The Galveston County Daily News

DECEMBER
17

10:40 AM in Buzz

By Laura Elder | Permalink | Comments (5)

Here’s a little McNugget of news for all those readers who have called, e-mailed and even sent snail mail to inquire about the status of two island McDonald’s that have been closed since Hurricane Ike.

The good news is, franchisee Robert Flores does intend to reopen the two formerly busy restaurants. The bad news is, the golden arches may not rise again until summer.

Storm damage was so extensive at the island franchises — 5223 Broadway and 2912 61st St. — that Flores likely will opt to demolish and rebuild, rather than gut the fast-food favorites and repair, said Colleen Hoppens, who works for Flores.

The island restaurants likely won’t reopen until the summer. Flores also owns the McDonald’s at Stewart Beach and the franchise within the Wal-Mart, 6702 Seawall Blvd.

Altogether, Flores owns eight McDonald’s Restaurants, including the eatery at 2300 Interstate 45 in La Marque. Look for Flores soon to open another eatery at I-45 and FM 646 in League City.

Comments

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Laura-whether you realize it or not, your column is the true first hand account of Galveston's "recovery". You should put it into a book for all "disaster recovery" committees, panals, commissions to read and study. I'm sure you have interviewed all the business owners who have reopened. Compile their stories. Tell the world how motivated Galvestonian business women and men just quietly "get 'er done" without a lot of political hand wringing and agenda pushing. I we want a "vision" for this island's future, we already have it. Just tell us the stories of the people who are already shaping and building it. You talk to them daily.
The other group which is just as important are the homeowning "midnight sheetrockers".....but that is a "get 'er done" story for a different book.
Carpe Diem

— By robert strevell on Dec. 18 at 7:58 AM

Excellent idea. I second this and would be far more likely to lay out $29.95 for these stories as opposed to the devastating, depressing images currently being circulated.

Great idea, Robert.

— By Lynne McBride on Dec. 18 at 9:16 AM

Any chance that they will rebuild with a look that adds to the Broadway scene rather than detracting? I know that there is a corporate look, but so many of the businesses on Broadway have spiffed up (those two old Victorians with new paint schemes, including the one with the swiss look, led the way!)...it would be great to use McDonald's to help make Broadway the grand vista and entrance way that it once was.

— By Victorian Sandy on Dec. 18 at 8:13 PM

Actually MickeyD's does corparately allow some deviation from the standard corporate look. The location on Post Oak Blvd in Houston's Uptown district has the signage at ground level and the location on the "left bank" in Paris, Fr. is very much in keeping with the neighborhood. Carpe Diem

— By robert strevell on Dec. 19 at 7:55 AM

Some of our local builders/architects should take a lesson from the great city of Charleston South Carolina. There, they like to build structures with facades that are of the olden days, but inside the buildings are modern with all the comforts we have today. Galveston would benefit greatly from a plan such as that, it'd recreate the beauty of old Galveston while still allowing for newness in the town.

— By Charles on Dec. 30 at 12:50 PM

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About Laura Elder

Laura Elder has covered business for The Daily News for since 2001 and writes Biz Buzz, a twice-weekly column.

She grew up in Houston and graduated from the University of Houston with a communications degree in 1992. She worked for six years at the Houston Business Journal covering the retail and restaurant industries.

She lives in Galveston with her husband Michael Smith, also a journalist.

Read Laura's Biz Buzz column each Tuesday and Thursday.

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