Backe to business? County officials confirm site work has begun on a venture near Dickinson backed by former Houston Astros starting pitcher Brandon Backe, his relatives or both. Earlier this year, this column reported an establishment by the name of Backe’s Bullpen, 2709 Dickinson Ave., was seeking the proper paperwork from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
For those keeping stats, Backe’s Bullpen is very near Dickinson, but not, as the column initially reported, in city limits. The bar/restaurant is in unincorporated territory in the county, where there are no zoning restrictions. Backe, who parted ways with the Astros in June, did not return phone calls about the venture. Although an island native, Backe makes his home in League City, according to reports. Stay tuned.
Oh Captain, our Captain: The building that housed West End eatery Captain’s Table, 11126 FM 3005, has met its official end, courtesy of Hurricane Ike and city codes. Owners Ronny and Annie Crouch, who bought the popular eatery in 1996, had the building torn down last week. The city, calling the storm-wrecked building a danger, required the demolition.
The building was home to various restaurants for 40 years. On Thursday, Ronny and Annie Crouch threw a party to bid farewell and to celebrate all the good times and memories. About 40 people attended the event. Captain’s Table was renowned for its flounder and prime rib.
“It’s just amazing. Every time we go to Wal-Mart, we see old customers who beg us to reopen,” Annie Crouch said.
“It’s nice to know that what we did touched people’s lives and they miss it, too.”
Because more than 50 percent of the building was damaged, the building would have to be raised to meet city elevation requirements. Such requirements made rebuilding too expensive, Crouch said.
But she wanted the restaurant’s fans to know: “How much we appreciate everybody’s patronage and support over the years.”
New twists: A historic island hotel has a made a modern addition. The Tremont House, 2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row downtown, has opened Tremont Cafe. The cafe serves up Starbucks coffee, house-made pastries, gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts and more. It replaces the Merchant Prince.
Billed as a cyber gourmet cafe, the eatery’s amenities include a 42-inch plasma TV that can be connected to monitors and also Internet booths and free Wi-Fi.
The breakfast menu items include, quiche, egg sandwich, breakfast burrito and even breakfast pizza and assorted pastries. Lunch and dinner options range from salads and deli sandwiches to gourmet pizzas, including such fare as the Texas Two Step with barbecue beef and jack cheese or wild mushroom and roasted garlic flatbread.
Jerry Helminski, chef to the Hotel Galvez, The Tremont House and Harbor House — all owned by island preservationists George and Cynthia Mitchell — created the menu for the restaurant.
“The menu is a fusion of classic favorites with fun and whimsical twists,” Helminski said.
“Like our menu says, ‘Your belly will love our deli,’ although we’re more than just a deli.”
Tremont Cafe is open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays; 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
Car wars: Automotive care stores are revving up the competition in League City. First, Bloomingdale, Ill.-based Bridgestone Retail Operations has opened Firestone Complete Auto Care at 1831 Interstate 45. The retailer of passenger and light truck tires also offers repairs, routine maintenance and diagnostics.
Not far away, Juno Beach, Fla.-based National Tire and Battery opened a new automotive service center, 2488 I-45. NTB is a tire and automotive service center.
Buzz blooper: An item in Thursday’s Biz Buzz should have said Galveston Insurance Associates has been on the island since 1892.
