Rooftop report: Developments of single-family rental houses are part of a hot national trend that continues to take hold in the county, most recently emerging in League City. And the idea of a subdivision of rental properties concerns some members of the Bay Colony West Homeowners Association.
A sought-after seaside restaurant, community room and spaces for private events like weddings and reunions are among the uses anticipated for the new Stewart Pavilion. While still a long way from being a reality, the structure recently advanced to a new planning stage.
Ribbon cutting
One of the perks of my job at the Park Board is being able to attend conferences in places throughout the U.S. Since my career here began, I’ve been able to visit cities in states that include Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.
Building buy: A long-time Galveston facility, founded by billionaire and philanthropist Robert L. Moody Sr., has acquired a 43,000-square-foot building in Nassau Bay with plans to move.
Artificial intelligence: Will Texas City soon be home to the state’s largest man-made lagoon?
WEBSTER
Double trouble: A little less than five months after opening a coffee shop at which baristas in bikinis or lacy little numbers served caffeinated beverages, Trevor Lohr and Juan Martinez have closed Double Cups, 241 S. Egret Bay Blvd. in League City.
Pizza is a $128 billion business worldwide.
Technology has made it easy for us to visit anywhere in the world through a screen. But, you never really know a place unless you see it for yourself.
Circle around: Some readers are wondering about Circle K signs at Valero Corner Stores. Those are signs of big changes.
The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce will partner with the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce to co-host a Call to Action on Windstorm Reform Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Seibel Wing at Galveston College at 4015 Ave. Q in Galveston.
For the third consecutive year, the Galveston Park Board is inviting Galveston residents — and anyone curious about the organization’s finances — to a public budget presentation and workshop. Here, attendees can ask questions and get some clarity about restricted funds, grants, local matches…
Judging by the traffic along the seawall during the busy summer season, it’s pretty clear that Galveston’s beaches are the island’s biggest draw. But there’s so much more to Galveston than sand and sea, and the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau is working to spread the word abo…
Winds of change: Owners of the 130,000-square-foot Tradewinds Shopping Center in Texas City are in negotiations to lease about 70,000 square feet to a variety of tenants, some national, they confirmed this week. Because the negotiations are underway, Wingfield Partners, which last year bough…
Haus call: If good things come to those who wait, then fans of King’s Bierhaus should have good things coming.
WEBSTER
Oftentimes, the sales industry can be a competitive world. As a result of this, a group of Convention and Visitors Bureau sales directors in Austin realized collaboration is a key to their success, so they created the Regional Alliance of Destination Sales Experts.
Check-in lane: For nearly a year, Dickinson residents have anxiously sought updates about the post-Harvey return of Ziegler’s Foods, 2308 FM 517.
Island real estate sales and selling prices both saw increases of about 5 percent in the first six month of the year, driven largely by buyers seeking to retire in Galveston.
DICKINSON
Keeping beaches clean and protecting animal life along the coast are tasks that, at some times, can be at odds with one another. Charged with doing both, the Park Board recently made some changes to its beach cleaning policy — and some island residents may have questions about these decisions.
Major coop: Anyone else hear all that clucking? Crews last week were busy preparing to demolish the building that Baytown Seafood freshly vacated at Palmer Plaza shopping center, where a much-awaited Chick-fil-A will rise.
One of the best ways to know what your customers think about your product is to ask them. And that’s exactly what the Park Board is doing when it comes to its beach parks.
Martini with a twist: Any movement at the Martini Theatre building in the island’s downtown causes a stir. So, don’t be surprised to soon see crews working on the old 990-seat movie theater’s roof or painting the exterior of the building at 21st and Church streets.
League City failed in its bid to become the site of Amazon’s second headquarters, but several local officials said the process showed much about the region’s potential.
Takeout tattle: Island-born billionaire Tilman Fertitta is driving his latest acquisition into Galveston — food delivery startup Waitr.
One great thing about working here at the Park Board is the opportunity for professional development. It’s encouraged on many fronts and recently, two employees took their first steps to obtaining a prestigious industry certification.
La Marque City Councilman Chris Lane is seeking program participants and volunteers to facilitate a free youth financial literacy program in partnership with Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas.
The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce’s leadership program, Leadership Galveston, is now accepting applications for the Class of 2019.
Rooftop report: Is this the rise of the single-family rental in the county? Crews have begun work on roughly 150 houses on 40 acres in Saltgrass Crossing Section No. 2 in La Marque. The development, with access at Saltgrass Springs Lane off FM 2004 and Saltgrass Point Boulevard off FM 1765, …
In a little more than four years, more than 900 Galveston-based employees have been trained to be Certified Tourism Ambassadors. And many more are making plans to receive this designation.
The latest business briefs.
According to the American Sport Fishing Association, recreational sport fishing is an economic powerhouse. The industry is growing in the areas of participation and spending, and Galveston is poised to get in on the action.
Bated buzz: An inquiring reader emailed to ask: “Do you have any additional information regarding the new Costco around Bay Area Boulevard? There are many of us in the Galveston area waiting with bated breath for information on an opening date.”
Pier pressure: The rumor that retailer Pier 1 Imports is closing its Galveston store isn’t true. But the store, 6228 Broadway, will undergo an extensive makeover, employees at the store confirmed last week.
Sometimes, the best laid plans need to be tweaked. That’s the case for the Park Board’s Coastal Zone Management (CZM) team when it comes to cleaning up after busy days.
Wouldn’t it be great if every weekend were a three-day weekend? This summer, the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is tempting island visitors to take an extra vacation day by offering Sunday night fireworks every week during the summer.
Hammer time: The construction fence is up and crews are soon expected to begin work on a 134-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites in the 3200 block of Seawall Blvd.
The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce has been named one of 13 Communications Excellence Grand Award winners by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Tex tattle: A long vacant island restaurant building soon will be home to a purveyor of specialty cheesesteak sandwiches — Texas style.
In April last year, Biz Buzz reported about the imminent opening of Barge 295 in the former site of the Turtle Club at the end of a pier on Clear Lake, 2613 E. NASA Parkway in Seabrook. After 33 years, the Turtle Club, known as Lance’s Turtle Club, closed on New Year’s Eve 2016. It was consi…
The tourism industry is big business. Here in Galveston, the economic impact of tourism was more than $1 billion last year. A new degree program at Texas A&M Galveston is looking to prepare graduates for success in the industry.
On Thursday, communities all across the globe will celebrate World Oceans Day, and Galveston is no exception. To commemorate this special day, the Galveston Park Board and local conservation group Artist Boat will host a free festival at the Stewart Beach pavilion.
Coffee coup: Can caffeine stimulate a revitalization in La Marque’s downtown? City officials think so. Those officials last week announced Art of Coffee would be the first tenant at 401 Laurel St., a building in the La Marque Renaissance District. Coffee shop owners Jimmy Sims and Bill Minak…
Wade A. Kilpatrick is a patient man. And a stubborn one, too.
Tail wagger: There’s more evidence that area residents will spare no expense to make their pets happy.
The beach nourishment project along the seawall that was completed last May was quite an undertaking. More than 1 million cubic yards of sand was placed on the beach between 10th and 61st streets. And a national conservation organization has taken notice.
Land lines: Luxury waterfront community Harborwalk, which in September fended off a foreclosure sale of various parcels and properties, has a new owner and a debt-free future for the first time in its existence.
My family and I had to hunker down at our West End home for a morning last month when athletes from the Ironman 70.3 were in town. It was tough to get around for a few hours, but based on an economic impact report for the event, I think it was worth it.
One of the best parts about living where other people go on vacation is that we residents can experience our own vacations whenever we want. This summer, there are many free, fun activities on the horizon brought to you by the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and its partners.
It isn’t unusual to order hot wings and beer with a side of cleavage at any one of the many so-called breastaurants, including Hooters or Twin Peaks. But this is new ground for the county.
Galveston Island welcomed seven million visitors in 2017, up from 6.5 million in 2016. The numbers reflect a record-breaking tourism season that has a far-reaching impact to the island.
Medical alert: The shocking announcement Friday that Bay Area Regional Hospital would close, lay off 900 people and file for bankruptcy raised questions about other projects by Medistar Corp., which invested $200 million in developing the nine-story, 375,000-square-foot acute-care hospital, …
Water watchers at the Port of Galveston will soon start to notice the MV Lester Fuller in the waters around the port more.
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