Bike repair shop starts fresh cycle

Like thousands of other Galvestonians, Joey Chavarria was caught up in a blur of activity while preparing to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Rita’s arrival in late September.

He secured a few things at his bicycle repair shop and put his computer hard drive on a table in case water seeped in. The shop had been open for only about five months and turned its first profit the week before Rita rolled in.

Being in shock hardly describes how he felt when he learned his shop was gutted when flames swept through the old Fraternal Order of Eagles building at 1906 Postoffice during the storm.

“How could you know it would catch fire,” said Chavarria. “I lost all of my own bikes and four customers’ bikes.”

Chavarria pressed on, and is in a hurried yet optimistic mood this week while getting ready for a fresh start. His Island Cycle Repairs should open next Tuesday at 2505 Market St. His plan is to start off with repairs and branch out to limited sales of higher-end bikes for serious racers or those looking for a reliable set of wheels for daily transportation.

Handing out the silverware: The Historic Downtown Galveston Partnership held its 12th annual awards dinner Tuesday night. Incoming board president Angela Brown presented awards to: John Smith and Jeff Modzelewski (Volunteers of the Year); Tremont House Hotel (Creative Storefront); Antiques on Postoffice Street (Downtown Beautification); Panama Hotel/Andrew Kaldis and GPM Inc./MBP Corp. (Downtown Development); Galveston Historical Foundation (Downtown Promotion); Sky Bar owners Atique and Habiba Rahman (Edwin J. Weiss Spirit Award); Maureen Patton (George P. Mitchell Entrepreneur Award); and David Murphy and Ernie Connor (Downtown Renaissance Hall of Fame).

Ready to move: The Pizza Inn franchise at 1813 61st St. in Galveston is getting ready to close and move to 4112 Seawall Blvd., next to Baskin Robbins. The new location is expected to open sometime in February.

Coif connection: Heather Arnold, who is moving her former Shear Perfection salon to Tiki Plaza just off Interstate 45 at Tiki Island, has a new business name to go along with the new digs: Hair’em.

Prestigious gig: Galveston architect David Watson, whose firm is working on the continuing restoration of Rosenberg Library, has been hired to renovate the 1927 Ben Lomond Hotel in Ogden, Utah, a well-heeled ski resort. Watson’s firm, David Watson Architect & Associates, will turn the former 350-room hotel into a 130-room luxury suite condo-hotel.

Dutch treat: Former employees and anyone else needing a seafood fix is invited to the 25th anniversary of The Flying Dutchman Restaurant & Oyster Bar at the Kemah Boardwalk. The party starts at 6 p.m. Monday with free food and entertainment.

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