Michelle Ly Discusses Balancing City Council, Business Ownership, and Motherhood in Round Rock

Michelle Ly, a three-term Round Rock City Council member and entrepreneur, opened up about her demanding schedule and commitment to the city's growth in Episode 76 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, hosted by Bryan Eisenberg. Released on June 2, 2026, the episode explores Ly's roles as owner of Hall Roofing & Construction, operator of downtown venues The Rock Sports Bar, The Flats, and Alcove Cantina, and her service on multiple nonprofit boards.

Ly, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who moved to Round Rock for the semiconductor industry, described a downtown that was once "a ghost town" anchored by a funeral home and Round Rock Donuts. She credits Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Stevens and colleagues for cautiously reshaping zoning to attract new businesses. The episode highlights fellow alumni entrepreneurs like Brooks Bennett and Salicia Sanchez Adame, illustrating the city's transformation since Ly's graduation.

On managing her portfolio, Ly told Eisenberg she operates on roughly three to four hours of sleep most nights, time-blocking between meetings for payroll, phone calls, and roof inspections. When asked about rebuilding The Rock Sports Bar in a new commercial kitchen building after losing the original lease, Ly recalled: "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. We are in it for the long haul. We want to see downtown thriving."

Ly's civic involvement extends to boards including the Round Rock Chamber, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, and Rotary. She stepped off the YMCA board after two three-year terms when she felt less effective. Ly also discussed 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 back to Vietnam to immerse her in the family's culture.

The episode, produced at Round Rock Studio and hosted by bestselling author Bryan Eisenberg, focuses on neighborly conversations rather than politics. It profiles the entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and civic leaders shaping Round Rock, Texas. Episode 76 with Michelle Ly is available now wherever podcasts are heard.