Laura Elder's Buzz Blog

Moody buys a mansion off the island

Mon, 21 May 2012 16:30:00 CDT

A member of the islands prominent Moody family has plunked down $1,025,750 for a mansion, but its not in Galveston. Island businessman Robert Moody Jr. on May 10 was the winning bidder in an auction of an estate home on 50 acres just west of Nacogdoches.

Robert Moody Jr.'s new mansion west of Nacogdoches

Moody, son of Robert L. Moody, who runs American National Insurance Co. and whose family controls tourist complex Moody Gardens, also acquired the majority of adjacent tracts of land.

The property was auctioned off in an event conducted by National Auction Group.

Moody outbid nine other registered participants, each of whom was required to bring $50,000 in the form of business check, personal check or certified funds to bid on the estate home and $10,000 for each additional adjacent tract. Danny Bates of Nacogdoches bought one of the tracts.

It wasn't immediately clear on Monday whether Moody, who heads
Moody Insurance Group, plans to use the estate home or considers it an investment.

The residence is the centerpiece of a functioning blueberry farm of several acres, which also generates revenue and provides some healthy snacking for the owner. Also, the blueberry farm has a packing building and walk-in cooler.

The house boasts four bedrooms and six-and-a-half baths in more than 9,000 square feet.

The exterior is made of Arkansas and Tennessee stonewalls. The home features a custom standing seam copper roof. The first floor boasts a dramatic den with a sizeable stone fireplace with a large hearth and a surrounding stone floor.

A large glassed-in atrium with a wrap-around redwood deck overlooking the lake surrounds the front porch among other amenities.

Tutti Frutti heats up cold wars

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:30:00 CDT

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 wont be able to get the Tutti Frutti song out of my head today. And Im also hungry.

But I digress.

With more than 50 flavors and 580 stores worldwide, Tutti Frutti is a popular chain. Im not certain about an opening date, but I am certain that frozen yogurt franchises are bent on infiltrating the county and Clear Lake area.

As Ive previously blogged, Oklahoma-based yogurt purveyor Orange Leaf is preparing to soon open an island shop, 6606 Seawall Blvd. Last fall, Menchies Frozen Yogurt opened at 301 W. Parkwood Ave. in Friendswood. About the same time, Berrylicious Frozen Yogurt opened a shop at 1628 S. Friendswood Drive.

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 Rubiks 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?

Do you have a favorite franchise?

BeQuay planned for old Pho 20 site

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:25:00 CDT

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 werent 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?

Cheesecake Factory at Baybrook Mall?

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:00 CDT

Ive 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? Whats your favorite cheesecake flavor or dish at the restaurant?

Pssst. Possible Tanger tenant lineup

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:00 CDT

Representatives for Tanger Factory Outlet Centers and Simon Property Group have been slow to offer fresh updates about retailers who will occupy the jointly developed 90-store outlet mall in Texas City.

But inquiring shoppers want answers. Now.

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, Im 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 womens clothing store Chicos, which left downtown Galveston after Hurricane Ike. Bass Shoes also is returning, as is Van Heusen. Both also left the islands downtown after the September 2008 storm. Before that, they had departed La Marque's outlet mall, now called Gulfway Plaza.

Womens clothing retailer New York & Co., which left Mall of the Mainland several years ago, also is on the retail roster.

The list I provide below the site map isnt 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.

Courtesy Photo - Enlarge Image

In no particular order, here are tenants named on that plan.

Old Navy

Direct Tools (sells paint sprayers, power tools and accessories, grills, pressure washers and more).

Under Armour (sport clothing apparel and gear)

Guess

Disney Store (as previously buzzed)

Puma

New York & Co.

Clarks-Bostonian (fashionable footwear and accessories for men and women)

Bass Shoes (Bass walked out of La Marque and Galveston markets several years ago.)

Kitchen Collection (gadgets, tools and small appliances)

Chicos

Talbots

J. Crew

Banana Republic

Michael Kors

Calvin Klein

Cole Haan

Ann Taylor

Kenneth Cole

Aldo

Sperry/Saucony (athletic shoes)

Van Heusen

Converse

Nike

Finish Line (athletic shoes, gear)

Jones New York

Nine West

BCBG

Fossil

NYDJ (Not Your Daughters Jeans)

Naturalizer

Kasper

Famous Footwear

Crocs

Justice (girls clothing)

Columbia Sportswear

Gap

Aeropostale

U.S. Polo Association (brand products sanctioned by the United States Polo Association, the governing body for the sport of polo).

Polo (sells Ralph Lauren apparel)

Lane Bryant

Tommy Hilfiger

Reebok

JoS A. Bank Clothiers

Loft (womens clothing)

Hartstrings (childrens clothing)

The Uniform Outlet (Hmm. This outlet store already has a store in La Marques Gulfway Plaza).

Carters (childrens clothing)

The Childrens Place

Gymboree

Lids (hats)

Samsonite

Robert Wayne (more athletic footwear)

American Eagle Outfitters (trendy clothing)

Kay Jewelers

Elizabeth Arden (cosmetics)

Ultra (diamonds)

Sunglass Hut

Vans

Haggar

Perry Ellis

Brooks Brothers

Coach

Zumiez (snowboarding and skateboarding shoes, clothing)

Journeys (shoes)

Skechers (shoes, shapeups, boots)

Starbucks

New eatery planned at Pier 21

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:25:00 CDT

Island-based Galveston Restaurant Group continues to serve up big news and fresh concepts, this week announcing plans to open Nonno Tonys World Kitchen at Pier 21 on the island.

Look for a late summer opening of Nonno Tonys World Kitchen, which will offer Italian, Asian fusion, Creole and traditional American fare all served from an open-style kitchen.

Nonno Tonys 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 Paulies Bar, offering an extensive beer and wine list.

Nonno, is Italian for grandfather and pays homage to Galveston Restaurant Groups patriarch, Tony Smecca, who is father to two of the company partners Johnny and Joey Smecca. Paulies 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 Tonys 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.

Galveston Restaurant Group is a company to watch with a lot on its plate. It owns and operates five restaurants in Galveston and Little Daddys Gumbo Bar in League City. Last month, it announced its most popular concepts Sky Bar Steak & Sushi and Gumbo Bar would be trading spaces in the islands downtown.

In the Nonno venture, the company will lease space from Mitchell Historic Properties.

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 Tonys World Kitchen in an existing building, just south of Olympia Grill at Pier 21.

What's that building on Harborside?

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:50:00 CDT

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, isnt 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.

So, what do you think of the BoneVoyage concept?