New tenant rolling into old Texas City Kmart

Bout time: After years of sitting empty, the former Kmart, 3502 Palmer Highway in Texas City, is finally getting a new tenant. Esther Conolly confirms signing the lease for 25,000 square feet of the building that will soon house an all-female roller derby.

Conolly owns South Side Roller Derby with Brenda Cooper and Mary Jo Gould.

South Side Roller Derby outgrew its Pearland site, Conolly, a dental hygienist in Texas City, said. When renovations are complete, the Texas City site will become the fifth banked roller derby track in the nation, Conolly said. Roller derby’s popularity has been growing for years and was heightened by the 2009 movie “Whip It.” The film was about a small-town girl who dreams of freedom in the nearby “big city” of Austin, where she discovers a roller derby league.

If all goes as planned, bouts (matches or games) will begin at the Texas City track by April, Conolly said. For information about the roller derby group, visit southsiderollerderby.com.

Texas City officials had hoped for years a new tenant would occupy the vacant Kmart building, state Highway 146 and the north side of Palmer Highway. Kmart left the building vacant about 20 years ago. After Kmart left, Silvestri Investments subdivided the building, which fell into disrepair. City officials demanded Silvestri bring the property up to code.

Side note: Nearby businesses also are cheering the arrival of South Side Roller Derby. Larry Roberts, who owns bar Palmer Club, 3500 Palmer Highway, said he hoped to get the proper permits and licenses to be a vendor at derby events. On a side note, Roberts wants all the islanders to know his bar welcomes smokers. Galveston’s strict smoking ban at restaurants and bars went into effect Jan. 1.

Batter up: For those who missed Buzz Blog, Backe’s Bullpen is opening this week near Dickinson. The sports bar, 2709 Dickinson Ave., will open at 11:30 a.m. today. Former Houston Astros starting pitcher Brandon Backe and relatives are behind the venture. Although the sports bar, in unincorporated county territory, plans to serve up burgers and other fare, it won’t be doing so immediately, said Harold Backe, who is Brandon’s father.

Brandon Backe, who parted ways with the Astros last year, was born in Galveston and makes his home in League City, according to reports. Want to talk about it? Visit Buzz Blog at galvnews.com.

Market watch: Look for the island’s downtown to offer a new outdoor market next month. The Historic Downtown Strand Seaport Partnership will sponsor an outdoor market at Saengerfest Park, 23rd and The Strand. The Market on The Strand, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will be on the third Saturday beginning Feb. 20. The market will showcase local artisans, handcrafters, growers and food vendors. For information, call Jacquelyn Tarpy, 409-621-2092.

Tree talk: When a reader asked Buzz to inquire about who might be selling Christmas ornaments made of oak wood from trees killed by Hurricane Ike storm surge, several entrepreneurs and organizations responded.

Patty Peacock, who, with husband, Ken, owns J.P. Express Food Store at 1928 Broadway, has been making jewelry, Christmas ornaments and various trinkets from what she calls Ike Oak.

“When the crews started removing our precious trees last summer, I started collecting pieces from the various locations and documenting them,” Peacock e-mailed.

“So, when I make pieces out of it, I include a little card telling where that piece once lived.”

Peacock has made pieces from trees that once graced the grounds of such historic venues as Moody Mansion, Galveston City Hall, Ashton Villa, Rosenberg Library and more.

For information, contact Peacock by e-mail at kukubabes(at)aol.com.

Meanwhile, The Grand 1894 Opera House on the island will participate in the April 17 Artwalk on the island. The Grand, 2020 Postoffice St., will feature groups who have made items from trees downed by the storm. Some groups will offer wine stoppers, pens and bowls.

Some of the proceeds will help pay for the replanting of the trees.

Look for more tree information about where to find Ike Oak next week in Biz Buzz.