past year -- everything from Hy-Vee Gas and Thai Basil to Jethro's BBQ N Jambalya and Social Canvas art studio.

Here's a quick recap of some of the new fixtures in the Waukee business community. If we've overlooked your favorite, please tell us about it in the comments section below.

Jethro’s BBQ n’ Jambalaya

The full service restaurant offers barbecue, Cajun cuisine and much more.

Each Jethro’s location in the Des Moines metro has barbecue and a special theme. The barbecue and Jambalaya is unique to Waukee’s Jethro’s -- which is technically in West Des Moines but billed as the business' Waukee location.

On Fridays and Saturdays the blackened prime rib is the special. On Mondays, the prime rib slider is the special. On Tuesdays, wings are buy one-get one and on Thursdays the boneless wings are half price.

Snyder Photography

Waukee photographer Terry Snyder opened studio space on Nov. 1 at 475 Alice's Road in a strip mall near the corner of Alice's Road and Southeast Westbrook Drive in Waukee.

Snyder says she's taking appointments now for everything from weddings to seniors to family pictures and beyond. Still, her favorite subject to shoot is the one that got her started taking pictures in the first place.

"I really love taking pictures of kids," she said. "They're just so funny with their expressions and such."

New Beginnings Childcare Center & Preschool

The 7,700-square-foot facility officially opened Oct. 8 in its new location at 100 Fourth St. in Waukee. It has six rooms accommodating children from 6 weeks to kindergarten age. The center also has a kitchen and a large, indoor play area.

The childcare center was once at the center of a contentious battle with one of Waukee's largest churches. Formerly known as the Happy Time Daycare, New Beginnings changed its name and moved into temporary space in the old Waukee Elementary in September 2011.

The Social Canvas

The paint-it-yourself art studio, to Waukee opened in October at 720 Alice's Road. 

Here's how it works: first, you choose a class. The Social Canvas is open Thursday through Sunday and each class time features a different painting. During the two-hour class session, an instructor teaches you step-by-step how to duplicate the day's featured work of art. 

You can take the class alone or bring a friend (or maybe a group of friends, your family, co-workers, etc.) and everything - the 16 x 20 canvas, paint, smock and instruction - is provided for you. And, if you're so inclined, there's beer and wine to help you get past your inhibitions and find your inner Van Gogh.

Hy-Vee Gas and Caribou Coffee

The long-awaited Hy-Vee Gas station and convenience store at 1025 E. Hickman Road held a grand opening in mid-October. 

Tthere are 16 pay-at-the-pump gas bays that are open 24 hours a day, even when the store is not.

Inside, Caribou Coffee is connected to the convenience store by a hallway. The coffee shop is Waukee's only drive-thru coffee shop and includes free Wi-Fi for those who want to take it easy over a cup of joe inside.

Whiskey Barrel Saloon

The Whiskey Barrel Saloon, a combination bar and grill at 360 Sixth St., opened in late September in the former Mama Chop's Triangle Cafe.

The Stagecoach Grill will serve a full menu for breakfast lunch and dinner - everything from traditional breakfast fare to appetizers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, even some signature "south of the border" menu items from owner Andrew Hanshaw's former El Azteca restaurant in downtown Des Moines.

Patrons can relax in comfortable Old West-themed space. What's being served is canned beer, a few different types of wine and a whole slew of liquor.

Pizza Hut

The chain began serving pizza pies and more on Sept. 4, Pizza Hut from a location at 274 W. Hickman Road in the Liberty Park Mall next to Plaza Cleaners.

The new location has both delivery and carryout and features all your favorite menu items and a few new ones, too. The Waukee site is a WingStreet store so it has a bigger wings menu and other options like cheese sticks, apple pies, and potato wedges.

Achieving Inner Peace and Heeling Hands Massage

Waukee now has Achieving Inner Peace and Heeling Hands Massage at 100 Hickman Road at its disposal for relaxation and relief from the tensions of everyday life.

Karmen Buchhop and Ashley Roen teamed up to offer their services in early August. The Achieving Inner Peace side of the business focuses primarily on deep tissue work.

Roen, the Heeling Hands therapist, does traditional massage but also offers reflexology, a form of therapy targeting areas of the feet (thus the "Heeling" in the business name) for the purpose of releasing toxins from the body.

Growing Again Children's Resale Store

Nalan McConkey, a former stay-at-home mom, looked at Waukee, a city she's only lived in for a year and said, "You know what we could use? A children's resale store." And so she opened one in July.

The store accepts newborn to teen clothing as well as maternity wear, baby items, equipment and toys. All you need to do is gather up your items and bring them to the store for appraisal. Once she's finished, she will give you an offer which you can either accept or refuse.

Thai Basil

Waukee added another great option for dining out in July when Thai Basil opened at 286 Highway 6 (Hickman Road) in the old Chopsticks location in the Liberty Park Mall. 

Thai Basil serves Asian-style cuisine - everything from Pad Thai to Mongolian Beef to Thai curry. The menu, to put it mildly, has a little something for everyone.