Business

• Top Story

League City sure is stocking up on grocery stores. The latest to stake a claim in the fast-growing and affluent market is Walmart, which is planning a 40,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market concept on the city’s west side.

TEXAS CITY — The fifth annual “Talent Has No Boundaries” job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 4 in the Wings of Heritage Room of the Nessler Center, 2010 Fifth Ave. N.

TEXAS CITY — A strike at Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay Refinery is something no one wanted to happen. But, the effects will extend much further than to just those who work for the nation’s fifth-largest oil refinery, local officials said.

If all the retail rumors recently running around become reality, the island can look forward to fresh crop of stores and restaurants in coming months.

Safety, hygiene and health are issues often overlooked — until something goes wrong. A College of the Mainland program prepares students for a successful career of preventing incidents and saving lives.

On course: With plunging oil prices, developers are deferring plans to build multibillion liquefied natural gas terminals at sites around the globe.

On Tuesday, chamber officials said Carnes Funeral Home would be the 2015 recipient of the Small Business of the Year Award.

• Top Story

TEXAS CITY — Marathon Petroleum will move out of a 90,000-square-foot office complex that housed many of its non-operation essential employees, company officials said.

• Centerpiece

Consumers are enjoying some of the cheapest gas in years as crude oil prices continue to free fall. But in a region where thousands of jobs are inextricably linked to oil and gas, not everyone is cheering.

The dirt: Readers are wondering about all that activity at 8502 Seawall Blvd. on a parcel previously occupied by Reef Resort Apartments. After years of planning, crews have begun foundation work on what will be a 100-room Best Western Plus. The Gandhi family, which is behind the five-story development, is working to secure the main building permit. Last week, Willis Gandhi said the city had been slow to grant the permit. This week, city officials said they had met with representatives of the development and, after a few more revisions, crews would be good to go. Michael Gaertner is the architect.

2014 was a big year for business news in Galveston County. The opening of a beloved mega-convenience store in Texas City, the announcement of hunting, fishing and camping purveyor Cabela’s planning a 72,000-square-foot League City store and big commitments from cruise liners at the Port of Galveston were among the top 10 business stories of the year:

• Featured

We revived a Biz Buzz Christmas tradition by asking readers which restaurants, stores and other businesses they’d like to see in their communities. The answers, given on Facebook, Buzz Blog and through emails, ranged from modest to highly ambitious. 

The dirt: Inquiring readers want to know about all the dirt turning west of Interstate 45 at Holland Road in Texas City. The activity, south of Tanger Outlets, 5885 I-45, is the early work for the residential phase of the long awaited Lago Mar, which will eventually bring thousands of houses to the area.

The night six people gathered around the TV at Tequila Mia’s restaurant in Kemah for an Ultimate Fighting Championship cage match, the owners had no idea it could cost them thousands.  

TEXAS CITY — Texas City commissioners gave the green light to a 67-acre commercial development on FM 2004 despite some opposition from residents of a nearby subdivision.

A now defunct Seabrook marine fuel supplier is facing a $71,000 lawsuit amid accusations that it sold counterfeit fuel to a Galveston marine services company. 

• Centerpiece

How significant is holiday shopping to Galveston County? How about $969 million? 

As banks prune the number of physical branches to reflect consumers’ online habits, they’re also sprucing up their automated teller machines.

Even while calling Tuesday’s event a success, and although shops downtown reported solid business, Mayor Matt Doyle is promising changes to the city’s annual shop local for the holidays effort.

Hunting grounds: When outdoor gear retailer Cabela’s said it would build a 72,000-square-foot store in League City, the news immediately triggered interest from other retailers, city officials confirm.

TEXAS CITY — Texas First Bank President and CEO Christopher C. Doyle was elected to serve a three-year term as a Group 1 Class A director on the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. 

• Centerpiece

TEXAS CITY — Spurred by a $1.4 million enticement, San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B plans before the year is done to begin demolishing an old building to make way for a 57,000-square-foot store just east of state Highway 146 and north of Palmer Highway.

Small Business Tuesday is about to take off!  Nov. 18 is just around the corner, and this is the opportunity to take advantage of great bargains, patronize local businesses, and beat the hustle and bustle of the Christmas rush!

After a little more than 11 years, Sudie's Seafood House, known for that large neon catfish hanging in the front, has closed its League City site.