Hip to be Square: Houston-based development firm Griffin Partners isn’t letting a tough economy slow progress at Nassau Bay Town Square, a 31-acre development at the intersection of NASA Parkway and Saturn Lane.
The development, which will include 73,000 square feet of retail space, already has attracted Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Verizon and Baker St. Pub.
All have signed leases.
Also, a wine bar, an eatery specializing in hot wings and a fast-casual Mexican restaurant all have signed letters of intent to move into development, reports the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.
Besides retail, Nassau Bay Town Square will include multifamily residential developments, a 200-room hotel, conference center and three office buildings.
A 313-unit apartment complex already is under construction at the development.
“That’s pretty nice when you look at the current state of the economy, they’re still moving forward,” Nassau Bay city manager Chris Reed said.
Streets for the development are expected to be complete in about a month, with retail construction beginning soon after, the partnership reports.
In April 2007, Griffin Partners announced it had acquired and would demolish 12 aging office buildings next to Johnson Space Center to make way for the development.
High Five: Meanwhile, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, which started in 1986 in Arlington, Va., began turning up the heat in the burger scene this year, with plans to open 50 restaurants in the Houston area market, according to reports.
Five Guys, which boasts nearly 400 restaurants in 25 states, is best known for juicy burgers with unlimited toppings. But foodies also rave about the hot dogs.
Buzz attempted Wednesday to grill corporate officials about expansion in the county, but they could not immediately be reached for comment. Stay tuned.
Seeds to sew: When Alex Rodriguez died of heart disease in 2007, his son, Joel, wanted to do something to honor his memory.
In June, he launched Quilting Cures, a home-based business in Texas City.
The business sells quilts and donates some of the proceeds to a charity of the buyer’s choice.
Rodriguez learned the quilting craft from his mother.
Friends and family liked his quilts so much, they started buying them, encouraging him to go into business.
Rodriguez might open a retail store in Texas City or Dickinson, he said.
For information, call 832-382-2302 or visit http://www.quilt
ing-cures.com.
Fifth wheel deals: Two mainland RV parks are under new ownership.
A venture going by WGB RV Parks LLC has purchased Lazy Days RV Park, 6202 Delany Road in Hitchcock and Little Texas Thicket Resorts, 408 Volney Road, in La Marque.
Combined, the RV parks have 130 slips. Lazy Days is planning a celebration from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, serving up hot dogs, barbecue, snow cones and offering a moon walk for children.
For information, call 409-986-4900.
Every picture ... The island’s Ike Anniversary Committee is asking merchants and businesses from The Strand to Postoffice Streets to submit before-and-after Hurricane Ike photos (digital or film) and their business logos to Kathy VanDewalli at The Grand 1894 Opera House.
VanDewalli is designing a story board for each business.
The boards will be displayed Sept. 12 during the Evening of Remembrance events.
Deadline to submit the photos is Wednesday.
For information, call 409-763-7173, Ext. 5056 or e-mail vande
walli(at)thegrand.com.
Biz Buzz appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. We welcome your tips and suggestions. Call 409-683-5248 or e-mail laura.elder(at)galvnews.com.
