Big changes are on the menu for two downtown island eateries. Galveston Restaurant Group announced Tuesday that its most popular concepts — Sky Bar Steak & Sushi and Gumbo Bar — would be trading spaces.




The Gumbo Bar. Galveston Restaurant Group Photos

Gumbo Bar will move into the larger space at 2107 Postoffice St. and will become Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar, the company’s first franchise concept and second location. (Little Daddy’s, a Gumbo Bar spinoff, launched last year in League City, 1615 W. FM 646.)

Once the move is complete, Sky Bar will reopen in the original Gumbo Bar site, 2105 Postoffice St. The renovations are expected to take about five weeks. Sky Bar will close Monday so crews can begin work. But Gumbo Bar will remain open through it all.

“We want to make it clear that Gumbo Bar will not be closing during the process,” said Danny Hart, one of the three Galveston Restaurant Group owners. Brothers Johnny and Joey Smecca also are owners.

“It will remain open and then seamlessly welcome guests at the new, neighboring space when construction is complete.”


The Sky Bar. Galveston Restaurant Group Photo

The move will give Gumbo Bar, known for gumbos, oysters and po-boys, more room and space for more steam kettles that allow guests to watch as gumbos, cioppinos and clams are prepared.

The move for Sky Bar allows for cosmetic changes, and the incorporation of steam kettles, allowing for more variety of Asian soups and other new fare, Hart said. Meanwhile, Sky Bar will celebrate the changes Friday and Saturday with sushi and cocktail specials all night before closing Monday.

Sushi lovers can still get their fix at Saltwater Grill, another Galveston Restaurant Group concept, 2017 Postoffice St. Beginning Monday, Saltwater Grill will begin serving a sushi menu and offering a sushi Happy Hour.

Meanwhile, Galveston Restaurant Group principals promise more dining scene changes to come.

“This is an exciting time for Galveston Restaurant Group,” Johnny Smecca said. “We have several other announcements coming very soon.”

Rumors are rampant that Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches is planning a second island eatery, this time on the Seawall in a gray building just west of 61st Street that has for months piqued the curiosity of islanders.

Neel Shah Hospitality owns the freshly built gray building, 6302 Seawall Blvd., and had reported a few months ago that Jimmy John's was among several retailers interested in the building.


Courtesy Photo

But the Seawall buzz faded after franchisee Brent Bunz last month signed a lease with Mitchell Historic Properties that would allow him to build a 1,500-square-foot eatery next to Starbucks at 102 22nd St. in the island's downtown.

Now those in the know say Bunz plans a Jimmy John's at each site.

Update: I have more information in Tuesday’s Biz Buzz.

Which Jimmy John's site would you prefer?

In this blog, we’ve had long and interesting discussions about children at restaurants. Remember this one about a Pittsburgh-area eatery banning kids?

Well, after receiving an email this afternoon from a family soon to visit the island for a vacation, I thought we would turn the tables.

Here’s an excerpt from the email: “We are coming down March 31-April 4. Wanted to know if there was one special place to eat that is kid-friendly? We have eaten at Rainforest before, and we will probabley eat there, but some place special on the island?"

So, I thought we would show some island hospitality and help the family out.

Where are the best places for small fries to eat on the island and why?

It's only fitting that retailer Tuesday Morning plans to launch its island store on a Tuesday morning.

The 8,819-square-foot shop, 2727 61st. St. next to Traditional Designs, plans an 8 a.m. grand opening Tuesday. The shop is in the same center as Randalls.

With more than 850 stores, Tuesday Morning specializes in deeply discounted, name-brand and upscale home furnishings, housewares, gifts and related items.

Do you plan to be there Tuesday morning?

For a moment there, it looked as if the island was about to make history. It appeared the city, which could fill a library with expensive and dusty studies paid for by taxpayers, was going to get one for free.

But if anyone knows this axiom, islanders do: "There's no such thing as a free study."

City officials say they paid $3,500 to consultant Robert Gibbs last week to fly to Galveston to give the city council a "peer review," or assessment, of his study of a study for which the city had already paid $50,000.

Tack on $521.30 for air travel; $287.09 for car rental (a GMC Yukon, but Gibbs had a free upgrade), $309 for hotel expenses (two nights in the Hilton Houston Hobby Airport) and $29.93 for meals, and the city still paid $4,647.53 for a report on the study of the study.

It all started in January when the city's Industrial Development Corp. agreed to pay Gibbs to assess part of a $400,000 study commissioned by The Historic Downtown Strand Seaport Partnership, toward which the city had contributed $50,000.

The move to pay Gibbs $5,000 to study the study raised eyebrows and annoyed some people.

But city officials later said they moved for the study of a study because they were confident that Mitchell Historic Properties, which has sizeable downtown holdings and a stake in efforts to shape retail downtown, would reimburse the city the $5,000. So, essentially, it appeared taxpayers were off the hook.

But the cost of imparting an assessment of the study wasn't included in the original review fee.

Optimists might see it this way — the city might have had to pay $9,647.53 to study a study. How do you see it?

Officials with Dallas-based closeout retailer Tuesday Morning on Wednesday did not immediately confirm the chain was planning an island store.

But city officials say Tuesday Morning is in the preliminary permitting stages for a store at 2727 61st St. in the shopping center anchored by Randalls.

The retailer would move into the space next to Traditional Designs.

With more than 850 stores, Tuesday Morning specializes in selling deeply discounted, upscale home furnishings, housewares, gifts and related items.

What makes it so unusual, is that it sells its name-brand merchandise on an "event basis," 10 times a year, coinciding with the industry's peak selling season, according to its promotional materials.

So, shoppers, what do you think? Any Tuesday Morning fans out there? Anyone find some great deals at a Tuesday Morning?

When should public entities curb business travel?

I've been wondering about that since Monday’s monthly meeting of the Port of Galveston’s governing board, when freshly sworn-in Trustee Benny Holland raised the issue.

Port staff asked whether any wharves board members planned to attend this year’s convention of the American Association of Port Authorities Sept. 11-15 in Seattle.

The port this year budgeted $15,870 for up to four wharves board members to attend. The port budgeted a total of $5,000 for some staff members to attend.

It’s unlikely that four board members would choose to attend the convention, nor is it likely the port would spend all money budgeted for the convention, Port Director Steve Cernak said.

But Holland questioned whether the port should spend any money sending wharves board members or staff to the conference.

The port should concentrate on traveling only if it means luring more cargo to the port or meeting with potential customers, Holland said.

Wharves board Chairman Roland L. Bassett and trustees Dianna Puccetti and John Tindel argued the AAPA conventions were informative and offered insight in trends that affect ports.

Here’s the agenda for the Seattle convention.

Cernak said it helps when trustees understand issues facing the port. The port is a member of the AAPA, which often lends a hand to its members on federal issues.

Attending the conference shows support of the association, Cernak said.

But Holland said he had concerns about what the port, owned by the public, gets out of it, particularly when money’s tight.

In October 2009, the five-day conference was in Galveston, luring about 500 maritime officials to the city and pumping about $2 million into the economy still limping from Hurricane Ike, port officials said.

The port, which isn’t supported by taxes, is on track to generate more than $25 million in gross operating revenues.

So, is attendance at such conventions part of doing business or a waste of money? Does it look bad if the port isn't represented?

Do you or your company get any benefits from trade conventions?

If you're a Kroger shopper, you've probably noticed that a huge chunk of parking lot at the supermarket has been sectioned off to make way for construction of a fuel station.

Here's a little background.

So when will work be complete? Kroger is hoping for a mid-August opening.

Grocers are increasingly promising low fuel prices to win customers. Does it work? Do you buy groceries based on where you can buy gas?

And which grocer or mass merchandiser such as Walmart has the best gas prices?

Owners plan a mid-June grand opening of Das Bier Haus, a traditional German beer garden, in 5,000 square feet of space at 2413 Strand in the island's downtown.

Penguin Holdings LLC is opening the bar. Gabriel Baker, a principal of the venture, reports the grand opening is tentatively planned for June 18, but the date could change as owners work to secure the proper permits.

The grand opening will feature a traditional “tapping of the keg” in front of the establishment with German refreshments and crew in German garb.

Patrons can expect a friendly, family owned beer garden with more than 250 varieties of brew available, Baker said.

Das Bier Haus will offer a “beer of the month” special, as well as a “stein club” for those have tried at least 200 varieties of beer at the establishment. Members of the stein club will get their names on a plaque on the wall

Tradtional German cuisine such as bratwurst, pretzels and strudel also will be available at the beer garden, Baker said.

Look for Das Bier Haus also to offer German chocolate, bon-bons, hard candies and the like.

Das Bier Haus will serve more German beer than anywhere on the island, but also will carry popular American and Mexican beers, Baker said.

What’s your favorite beer and do you plan to give Das Bier Haus a try?

Hungry for some weekend buzz?

Here are some restaurant-related items I’m working on for next week's Biz Buzz column:

• Details are scarce, but a rumor is circulating in Texas City that a new restaurant might be opening on Seventh Avenue and Sixth Street, at the old Texas City National Bank site. I'm working on it. But in the meantime, can anyone feed us more details?

• Elsewhere in Texas City, some readers wonder whether “Closed for Remodeling” is code for “Gone for Good.” Still no word from owners about reopening dates for Uncle Chan’s Super Buffet, 10510 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway.

One reader emailed to say: “We noticed that it was dark as a tomb over there for the past few days, so we drove over and saw the sign. The back door was open, and we could (see) someone in there, but I haven't seen anyone or any cars since. Every time I have seen a restaurant with a 'closed for remodeling' sign, it has never re-opened.”

Anyone know anything?

• Guatemalan chicken chain Pollo Campero, the largest fast-food chain in Latin America, plans to open a 2,382-square-foot eatery at 702 W. Bay Area Blvd. Pollo Campero's popularity rivals the Krispy Kreme doughnut craze, according to this report.

• Notice that land-clearing on Kobayashi Road between Academy Sports and Outdoors and Interstate 45 in Webster? As I previously buzzed, Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q is planning to build an eatery there.

• Here’s a good reason to climb out of bed. NADA and Que Café, 408 20th St. in the island’s downtown, have added a breakfast menu, reports owner David Watson.

The eatery now offers huevos rancheros, huevos a la Mexicana, breakfast quesadilla and three types of breakfast burritos. Plates include refried beans and potato sides. Fresh fruit also is available. All breakfast items are prepared in Que Café, but patrons order at the adjoining NADA coffee shop during the week because Que Café opens later.

Oh, and Que Café has added to its menu shrimp cocktail with avocado chunks and is offering cold chicken wraps pre-made to go for those who need to dash.

• Biz birthday: Business partners Vic Matthews and Mike Putnal (a former captain with the Galveston Police Department) are marking the second anniversary of their Russo’s New York Pizzeria franchise in the League City Town Center, on the southeast corner of Interstate 45 and FM 646 (in front of the Super Target).

New York Pizzeria, a franchise created by Anthony Russo, is famous for brick oven pizza by the slice or the pie. But the eatery also is known for salads, pasta dishes, Italian entrees and desserts.

An island business owner called today to report that a fight nearly ensued after at least five people were ticketed on the corner of 24th and Church streets for violating two-hour parking limits.

The two-hour parking signs went up last week and have caused quite a stir. The rule is in force in fringe areas where the city has not installed parking meters.

Last week, an island resident posted this on my Facebook wall: “2 hour parking signs went up in front of my building this morning and anywhere there are not parking meters. No notice. City worker said request was from police (department).”

Actually, there was some notice. But apparently no one noticed the notice. And it was some business owners, not police who requested the signs.

The city council in October voted to limit parking to two hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in areas without meters after some businesses complained that people hoping to avoid paying to park were hogging free spaces all day and driving away paying customers.



Click to Enlarge Map

In October, Daily News reporter Chris Paschenko wrote this story about Miguel Lopez, owner of Apache Mexican Cuisine, 511 20th St.

Before Hurricane Ike wiped out island parking meters, Apache patrons were required to feed the meter.

When the city reinstalled meters, it left off 20th Street off the paid parking list. People hoping to avoid meters parked for hours on end in front of the eatery while they spent money in other restaurants and bars. Not surprisingly, that frustrated Lopez.

I’ve always wondered how well anyone could enforce two-hour parking. The city installed the signage, but Ampco System Parking, which operates the meters installed between 20th and 25th streets from Harborside Drive to Postoffice Street, also will enforce the two-hour limit.

An Ampco employee told angry ticket receivers Wednesday that he could tell a car was parked in a space for more than two hours by taking pictures of a valve stem on the car. If he determined the valve stem hadn't moved in two hours, then he slapped a ticket on the car, according to the witness. (I hope to follow up later with more information about how Ampco goes about determining how long a car is parked in a space.)

When confronted by angry people who had been ticketed on Wednesday, Ampco employees wouldn't budge, the witness reports.

"I heard yelling in the street and looked out the window and that was what it was all about," he said. "They couldn't talk him out of it."

Does anyone else foresee the city council taking up the issue again soon? Are you for or against the two-hour limit?

Update: Murphy Yates confirmed that he's principal and partner in ISOLA Ventura LLC, which closed on the acquisition of Beacon Island on Friday. Read about the group's plans in Biz Buzz tomorrow.

Major real estate deals have been few and far between in the county lately. But at least one transaction is making waves.

Sources say that League City-based Harbour Classic Builders closed Friday on the acquisition of Beacon Island in League City, which before the real estate slump was set to be a 35-acre gated, luxury development with high- and mid-rise condominiums and 800 residential units.

(If you followed me on Twitter you’d already have known something was up with Beacon Island.)

It was unclear whether Harbour Classic Homes purchased the property from
The Verandah Cos. and Crow Holdings, who purchased it in December 2006 and changed the name from Lighthouse Island to Beacon Island.

The mortgage meltdown and economic downturn halted previous plans. But according to this sales brochure, much infrastructure work is complete.

On Monday, I left a message for Murphy Yates, a principal in Harbour Classic Homes, and hope to get some details about his plans for the parcel.

Beacon Island is on the south side of Clear Lake next to South Shore Harbour Marina. I’ll try to track down more details for tomorrow's Biz Buzz.