Michelle Ly, a Round Rock City Council member and entrepreneur, is featured in Episode 76 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, hosted by Bryan Eisenberg. The episode, titled "Michelle Ly: Balancing City Council, Business Ownership & Motherhood in Round Rock," was published June 2, 2026, and offers an in-depth look at Ly's multifaceted life as she enters her third term on City Council while expanding her business portfolio.
Ly, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who moved to Round Rock for the semiconductor industry, has become a key figure in the city's growth. She co-owns Hall Roofing & Construction, opened in 2012 with her husband Eric, and operates three downtown Round Rock establishments: The Rock Sports Bar, The Flats, and Alcove Cantina. Additionally, she serves on the boards of the Round Rock Chamber, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, and Rotary, having stepped down from the YMCA board after two three-year terms when she felt less effective.
In the podcast, Ly is candid about the demands of her schedule, running on three to four hours of sleep most nights and time-blocking between meetings for payroll and roof inspections. She discusses the decision to rebuild The Rock Sports Bar in a new commercial kitchen building after losing the original lease, stating, "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."
The episode also explores Round Rock's transformation since Ly's graduation, highlighting fellow alumni entrepreneurs like Brooks Bennett and Salicia Sanchez Adame. Ly recalls a downtown that was once "a ghost town" anchored by a funeral home and Round Rock Donuts, crediting Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Stevens and colleagues for cautiously reshaping zoning. Beyond business, Ly discusses donating a roof after hearing nonprofit leader Philip Golden speak, leading by example on trash duty at her bars, and her hope to one day take her daughter Reagan back to Vietnam to immerse her in the family's culture.
Ly's story underscores the importance of servant leadership in a city that Mayor Craig Morgan recently described as able to be "picky" about new arrivals. Her ability to balance civic duty, business ownership, and motherhood serves as a model for community involvement and economic development. The episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard, produced at Round Rock Studio.
