The Galveston County Daily News

Welcome back: Here’s sweet news for all those clamoring for post-Ike status reports about La King’s Confectionery in the island’s downtown.

After nearly a year spent making storm repairs, the popular shop has returned.

“I thought it would never happen,” owner Jack King said.

Although there’s still some work to do, the shop is open and selling ice cream treats and chocolates. La King’s also is making fudge and serving coffee drinks.

The shop has a large candy inventory but is awaiting more display cabinets. And it could be a week before La King’s is able to make that saltwater taffy for which it’s famous.

“We’re working on the machinery now,” King said.

La King’s, like so many downtown shops, was swamped with storm surge.

Everything had to be replaced or repaired at the 32-year-old shop.

For information, call 409-762-6100.

Want to talk about it? Visit Buzz Blog at galvnews.com.

Smokin’ dish: After months of waiting, Capital Q is smoking its famous barbecue on the island.

As promised, Nick Fontana and business partners have opened the eatery, 1228 Seawall Blvd., in the building formerly occupied by Nate’s Steakhouse.

Fontana and partners have some high-ranking fans. Their Washington, D.C., Capital Q catered inaugural festivities for George W. Bush in 2000 and also a White House farewell for the former president.

Fontana, who has owned an island home for four years, is the nephew of well-known lawyer and Judge James Piperi, who presided over a family court back in mid-1930s.

Initially, Capital Q is serving up barbecue cafeteria style. But look for the eatery to add other dishes, including fish tacos, fried fish and gumbo, smoked prime rib and whole fried red snapper.

Fontana and business partners also own Cantina Marina, known for Gulf Coast and Cajun specialties, on D.C.’s southwest waterfront.

The island restaurant has a full liquor license and is serving up frozen margaritas and beer on the patio.

Capital Q also will offer live music. On Friday, popular island band The Line Up is playing.

The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. and serves lunch and dinner.

For information, call 409-974-4590.

Fresh catch: For those who missed last week’s Buzz Blog, Santa Fe has reeled in a new seafood restaurant.

Look for Santa Fe Seafood and Grill to open in the Santa Fe Business Park, FM 1764 and state Highway 6, Don Farmer, developer of the center, reported.

Bunna Hong, owner of the popular Manvel Seafood & Grill, will open the eatery.

Hong cited Santa Fe’s growth and a need for more casual dining for choosing the city, Farmer said.

Look for the 5,000-square-foot restaurant to open in about 90 days.

Santa Fe Business Park is home to fitness club Curves for Women, Boca Tan and financial advising firm Edward Jones.

With the addition of Santa Fe Seafood and Grill, the center has about 2,400 square feet available for lease, Farmer said.

The dirt: All that land clearing along Emmett F. Lowry and near College of the Mainland is for a 252-unit apartment complex, officials with Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce confirm.

The NRP Group is behind the project, dubbed Costa Mariposa.

The NRP Group, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is known for building moderate-income housing through Section 42 house credits.

In such programs, owners are offered reductions in their tax liability in exchange for offering quality housing at fixed rents. Stay tuned.

Waiting to inhale: In the age of e-mail and e-commerce, now comes e-smoke.

A business by the name of Light N Go has set up a cart at the Mall of the Mainland in Texas City selling electronic cigarettes.

Cousins Ryan and Nathan Gustafson opened the store earlier this month at the mall, 10000 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway.

The vending cart is near the Cinemark movie theater.

The electronic cigarette is battery-powered and delivers nicotine without the smoke, tar and carbon monoxide.

E-cigarettes release a nicotine-based water vapor when the user inhales.

Because burning of tobacco isn’t involved, manufacturers tout them as perfectly legal substitutes in places where smoking is banned.

Some consumers use e-cigarettes in smoking cessation programs.

The e-cigarette could come in handy for smokers on the island, where elected officials last week banned smoking in public places, including all bars and restaurants.