Long way out: When The Daily News last week reported Landry’s Restaurants planned to make repairs to the island’s Flagship Hotel, some residents and tourists cheered. Hurricane Ike badly damaged the 225-room hotel, 2501 Seawall Blvd., a prominent eyesore closed since the storm struck a year ago.
For those who missed this week’s Buzz Blog, Landry’s CEO Tilman Fertitta wants to clarify the company’s position. Fertitta doesn’t want to give the false impression that repairs are certain or will be immediate, he said.
“The plans for the revitalization of the Flagship could be a long way out,” Fertitta said in a letter.
There are some obstacles to overcome and issues to work out with the city of Galveston before Landry’s could move ahead with repairs, Fertitta said. He did not elaborate about the obstacles.
“While I would like to see renovations happen, there is a possibility the hotel could be sold or demolished. Your article suggested that some type of remedy was soon forthcoming and I felt it gave a false hope to your readers,” Fertitta said.
In June, Landry’s said it was considering selling or demolishing the 44-year-old property it purchased in 2004. If Landry’s was unable to sell the hotel, it would demolish it and put amusement rides in its place without rebuilding a hotel, officials said in June.
Last week, after inquiries from The Daily News, Steve Greenberg, vice president of governmental affairs for Landry’s, said the Houston-based company was considering the latest option — renovating the hotel and also adding amusement attractions, which is true. Neither Greenberg nor The Daily News offered a timeline for repairs.
“No one would like to see the hotel and pier revived better than me,” Fertitta said.
Stay tuned. Want to talk about it? Visit Buzz Blog, galvnews.com.
Bookmark: Are we all on the same page? Sharan Zwick today will mark the 10th anniversary of becoming the official owner of Galveston Bookshop, 317 23rd St. The downtown island store traces its beginning to 1991.
Like many downtown businesses, it was swamped with storm surge from Hurricane Ike. But business has been good at the store, which made a post-Ike return in November.
“We’ve been really been busy,” Zwick said.
Galveston Bookshop is the only general bookstore remaining on the island. It sells used books but also carries a selection of new Galveston books and new books that are on school and club reading lists. For information, call 409-750-8200.
Bumper crop: Looks like months of planning finally will reap a farmers market for League City. Rick Wade, secretary for the League City Chamber of Commerce, reports that a venue where consumers can buy fruit and vegetables directly from area producers likely would debut in April. Officials are scouting for potential sites, Wade said.
Wade, who on Jan. 1 becomes chairman-elect of the chamber, said League Park, 500 E. Main St., is one of several sites being considered for the farmers market.
Farmers markets are gaining popularity as more consumers want to know more about the sources of their food, observers say. Also, locally grown food takes less energy to distribute, which appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported 4,685 farmers markets operating in the United States, a 170 percent increase from a decade ago.
Good Medicine: Santa Fe’s Medicine Man Pharmacy will mark its July return Friday with hot dogs, soft drinks and giveaways by radio station KILT. The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 13250 state Highway 6. The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce also will conduct a ribbon cutting. Before it closed for about two years, Medicine Man had been dispensing prescriptions in Santa Fe for about 30 years.
