GALVESTON — Landry’s employees and their families put Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier workers to the test Sunday as they prepare for the official opening.
The self-serve, frozen yogurt race in the county continues to heat up, this time with Tutti Frutti planning a 1,200-square-foot shop in Victory Lakes Town Center at Interestate 45 and FM 646.
Thanks to this blog report, I won’t be able to get the Tutti Frutti song out of my head today. And I’m also hungry.
But I digress.
With more than 50 flavors and 580 stores worldwide, Tutti Frutti is a popular chain. I’m not certain about an opening date, but I am certain that frozen yogurt franchises are bent on infiltrating the county and Clear Lake area.
Remember the 1980s when our fro-yo options were pretty much limited to TCBY and I Can't Believe It's Yogurt? I thought the cold wars had melted away by the 1990s and frozen yogurt had gone the way of parachute pants and the Rubik’s Cube.
Tutti Frutti Yogurt's toppings bar
Yogurt has fewer calories than ice cream and is packed with live cultures that are supposed to be good for us, which could be part of the appeal. Or maybe the toppings got more interesting.
Perhaps the new fascination with frozen yogurt can be partially attributed to the hundreds of new flavors, ranging from “Snickerdoodle” to “Pumpkin Pie.”
Any theories out there why fro-yo is back and bigger than ever?
Did anyone else notice that “Opening Soon” sign heralding the imminent arrival of BeQuay Sandwiches at 3728 Broadway in Galveston? BeQuay is planned for the building formerly occupied by Pho 20, which moved earlier this year to a larger space at 2101 Broadway.
BeQuay Sandwiches at 3728 Broadway
Owners weren’t available for comment, but it appears BeQuay will serve up the popular Vietnamese-French sandwich known as “banh mi.”
The sandwiches typically are made of baguettes filled with charbroiled meats (or tofu for vegetarians), and topped with such things as sliced pickled carrots, jalapenos and fresh cilantro.
I only know of one other such eatery in our readership area — Nobi Asian Grill in Friendswood. (If there are others, let me know.)
Are there any fans of banh mi? Do you plan to give BeQuay a try?
I’ve been writing about rumors of The Cheesecake Factory opening an area eatery since 2004. But this time, it looks real. An astute reader sent this link by b4-u-Eat, an online restaurant guide that shows the casual eatery plans a Baybrook Mall site.
Cheesecake Factory photo
I also found this job posting by The Cheesecake Factory seeking managers at the proposed Baybrook Mall eatery.
Calabasas Hills-based The Cheesecake Factory is known for cheesecake flavors such as White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle and Key Lime, along with big portions of American fare (they also now have small plates for the calorie conscious), specialty drinks (spiked milkshakes anyone?) and more.
Cheesecake Factory photo
So, is this good news? What’s your favorite cheesecake flavor or dish at the restaurant?
So, I'm happy to report that a very helpful reader has provided a site plan floating around that appears to be real. I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the site plan. At the same time, I’m not swearing on a Bible that this is the tenant lineup. It could be an elaborate ruse to throw us off the trail.
A disclaimer on the site plan states: "We are negotiating with the stores listed and certain stores are reviewing leases. We do not guarantee that the listed stores will be open."
If negotiations pan out, there are interesting tenant trends to observe. Shoes. Lots of shoes. And lots of children's clothing stores.
And several stores are returning to the market, including women’s clothing store Chico’s, which left downtown Galveston after Hurricane Ike. Bass Shoes also is returning, as is Van Heusen. Both also left the island’s downtown after the September 2008 storm. Before that, they had departed La Marque's outlet mall, now called Gulfway Plaza.
The list I provide below the site map isn’t complete. Some spaces are reserved. So there'll be more. Also, I had trouble reading some of the food court area tenants. Let me know what you think of the tenants and which ones you are happiest about. I'm looking forward to hearing from shoppers.
Island-based Galveston Restaurant Group continues to serve up big news and fresh concepts, this week announcing plans to open Nonno Tony’s World Kitchen at Pier 21 on the island.
Look for a late summer opening of Nonno Tony’s World Kitchen, which will offer Italian, Asian fusion, Creole and traditional American fare all served from an open-style kitchen.
Nonno Tony’s will open just south of Olympia Grill at Pier 21. Photo by Stacy Canion
The eatery with harbor views will feature a steam kettle bar and brick ovens, company principals report. The eatery also will include “Paulie’s Bar,” offering an extensive beer and wine list.
“Nonno,” is Italian for grandfather” and pays homage to Galveston Restaurant Group’s patriarch, Tony Smecca, who is father to two of the company partners — Johnny and Joey Smecca. Paulie’s Bar is named in honor of the father of Danny Hart, a third partner in the company.
Family plays a big part in the company, the partners say. Nonno Tony’s world flavors will utilize techniques honed at other Galveston Restaurant Group properties.
“We wanted to celebrate some of the most iconic dishes from our restaurants,” Joey Smecca said.
“We would like to see Pier 21 grow as a family friendly destination where visitors can enjoy a great meal, visit attractions and even stay the night," said Bill Ross, senior vice president and general manager of Mitchell Historic Properties, which also operates Harbor House Hotel at the Pier.
Galveston Restaurant Group will open Nonno Tony’s World Kitchen in an existing building, just south of Olympia Grill at Pier 21.
That building under way at 7002 Harborside Drive in Galveston is for BoneVoyage Pet Resort. Theresa Brady, of Brady Interests, and Casey Brechtel and wife Mary Malott-Brechtel are behind the development.
BoneVoyage (clever name, isn’t it?) markets itself as a comfortable and pleasant place for pets to stay while their owners are on vacation. The concept is about offering more than just a boarding kennel.
The Brechtels say they wanted to offer a place that was safe and spacious and operated by a competent staff and a veterinarian. Casey Brechtel is a veterinarian. Mary Malott is a chiropractor.
The resort also will offer grooming, premium foods and pet supplies, along with doggie daycare services for people working in and around the island.
While that area of Harborside is mostly known for industrial developments, BoneVoyage is meant to be a convenient place for cruise-ship passengers to drop off and pick up their pets after a voyage. It's also in the path of University of Texas Medical Branch commuters.
I drove by today and crews were making fast work of the building. Look for a late June early July opening. (Still trying to picture where it is? Here's a map.)
The Brechtels have been quite busy building lately. The couple earlier this year built and moved into a new two-story professional office at 6825 Stewart Road, which is home to their practices.
An interesting dispute over tipping is lighting up cyberspace.
KPRC Local 2 is reporting that Jasmine Marks and family were dining at La Fisherman in Houston and weren’t happy with the service. The group accused the waitstaff of being rude, not refilling drinks and not delivering the entire order.
When presented with the bill, the group noticed the restaurant had added an automatic 17 percent gratuity because the party had more than five people in it, according to the report. When Marks asked that the gratuity be removed to reflect their unhappiness with the service, the restaurant declined.
Marks, according to report, asked whether the group could give a tip it thought the waiter had earned. But the manager, according to the report, said that was against policy.
Here’s an excerpt from the report:
“The gratuity policy was clearly marked on the restaurant's menus. But Marks said when they questioned it the workers wouldn't let her or her friends leave; she claims they locked the door and called the police.
"She was like, 'You have an unsettled bill and ya'll can't leave until you pay it,'" Marks said. "We paid our bill for what we ate, we paid the bill."
Marks said it was only the 17 percent tip they were questioning.
"She said, 'That's fine. If you don't want to pay the gratuity we have HPD outside,'" Marks said. "I asked the police officer twice, maybe three times, is it against the law if we don't pay the gratuity and he never gave me a straight answer."
Marks’ group paid the bill to end the dispute, according to the report. Here's the full report.
I have so many questions. Do you think the manager should have handled the situation this way? What do you think of automatic gratuities? And is it against the law not to pay a tip?
On a side note, I was wondering whether waiters mind being tipped via credit/debit card. I’m usually a generous tipper. And I think I tip more using my debit card. When paying anything with actual cash, people spend less. At least I do, anyway. Do waiters get the money immediately when I tip on credit or debit?
I'd love to hear from some restaurant workers on that.
While reporting Biz Buzz today, I noticed an interesting culinary trend. Along with a lot of sandwich shops stacking up in the county and Clear Lake area, casual chains known especially for burritos are attempting to wrap up the market.
After opening a Friendswood restaurant earlier this year, Bullritos is planning a site in League City Towne Center on the southwest corner of FM 646 and Interstate 45.
Qdoba Burrito
Meanwhile, Qdoba Mexican Grill plans to soon open a 2,667-square-foot eatery at Bay Area Boulevard and El Camino Real in the shopping center anchored by H-E-B. Qdoba is big on burritos and other cuisine it bills as “Fresh Mex.”
San Diego-based Jack in the Box owns Qdoba, which boasts 600 restaurants.
Qdoba won’t be too far away from Chipotle Mexican Grill, 304 W. Bay Area Blvd. in Webster.
Denver-based Chipotle has 1,225 restaurants with a menu focus on burritos, burrito bowls, (a tortillaless burrito), salads and more. In 2006, McDonald’s Corp. sold its stake in Chipotle for $1.5 billion after investing $360 million over a seven-year period, according to reports.
So who has the better burrito? I've been meaning to try Bullritos, but haven't yet. And I have never eaten at Chipotle or a Qdoba, so I can't offer an opinion.
I have nothing against fast-food chains, but Texas has no shortage of good, affordable eateries offering up Tex-Mex, not to mention authentic Mexican cuisine. But that isn't stopping the fast growth of these chains in the Houston area and around here. Someone likes them. And I'd love to know why.
Anyone tried all three — Bullritos, Chipotle and Qdoba — and can give some comparisons or reviews?
Dickinson has long had some prime, raw real estate near Interstate 45. But home builders, retailers and shopping center developers have always flocked to League City. Now, it appears Dickinson is getting aggressive to court developers as League City ponders ways to slow growth.
Dickinson Economic Development Corp. has about 45 acres on Hughes Road just east of I-45. The EDC this month plans to issue a Request for Proposal for the property. The RFP should be complete and available to the public in about a week, officials say.
Land uses could include a “full range of retail, food service, hotels, entertainment, convention, office and residential uses and should include transit opportunities,” EDC officials say.
What do you think would be a good use of the land?
A lot of readers are asking for fresh buzz about those rumors a Burger King franchise would return to the island.
Just last week, principals with Sugar Land-based Global Millennium Partners met with city planning officials in a pre-development meeting about requirements they need to meet to open a Shell Food Mart and gas station/Burger King at 5815 Broadway, which is the site of the Broadway Funeral Home building.
I called the offices of Global Millennium Partners and no one answered. Not even a voicemail. But the meeting with city officials signals that BK's plans for the island still are on the burner. Burger King closed its last island eatery in 2004.
That’s all I know for now. When I hear more, I’ll let you know.
Editor's Note: Laura Elder is out of the office for a few days, but here is a preview of Thursday's Biz Buzz. In the meantime, got Buzz? Email your tips and suggestions to Biz Buzz.
Coming Soon: Steak 'n Shake under construction
It’s a tad behind schedule, but Illinois-based Steak ’n Shake is planning a June opening of its Webster restaurant, on the southeast corner of Interstate 45 and Texas Avenue, city officials report. A precise date wasn’t available but construction on the site has begun.
Round-the-clock burgers and shakes on the way
The 75-year-old chain, which initially planned a March opening, pioneered the concept of premium burgers and milk shakes. The eatery, which will include a drive-through, is in Webster Town Center next to Tex-Mex purveyor Chuy’s. Menu items include steakburgers, shakes, sandwiches, salads, desserts and breakfast.
The place will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
With the threat of foreclosure looming, owners of two Texas luxury resorts — Diamond Beach in Galveston and Sapphire South Padre — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
Diamond Beach
Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy can sometimes forestall or prevent foreclosure on both personal and commercial properties.
The filings don’t affect operations at Diamond Beach, the pale pink condominiums on the western edge of the island’s seawall, developer Randall Davis told The Daily News.
“It has nothing to do with the operations of the building; the HOA is fully solvent and is on strong footing,” Davis said.
“The sales program will continue while the dispute is ironed out,” Davis said.
Of 116 condo units at Diamond Beach, 41 are unsold. The liquidation appraisal value of Diamond Beach is $29.4 million. Mortgage debt is $27.7 million, according to a court filing.
It's an historic week in business for the island and mainland. After a century in Galveston, Del Papa Distributing Co. this week began its move to Texas City.
Shipments arrive at Del Papa's new Texas City facility.
On Monday, Del Papa delivered the first shipment of beer from its new 126,000-square-foot facility on 26 acres east of Interstate 45 N. at Century Boulevard. The move isn't complete, however. Del Papa so far has moved its island-based logistical operations to the new distribution center.
While sad for Galveston, this is good news for Texas City.
I don’t have a breakdown of how many Del Papa employees lived on the island. But the presence of such companies as Del Papa has subtle yet very real effects on local economies. Whether employees lived on the island or not, they likely ate lunch at local restaurants, dropped off dry cleaning, perhaps fueled up here or shopped during their lunch hours.
The decision to move was purely business, company officials say.
Del Papa, an official distributor of Anheuser-Busch products, as well as numerous import, specialty and craft beers in the Galveston, Victoria and Beaumont areas, said a mainland facility would greatly increase the efficiency and productivity and allow the company to better serve retailers. And the new facility will put the company in a better position to meet long-term growth objectives, officials say.
While there are plenty of ice cream shops on the island, I’ve noticed a dearth of frozen yogurt purveyors.
Sure, you can get frozen yogurt in plenty of shops around town specializing in cold confections and sweet treats. But none are dedicated solely to frozen yogurt. None that I know of, anyway.
An interior shot of a Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt shop.
Orange Leaf, which has more than 115 shops around the nation, plans to open at 6606 Seawall Blvd. by Memorial Day in the spot formerly occupied by Dippin’ Dots.
Orange Leaf is known for colorful interiors and decadent flavors, such as “Birthday Cake” and “Snickerdoodle.”
Anyone a fan of frozen yogurt and of Orange Leaf in particular? What's your favorite fro-yo shop?
Look for more small businesses on island beaches this season.
Earlier this year, the Galveston Park Board of Trustees revamped its concessionaire policy, standardizing beach vendor agreements. The park board, which oversees island tourism, also limited new contracts to a maximum of five years.
The changes have created a more structured and efficient process for attracting and renewing vendor agreements, Kelly de Schaun, park board executive director, said.
The park board began entering into agreements with beach vendors 40 years ago. But the terms of pre-2012 contracts ranged from one year to 20 years.
By making the changes, the park board avoids extensive duplication of vendors at nearby locations and the new five-year limit on contracts increases the cycle for re-bidding, which in turn improves quality of vendors, de Schaun said.
Stewart Beach in Galveston. Photo courtesy of Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Already, the changes are working, resulting in seven new beach vendors and one renewal among 14 locations approved this year, officials say.
New vendors include Jet Ski rentals, surfboard and body board rentals, banana boat rides, hot dog stands, shaved ices and umbrella and chair rentals, de Schaun said. The changes have increased interest among new vendors “majorly,” de Schaun said.
The park board is fielding more calls from potential vendors than usual this year, she said.
“The concessionaires at the beaches are great small and micro businesses, and they demonstrate just one of the many ways tourism benefits the island,” she said. “The board’s new policies show we are taking a proactive approach to attract businesses to our beaches and increase the quality and variety of amenities available to beach goers.”
Do you agree? And what type of vendors would you like to see at the beach?
People are still asking about the status of The Ritz Car Wash, 2712 61st St. I wish I had answers. But owners of the car wash, which closed at the start of the year, have not returned phone calls.
Initial rumors were that a mechanical glitch had temporarily closed the place. So, it's possible The Ritz will return.
I drove there today and found not a soul in sight. Also absent were any notices on the door that might have given longtime customers a clue about the closure. I also called. The phone is no longer in service.
The Ritz Car Wash on the island is closed with no clue about why.
The business was never the same and services were limited after Hurricane Ike struck more than three years ago.
I can’t help but wonder why some businesses close abruptly without so much as a written notice on the door or a phone message thanking longtime patrons. At the very least, it seems like the gracious thing to do and a way to acknowledge people who did support the business.
Am I expecting too much?
If you were a Ritz customer, where are you getting your car washed now? Even if you weren’t a Ritz customer, where do you go? Any of you out there still washing your own cars?
First, Taco House on the island closed after 50 years as owners prepare for retirement. Now, mainlanders are wondering what happened to the popular Bravos Mexican Restaurant, 2525 Palmer Highway in Texas City.
There were four Houston-area Bravos, as far as I can tell. The Texas City and Sugar Land eateries are closed and the Houston Bravos — one on Bingle and one on Fuqua — are still open.
An employee answering phones at the Bravos on Bingle Road wouldn't divulge much, but said the Texas City closure may be temporary.
An employee answering phones at the Fuqua restaurant Thursday said he would try to find someone in management to call me back with answers about the abrupt closure of the Texas City eatery, but no one did.
Bravos abrupt closure this week has loyal patrons wondering what happened.
A reader yesterday said she had called around and heard that the owners parted ways, causing the closure. As best she can remember, Bravos has been around since at least 1990.
Does anyone know the history or have any news about what happened? And will you miss Bravos?
Hitchcock resident Mary Buchan is suing a League City shooting range, asserting she lost her hearing after a trip there last year, according to the Southeast Texas Record.
John Suayan, of the publication's Galveston bureau, reports Buchan is accusing The Arms Room LLC of failing to assure Buchan sufficient hearing protection during here July 21 visit. Buchan was at the range trying to help an elderly woman buy a handgun for her own protection, according to the report.
An employee at the gun range handed Buchan headphones to cover her ears. According to the report, when Buchan got the the shooting gallery, she "could feel the vibration of each shot ringing through her ears more than the shot before."
According to the report, Buchan complained about the noise to The Arms Room gun attendant at the front counter and left about 10 minutes after entering the range. Buchan, according to the lawsuit, complained of ringing in her ears and sought medical treatment, to no avail. She asserts she has permanent hearing loss.
"The plaintiff later discovered the ear muffs used at the gun range are electronic and have a volume control that must be turned down before any loud noises commenced" according to the report.
But no one explained how to use the ear muffs, according to the lawsuit.
I didn't have my camera when I drove by Taco House today. Crews were removing the signs, preparing for a new eatery to take its place. For those who hadn't yet heard, after 50 years, Taco House is closing this week, possibly as soon as today or as late as Saturday.
Pedro and Celia Quintanilla and family own the Taco House. I spoke with Celia today. She said closing is bittersweet. But that it's time to retire.
“It feels very strange; it’s already hitting me,” she said.
Taco House is famous for cheese enchiladas and carne guisada. I've had some good breakfasts there.
Not all is lost, however. Owners of Texas City’s popular Nopalera Grill, 1736 Texas Ave., have purchased the Taco House building with plans to open a second Nopalera. I haven't tried Nopalera. Can anyone out there offer us a review?
Also, please share your memories of Taco House, which had operated at other sites before settling on Broadway.
With so many readers still asking about the status of Sapori, an eatery under way for more than a year at 7611 Stewart Road on the island, I went searching for answers.
Potential patrons of the eatery, which was supposed to have opened in February 2011, are starting to get a little restless.
In October, brothers Nunzio and Rosario Incorvaia, who are behind the concept promising authentic Italian-European cuisine, pastries and desserts, had declined to offer an opening date after missing several deadlines.
It’s understandable. The last thing the brothers want to do is to miss another deadline and disappoint potential customers. And going on publicly about problems isn’t a way they want to launch a concept, either.
I drove to the construction site Monday, where I found the very nice Nunzio Incorvaia and an eatery that looks very close to opening.
Nunzio shares frustrations about the delays. Along with problems with subcontractors, there have been glitches here and there. Not all of the issues have been resolved. But the Incorvaias have secured nearly all the proper permits and will open. When, however, they won’t say.
Sapori has been a work in progress at 7611 Stewart Road for more than a year.
On the upside, the delay in opening has created intrigue and buzz about Sapori, and both islanders and mainlanders have called me to say they wanted to give it a try. What’s good is that the brothers don’t have plans to abandon the project, as some observers have feared.
“We’re taking one step at a time,” Nunzio Incorvaia said. “We will open.”
While I didn’t get the opening date information I had hoped to share with you, I’m glad I stopped by the eatery. I had been curious about Sapori’s interior, which is cozy and warm and not at all pretentious. True Italians, the brothers have already installed the espresso maker.
The Incorvaia brothers aren’t new to the restaurant business. They were known in the 1970s and 1980s for island eateries The Godfather and Nunzio’s Pizzeria.
The brothers last year returned to Galveston after nearly a decade in Sicily. The brothers moved to the island in 1974 and returned to Sicily in 1988 to resolve family issues, but not before buying land where they’re building Sapori.
While in Sicily, the brothers honed their culinary skills. Rosario Incorvaia worked at several Italian resorts, becoming a chef and also picking up recipes from bakeries that he’ll offer here.
So, when Sapori opens, do you plan to give it a try?
While shopping at the Disney Store in Houston's Galleria, a League City resident struck up a conversation with an employee who told her about plans for a Disney store outlet at the Texas City shopping center.
Officials with Tanger last week promised they were working on an update of retail tenants to release to us in the “near future.”’
Texas City Mayor Matt Doyle, who keeps in close contact with the outlet mall developers, said the center is about 85 percent leased.
Disney Store, an entertainment retail model, launched in 1987 in California. The store features exclusive products by Disney characters and stories.
The tables and chairs are gone, construction crews are completely making over the space. It doesn’t look like the island’s Schutte’s Crossroads Café is coming back.
Construction under way inside Schutte's
Rick and Trish Henson, owners of eatery, 801 Postoffice St., can’t be reached for comment. I’ve also left, to no avail, several messages with Donal Clark, who owns the building.
I drove by this afternoon to see whether I could get any news. Crews were reluctant to divulge much, except a tiny, intriguing little tidbit.
They said a member of the Duzich family, which created such enduring and popular island concepts as The Spot and Fish Tales before selling them, is reportedly behind whatever concept is under way at the Schutte’s shell. The Duzich concepts are usually successful.
Schutte’s was known for homestyle cooking and such fare as chicken-fried steak and big burgers. By all accounts, the eatery, walking distance from the University of Texas Medical Branch, did a brisk business.
So, what type of concept would you like to see at the site? What’s something that the island doesn’t have enough of? Have you heard what it might be?
An ABC News investigation raised consumer concern about the so-called pink slime, prompting Safeway to stop selling it. Still, the chain said it believed the filler is safe.
“Safeway is committed to providing our customers with the highest-quality products,” the company said in a statement. “While the USDA and food industry experts agree that lean finely textured beef is safe and wholesome, recent news stories have caused considerable consumer concern about this product. Safeway will no longer purchase ground beef containing lean finely textured beef.”
Makers of lean finely textured beef and the U.S. Department of Agriculture say it's not an additive, need not be labeled and is safe to eat.
University of Texas Professor Dwight Loveday in this report said the story of pink slime has been sensationalized. Loveday, of UT's Food Science and Technology Department, said the pink slime looks like pellets.
Pink slime comes from a processing technique used to separate small amounts of muscle still attached to fatty tissue trimmed off meat.
Loveday in the report said the tissue is heated in the separation process, then treated with a "puff" of ammonia gas to kill bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella.
"It's introduced to the product, it doesn't stay with the product," he said in the report.
Makers say the process is used on meat that would otherwise be wasted. And the National Meat Association has accused the media of perpetuating the pink slime myth.
Have you been following this debate? Do you mind eating "pink slime?" Has the media overhyped the pink slime? Or has the media done U.S. consumers a service by exposing it?
Texas City Mayor Matt Doyle, who is in constant contact with outlet officials, reports the mall's first phase, set for completion in October, is already 85 percent leased and likely will be almost fully leased when the doors open.
Artist renderings show the planned Tanger Outlet Center.
I called officials with Tanger this morning to see whether I could persuade them to divulge more retail tenant names. I'll update this post if they provide that information today.
So far, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Puma are among the brand-name retailers signed on for the first phase of the proposed Tanger Outlet Center.
Guess, Nine West, Perry Ellis, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap Factory Store and Under Armour also would be in the initial retail lineup, developers have said.
The developers plan an outlet center that would eventually total 470,000 square feet at build out. The 350,000-square-foot first phase will include more than 90 brand name and designer outlet stores, and the 55-acre property includes room for a future 120,000-square-foot expansion, officials have said.
Whitson, as I report in tomorrow’s Biz Buzz, isn’t quite ready to disclose the address of the island site. She expects to make that information public possibly by the end of the week.
But she did confirm the Carvel and Cinnabon news.
I’ve heard of Carvel, but I’ve never had the ice cream or the famous cakes.
Spring break might be off to a slightly chilly start, but here’s something to warm your hearts. Based on votes from its readers, 10Best.com named Galveston among the best 10 spring break destination winners.
T.J. O'Daniel of La Porte is buried on Stewart Beach during Spring Break 2011.
What did voters love about Galveston?
“From movies under the stars to free outdoor concerts, the island plans ways to keep family's entertainment quotient high. A killer aquarium, inviting beaches, and its very own Tall Ship all combine to make Galveston a memorable spot for families on break," according to the report.
Very nice news and, more importantly, good exposure for Galveston, wouldn't you say?
But what I found really interesting about the report is that BP can’t officially put the Texas City refinery up for sale until it makes federally mandated safety upgrades in response to a 2005 explosion that killed 15 people, according to the Wall Street Journal.
I didn't know that.
Still, even without going to market, BP already reports “expressions of interest” in the Texas City refinery, according to the blog.
Readers are still asking about the future occupants of the building under way on the corner of 61st Street and Interstate 45 (near English Bayou) in Galveston.
I’ve said it before (three times in Biz Buzz now) but I don’t mind saying it again — it’s for a Verizon Wireless store.
I drove by today and spoke with a construction worker who said the exterior is set to be complete by March 23.
There’s also likely more retail to come on that triangular patch of land — eventually.
Island developer Lamson Nguyen doesn’t own the land upon which the Verizon Wireless is rising. But he does own surrounding property. More than a year ago, Nguyen posted a sign on the property heralding a national retail concept.
Plans by a major paint retailer to build at the site fell through. And Nguyen recently said he had no immediate plans for the property.
Nguyen plans to one day build those condos, but for now is biding his time creating wetland areas, a sandy beach and at least 40 boat slips at the site, he has said.
Landry’s Inc.'s casino holdings are getting closer to home. Still on a buying spree, Houston-based Landry’s, led by island native Tilman Fertitta, this month snapped up Isle Casino Hotel in Biloxi, Miss.
If casino gambling was legal in Texas and the rules regarding operators were fair, Landry’s, likely would build a casino on the island, Fertitta has said.
People, especially newcomers to Texas, always ask me why Galveston doesn’t just allow casinos. It’s against the law, I tell them. Texas lawmakers each session consider bills to legalize slot machines in Texas, and each session kill them.
Landry's Inc. plans to transform Isle Casino Hotel in Biloxi into a Golden Nugget property.
Gov. Rick Perry has said he’s opposed to expansion of gambling in Texas. Of course, any Texas gaming bill likely would include a local option that would allow city governments to decide whether they want casino gambling.
Is anyone willing to wager when Texas might legalize casino gambling?
I’ve always liked blogging about interesting business concepts. In today’s Biz Buzz, you’ll see I mentioned the opening of The Paint Pub, a new establishment, 1840 NASA Parkway in the Nassau Bay Town Square.
As I buzzed, there are places in the Clear Lake and Houston areas for friends or families to get together to make art. Such concepts offer supplies and guidance.
But The Paint Pub goes a step further by offering a bar serving up wine and beer. The Paint Pub offers two- to three-hour sessions and parties at which artists guide patrons through a featured acrylic painting.
A guest artist guides patrons of The Paint Pub through a painting titled "Paris Stamp."
I like the idea because you don’t have to be Van Gogh to participate.
When the artist isn’t instructing, The Paint Pub offers music and encourages singing, dancing and, if patrons choose, drinking, all in a relaxing, party atmosphere, owners Lindsey George and Melanie Delgadillo said.
The Paint Pub patrons show off their paintings titled "Well Behaved Dogs."
The Paint Pub also features a boutique at the front of the store offering jewelry, accessories, home décor and more.
Open only about a month, The Paint Pub already is booking plenty of parties for “girls’ night out” and some bachelorette soirees, too. But the pub also is child-friendly, offering parties for children, along with family sessions on Sundays.
Have you checked it out? Or do you plan to? What do you think of the concept?
Did you happen to notice that newly erected fence on the northeast corner of Interstate 45 and FM 646 near Best Buy in League City? You know, the place with the mysterious cartoon monkey sign.
Jimmy Changas officials report that any day now crews would begin construction of the eatery billed as a purveyor of Fresh-Mex cuisine.
Officials project opening Jimmy Changas about seven months after the start of construction.
Jimmy Changas offers such dishes as homemade chilli relleno, stuffed avocado and seared ahi tuna salad, to name a few.
The League City Jimmy Changas will be a second for the La Porte-based restaurant company that also brought us Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen and Bullritos.
Jimmy Changas, which opened its first restaurant in Pasadena last year to big crowds and good reviews, is known for having a large patio, fun, and casual atmosphere.
Gringo’s, which has a sizeable Tex-Mex menu, already has maximized its kitchen, company spokeswoman Heather McKeon said.
Has anyone tried the Pasadena Jimmy Changas? Please tell us what you think.
Landry’s Inc. has invested more than $250 million in Galveston and Kemah, operating hotels, amusements and attractions and, of course, restaurants in the county. And that’s not even including the $60 million Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier under way, 2501 Seawall Blvd.
But will Landry’s soon add a bowling alley to its ever-growing portfolio?
Unconfirmed rumors have it that Landry’s, led by island native Tilman Fertitta, has acquired the Island Bowl building, 3424 Seawall Blvd.
This morning, I made inquiries with Landry’s representatives and hope to have more news about whether that's true in tomorrow's Biz Buzz.
If it is true, and Landry’s bought the Island Bowl building, that doesn’t mean Fertitta is planning to bring bowling back to the island. It’s very possible he wants the real estate for other purposes.
But some islanders are hoping that Fertitta would renovate and modernize the bowling alley, putting the famous Landry's spin on it and making it another entertainment destination.
The Risinger family had owned the 24-lane alley since 1983, buying out the old Seahorse Lanes damaged by Hurricane Alicia. Unlike hundreds of island business and homes, Island Bowl skirted storm surge. But Ike's winds tore up the roof, leading to water damage in the building.
Risinger had insurance on the alley. But getting insurers to pay up was a battle, he said. The cost to install new carpet, replace the automated scoring system and otherwise reopen would be about $850,000, Risinger said.
Island Bowl was the island’s last bowling alley. At one time, there were three.
Some islanders bemoan the fact they now have to travel to the mainland to bowl.
Would you like to see a bowling alley return to the island?
During the dog days of The Great Recession, consumers learned to cut back on luxuries, eating out less often or foregoing major purchases. But apparently, some pets weren’t forced to make such sacrifices.
Consider this New York Times article about how, even in tough economic times, pampered pets enjoyed culinary upgrades and other perks. In fact, some pet supply businesses thrive in tough economies. Industry observers say it makes us feel better to spoil our pets.
I couldn't help think of the elevated status of the U.S. pet when I heard of Gimmie a Bark, a freshly opened Friendswood shop that offers doggie day care, dog wash and grooming services, bakery with gourmet treats (birthday cakes made from liver) a boutique with cuddly beds, stylish collars, T-shirts and more.
Gimmie a Bark, 101 E. Edgewood (FM 2351) in Friendswood, also sells grain-free, organic dog foods.
Gimmie a Bark's bakery offers gourmet treats for the pampered pooch.
Owner Rene McLaughlin, who operated a childcare business for 23 years before selling it four years ago, is a dog lover. She aims to carry items you can’t find at the major pet supply chains, she said.
But lest anyone think we should put a leash on conspicuous consumption for canines, McLaughlin uses the business to also raise money and awareness about rescues and adoptions, she said.
Gimmie a Bark even has “Yappy Hours” to raise money for foster families and other animal advocacy initiatives.
Stylish collars line the wall at Gimmie a Bark in Friendswood.
So, I’m curious, do any of you “spoil” your pets? Do your pets eat better than you do?
I confess to driving to League City every weekend (before PetSmart opened on the island this year) to buy a particular kind of food my cats like.
And my husband rolls his eyes when I hire a pet sitter to look in on the cats even if we’re going to be out of town just for a night.
Readers have been asking for status updates on Bay Regional Medical Center, a Webster hospital project where construction has started, flat-lined and started again during the past several years.
Financial and other issues that ailed the hospital appear to be in remission. Construction of the 200 Blossom St. building is coming along nicely, developer Medistar Corp. reports.
Crews are in the final stages of enclosing the exterior building shell with concrete and tilt wall panels. Medistar expects to complete the remaining glass curtain wall soon after, completing the exterior shell next month. The entire project is expected to be complete by spring next year.
When complete, the nine-story tertiary, acute care hospital will house 104 beds — 90 medical/surgical inpatient beds and 14 Intensive care unit beds — and will be “readily expandable to 175 beds.”
The hospital will offer a full complement of medical and surgical clinical services, including women’s services, intensive care, a heart and cardiology department, orthopedics, nephrology, urology and pulmonology.
Sometimes I worry about the state of the small Texas café, those roadside establishments judged by the way they make chicken-fried steaks, how quickly they refill a coffee cup and whether they're friendly to locals and travelers alike.
Last week, the state lost another one of those small-town establishments with the closing of Sherry’s Busy Bee Cafe, 12350 state Highway 6 in Santa Fe.
Sherry’s Busy Bee Café traced its roots back to 1935.
A newer, larger Valero gas station will replace Sherry’s Busy Bee, known for all-American diner fare, including fried chicken and cheeseburgers.
Donal Clark this week confirmed he sold the building and land to a Valero Energy Corp., which wants to build a larger gas station and corner store.
Valero already operates a Valero gas station at 12350 1/2 state Highway 6 and needs the Busy Bee property for the planned Santa Fe expansion.
According to the history I could cobble together from interviews and this website, the Springer family in 1935 established Busy Bee Cafe in Alta Loma. (In 1978, Alta Loma was incorporated into the City of Santa Fe.)
The Springer family later sold the eatery to Mrs. Springer’s sister, who operated the cafe until 1978 before selling it to Mike Orr, who owned the property but leased the restaurant business to Donal Clark.
In 1994, Orr bought out Clark’s share of the restaurant business, but Clark again took possession of the Santa Fe Busy Bee Cafe and the property in 2005.
That same year, Sherry Smith leased the restaurant from Clark until he sold the property to Valero this month.
Clark has asked Smith to help manage his island eatery Miller’s Seawall Grill, 1824 Seawall Blvd., he said.
At one time, Clark and partners owned six eateries, including three other Busy Bee Cafes, two of which are still open in Pearland and Alvin under other owners.
“Baseball trophies and a mirrored pie case next to the register set the right mood," according to the article. Here's an excerpt about what Texas Monthly had to say about Sherry's Busy Bee Cafe:
“Special honors go to the plump cheeseburger on a tender but substantial house-made bun and to the moist and nongreasy fried chicken dredged in a mixture of flour and cornmeal ... while the chocolate—peanut butter pie, topped with real whipped cream, will send you to the moon.”
What I liked about the Texas Monthly listing was the criteria for judging a good Texas café — big-haired waitresses, pie cases and police officers and truckers at the counter made such eateries the “Real Deal,” according to the article.
But “points were subtracted from a cafe’s score (in some cases disqualifying it altogether) for evidence of anything citified, yuppified, or fancy-pants: raspberry vinaigrette, goat cheese, kalamata olives, jazz or techno music, al dente vegetables, or — horror of horrors! — baby greens ”
What do you think makes a good Texas Café? And will you miss Sherry’s Busy Bee?
Happy Friday. Here’s a little bonus buzz for the weekend.
Breezing in: A lot of people are inquiring about the new eatery that has replaced The Breeze Restaurant & Bar, 6316 Stewart Road on the island. A “grand opening” banner is up, but readers want to know the name of the eatery and the concept.
I drove by this morning to get the scoop. The eatery is definitely open and owners are working to get the new sign up.
Orbe's is named for owner Orbelina Rosa, who also owns Henry’s, 2823 Broadway on the island. Henry’s, open for 12 years, is famous for its habit-forming breakfast tacos and Mexican and Salvadoran cuisine, a combination the family calls Mex/Sal.
Orbe’s, open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, is serving up Salvadoran, Mexican, seafood and American cuisine, said Claudia Torres, manager. Torres also is Rosa’s daughter.
Think of Orbe's as kind of like a "Henry's II," Torres said.
Orbe’s is awaiting a liquor license. Until then, bring your own adult beverages and the establishment will provide setups, Torres said. For information, call 409-744-2180.
Has anyone tried Orbe’s yet? Who out there is a big fan of Henry’s? Let us know.
Broken Hartz: In less appetizing news, a franchisee who planned to open a Hartz Chicken Buffet in Texas City has had a change of heart, confirms David Cottrell, developer of Three Palms Shopping Center on the northeast corner of FM 1765 and Amburn Road.
The Hartz Chicken franchisee had planned to open a 3,000-square-foot eatery in the shopping center. But not all is lost. Cottrell reports that other restaurant concepts are considering the retail space.
In your mind, where does Hartz stack up in the competitive fried chicken, fast-food genre?
¡Olé!: Finally, franchise concept Bullritos is charging this way, with plans to open a Friendswood eatery, 2900 FM 528.
No word on the exact opening date. Bullritos, brought to us by the Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen group, is a concept to watch. It bills itself as a quick-casual burrito joint serving “bag ‘n’ go burritos, bowls and tacos.
To date, there are about 15 franchise locations through Texas, Louisiana and Georgia. I’m working on finding whether more are in store for our area for Tuesday’s Biz Buzz.
Waiting for the Port of Galveston's governing board to return from executive session Tuesday, I was eavesdropping on a conversation between a New Yorker and some port staffers.
The topic was bagels.
I hadn’t thought a lot about bagels since I was a retail reporter at the Houston Business Journal in the 1990s.
At the time, bagel shop franchises were sprouting like mushrooms and it was my job to keep up with such trends. Suddenly, bagels were everywhere, replacing hamburger buns and bread.
“Buoyed by its healthful, low-fat, high-carbohydrate nature, as well as its accessibility and relatively low cost, the bagel is poised for its own Horatio Alger story, ” according to this 1993 article in the New York Times.
Bagels were even available in grocery store freezers, much to the chagrin of purists, according to the New York Times article: “This proliferation should be good news to bagel junkies, who have bemoaned the scarcity of the chewy rolls west of the Hudson. Instead, they are incensed. In their eyes, the integrity of the bagel has been undermined.”
I can see the point. I'm skeptical and prone to indignation whenever I hear about “good barbecue” north of the Mason-Dixon or from a freezer case.
Things have come full circle since 1993 when processed carbs were a health food. And the bagel and bread industry have taken some big hits as consumers embraced low-carb and gluten-free diets.
I joined the bagel discussion Tuesday with surprising enthusiasm and a little nostalgia. Some of us shared stories of the best way to eat bagels. Two of us agreed that bagels and lox were the way to go.
Some people swear by Mosquito Cafe's bagels and lox for breakfast. I haven't tried it yet, but plan to.
Since moving to Galveston County 10 years ago, I stopped thinking of bagels and can’t recall ever seeing any shops dedicated to the bagel. One port staffer, who lives on the island, said she goes to Einstein Bros. in the Clear Lake Area.
Where do you buy your bagels? Would you like to see a bagel shop in the area? Could it survive?
At the risk of sounding unromantic, I thought I’d blog about what’s on a lot of people’s minds right now — the cost of Valentine’s Day. Not very heart-warming, I know.
But as I’ve blogged before, I'm a fan of practical. The first gift I ever gave Michael was American Automobile Association card worth a year of free tows for when his old Nissan, Sentra died, which was pretty often in our college days.
Practical yes, romantic, not so much, unless you consider that I wanted to see more of him.
If we do spend big for a holiday, it’s on some pre-planned, calculated and budgeted item and something we’d both enjoy. I’m too practical to get gushy over holidays and I get annoyed by grand gestures and contrived displays of affection.
But that doesn’t mean Michael’s off the hook. He’s a writer. And I expect a poem on Valentine's Day. And most guys probably would rather spend a lot of money than have to come up with a poem.
I’m practical to a fault. And I figure if our relationship status comes down to this “holiday,” we’ve got bigger, more expensive issues to consider, like finding good divorce attorneys. (Actually, my practical side dictates that in the dreadful event of divorce, I would acquire a do-it-yourself kit. Now, that's the kind of cold practicality that makes my heart flutter.)
Surely, overly high and inevitably dashed expectations must play a part in the spike. The lousy, last-minute gift of lingerie too large, the cheap, dented box of chocolates ... Perhaps these were the proverbial straws, reminders of year-round disappointments.
Am I being sexist here in assuming women make the bigger deal of Valentine’s Day and are usually the ones who are disappointed? And are there any men out there who’d like to see more effort, better presents? A Rolex, perhaps? It all seems like a lot of pressure for a commercial holiday.
But I realize, when it comes to Valentine's Day, I’m in the minority.
The average expected amount, per person, that Americans will shell out for the holiday this year is $126.03, up 8.5 percent from last year, according to this report. Consumers are expected to spend the most on jewelry, at a collective $4.1 billion, according to the report.
So, what are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day spending and the holiday in general? Is it worth the cost? Is it too much pressure? Does it serve to magnify festering resentments or solidify lasting love? Or is it just a genuinely fun reason to go out and have a romantic evening and drink Champagne in the middle of February with your significant other?
Could it be that when it comes to Valentine's Day, my heart's two sizes too small?
And out of curiosity, what was the best Valentine’s Day gift you ever received?
When I got to work, my Daily News and Facebook email accounts were filled with questions about the beloved bar. But I'm happy to report the owners say the rumors are way off, including the ones about the 2102 Postoffice St. establishment becoming an Italian eatery or, worse, closing.
“We’ve been here 14 years, we’re alive and well and will be here another 14 years,” co-owner Randall Pettit said.
What’s prompting the rumors is a new partnership Pettit formed on Monday with Paco Vargas and his daughter, Denise Vargas. Paco Vargas owns the very popular Rudy & Paco eatery across the street from 21.
The partnership will mean some changes, but nothing as drastic as the rumors portend, Pettit said. Some patrons might already start noticing subtle changes at 21, he said.
Pettit declined to divulge big changes planned for 21, but said that patrons are going to be happy. He plans to officially unveil those plans in March. In the meantime, 21 will stay open and continue offering live music on the weekends, he said.
“We’re going to be rocking out for Mardi Gras for both weekends,” Pettit said.
Some islanders, including myself, are wondering what happened to Lasso a Latte Coffee Shop, 500 Seawall Blvd.
I drove by this morning. The sign is gone and the shop is empty. I’m hoping it’s just a move or a renovation and nothing permanent. But it doesn't look good.
The owners — Benjamin and Kristie Tjepkema — were hard workers and nice. I first spoke with them in 2004, when they built that little white building with a circular driveway at 5727 Broadway, west of Taco Bell.
The couple had a good business story. They had taken $100,000 from the sale of a house in Washington State to build a drive-through coffee shop on the island.
If you watch TV, you’ve probably seen, or more importantly heard, the JC Penney commercials featuring screaming men and women. They scream loudly and a lot about department store sales promotions.
The commercials have caused a lot of buzz and even generated some complaints to Consumer Affairs to which one person wrote: “This has to be the worst commercial that has ever hit the airwaves. Not only is it annoying, it is dangerous for anyone who has anxiety disorders, or panic attacks. I have heard that this was aired at a hospital waiting room, and emotionally affected those in the waiting room, in an awful way ... ”
(I'll take a self-serving moment here to remind you that this is why newspaper advertising is superior to TV ads. Newspaper advertising won't harm your ears, cause anxiety disorders, panic attacks, boils, twitches or other terrible, unspeakable afflictions.)
As I struggle to get the JC Penney screams out of my head, I have to argue it's an effective commercial. It's a good commercial. It did what commercials are supposed to do, which is get our attention in a very cluttered world where everyone, everywhere wants to sell us something.
So while some consumers are yelling about the screaming, I'm more interested in what the ad is about, which is JC Penney's arguably risky strategy of suspending hundreds of special sales that department stores are so fond of and permanently cutting prices on all merchandise by at least 40 percent. That strategy begins tomorrow.
Former Apple executive Ron Johnson, who was named Penney's CEO in November, is behind Penney's price cut plan. Walmart does it and H-E-B has a similar strategy, promising low prices without loyalty cards.
But will it work for a department store?
"How customers will react to a single price point versus a perceived discount under the old strategy," is the question, Citi Investment Research analyst Deborah L. Weinswig told the Associated Press.
I've blogged before that I'm not much of a sale chaser. I try to only buy something when I'm in the market for it, and then I look for sales and comparison shop.
I know people who live for one-day sales. They weren't really in the market for that shaggy lime-green rug until they saw it was 50 percent off. I'm not judging, though. And I have in the past been a victim. Still hanging in my closet is a weird gray, hooded sweater that was marked down from $80 to $7 that I've never worn.
It's too big and lumpy. I keep thinking I'll "grow into it." I thought it was a steal, but I'm out $7. And some sales are designed to get you in the door in hopes you buy the pricier merchandise.
So, I'm the type of consumer who would find JC Penney's new strategy appealing. What about you? And what do you think of those screaming commercials?
I'm back from a break and there's much to report. I'll start here with some pretty big real estate news, but make sure to check in with Biz Buzz Tuesday for much more.
A representative with Legend Communities confirms that it has the luxury development Harborwalk, a Hitchcock community known for million-dollar waterfront homes, under contract.
Homes rise behind the Harborwalk marina in Hitchcock. Photo by Kevin M. Cox
Legend Communities is negotiating to buy the property from Compass Bank, said Mark Caldwell, who will be development manager of the property once the acquisition is finalized.
In January 2010, development firm Harborwalk LP filed a lawsuit against Compass Bank after the bank sent notice of a default on an amended $30 million note and refused to allow the company to draw any more money to cover project costs. Compass Bank is now doing business as BBVA Compass.
In the lawsuit, Harborwalk LP accused Compass Bank of breaching an agreement to extend the loan for five years.
Harborwalk LP at the time also said it had not defaulted on any provision of the loan agreement and had made timely payments. The development firm sought an injunction prohibiting Compass Bank from foreclosing, among other remedies.
But Harborwalk was victim of a scenario that had played out around the county and the nation during the real estate crisis. Compass Bank blamed declining value of property used as collateral for its decision to call the note.
"The appraiser's valuations show a very large decline in the value of collateral from the collateral previously used in the the loan restructure in 2008," according to a letter Compass sent to Harborwalk in 2010.
It appears Compass prevailed.
Harborwalk LP developed the 380 residential lots, 150-slip marina and a yacht club 2.4 miles west of Interstate 45 on state Highway 6.
"We are very close to having a firm closing date," Caldwell said. "We've had it under contract for some time and we're very excited about the community."
A new eatery hopes to take a slice out of the island pizzeria market.
Michael Malone is preparing to open The Strand Pizzeria, 2413 Strand downtown.
The eatery is pretty much ready to go, Malone said. But he and business partners are still waiting to secure all necessary city permits before turning on the ovens.
The Strand Pizzeria will serve specialty pizza by the slice. The eatery will take a 24-inch pie and divide it into six slices, making for a respectable piece of pizza, he said.
The Strand Pizzeria will stay open to about 4 a.m. for late-night crowds. Courtesy photo by Gerald Vimont
Malone has lived on the island for about 16 years and has worked in various hot night spots, most recently The Lounge, 2410 Strand.
What's really interesting about The Strand Pizzeria is its plan to stay open until about 4 a.m. to cater to clubgoers and all the late-night workers serving the island’s bar and restaurant industry.
One of the biggest complaints I get is the lack of dining options after 10 p.m.
It's not just an island issue, but one for almost any city in the county.
Where do you go for late-night meals? Do you plan to give The Strand Pizzeria a try?
But alas, as some readers rightly reported today, the eatery, 111 23rd St., has bid “adios."
What went wrong? Maggie Rita’s opened in the site formerly occupied by Fuddrucker’s, which seemed to do a brisk business.
Too many entrenched Tex-Mex eateries on the island, perhaps?
I tried the restaurant when it first opened and I thought the food was ok.
I’ve had better, especially on the island, where the Tex-Mex trade is pretty competitive and some local families are very good at what they do.
Maggie Rita’s Mexican Grill & Bar, which opened downtown in August of 2010, is closed.
What sort of put me off about Maggie Rita’s was that they served the food on disposable plates. It's a strange tic of mine. If I’m eating barbecue at a picnic or eating fast-food or waiting for electricity to return after a hurricane, disposable plates are fine.
But there was something about eating from a Styrofoam plate and with plastic fork and knife that day at Maggie Rita's that cheapened the experience for me. I swear, I’m not super snooty about these things. I'm all about a business owner saving money and cutting expenses. But as a customer, I don't want to know or hear about it. It kills the mood.
I won't get into the environmental about what's worse — waste from paper products or the amount of electricity and water used to clean real plates. I'll leave that to greater minds.
With all that, I wished Maggie Rita's well. To be fair, I visited only once when the restaurant still was working out the kinks. I did think the prices were extremely reasonable. And perhaps their plate delivery hadn't yet arrived and I was making a rash assessment.
Also, I didn't try the margaritas, which probably would have lightened up my view of the eatery.
Did you like Maggie Rita’s? Anyone have any reviews or speculation about what went wrong?
I still get calls now and then from readers wondering why membership warehouse chain Costco has overlooked the Galveston County/Clear Lake area.
A few weeks ago, I called Costco corporate offices to ask the same question.
No one has returned my calls. But to be fair, most people at such corporations authorized to talk to the media aren’t allowed to discuss rumors or speculate about store openings. They usually only talk when they've formally announced plans for a new store.
But I had to try.
A lot of area residents like to shop at Costco, judging by phone calls and people I know who praise the store’s organic produce selection and prices.
The argument that the county and its more than 250,000 residents, not to mention Clear Lake area consumers, couldn’t support a Costco doesn’t seem to fly.
Competitor Sam’s Club operates in Friendswood and Texas City. Besides, a lot of people drive from the county to Houston to shop at a Costco.
According the article, readers give higher overall scores to Costco for groceries, electronics and small appliances, but gives Sam's Club a higher rating for return policies on electronics.
I thought it was also interesting that while consumers shop warehouses for savings on bulk buys, more than half spend more than they intended, according to the article.
I don’t have any answers or offerings of hope in this blog. But if you're interested in new Costco stores check out this "Addicted to Costco" blogger, who tracks new Costco stores.
If you’ve got any information about Costco planning an area store, let us know.
And would you shop there if Costco opened a store near you?
A new Chinese food eatery has opened in Texas City and at least one reader is giving it good reviews.
Qing Qing (sounds like ching ching) Chinese Restaurant opened last week at 2815 Palmer Highway.
"It is a classic take-out establishment with limited seating, but there always seems to be a few people dining in," a reader emailed. "They did a nice job remodeling the location, everything is updated and looks good. I’ve only had the Kung Pao Chicken so far, but it is really good."
Owner Lier Ren reports that the sesame chicken and pepper steak dishes also are hits.
A lot of readers want to know about all that dirt-turning near Spring Creek Barbeque in League City.
I'm almost certain the construction is for a Panera Bread Co.
I've made inquiries this morning to determine whether Panera Bread Co. has begun construction and to get an idea of when the eatery would open.
The St. Louis-based purveyor of sandwiches, salads, baked goods and more, confirmed last year it planned a cafe in Victory Lakes Town Center on the northeast corner of Interstate 45 and FM 646.
It’s always nice to hear about people making investments to improve old properties.
So, I thought I'd end the week with buzz about Street Talk Tavern, which is under way at 1702 Ave. O on the island.
George Elson, who was a partner in the group that reopened The M&M Restaurant & Bar after Hurricane Ike, and who ran the downtown operation for 18 months, is behind Street Talk Tavern.
Street Talk Tavern is expected to open later this month in a 1930s building on Avenue O.
Elson formed a new company — Metro Taverns LLC — with new partners to open such island ventures as the tavern.
The establishment is expected to open later this month in the building that long had housed The Pier Club.
The building was constructed in the 1930s and began as a meat market, Elson said. But it has been a bar since the 1940s.
Elson’s group is giving the building a complete makeover, including restoring windows long covered by boards.
Street Talk Tavern will serve domestic and craft beers and 20 wines by the glass. And it will have a more upscale feel.
“We really feel like it’s going to be a warm neighborhood hideaway,” Elson said
Mitchell Historic Properties, which sealed the deal this week, reports that Jimmy John's plans to open a 1,600-square-foot shop. The franchise owner will lease the property from Mitchell Historic Properties.
I hope to have more details about construction timelines and opening dates for Thursday's Biz Buzz.
In the meantime, are there any island Jimmy John's fans?
About Laura Elder
Laura Elder has covered business for The Daily News 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.
