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.
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?
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.
Circle around: Some readers are wondering about Circle K signs at Valero Corner Stores. Those are signs of big changes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Takeout tattle: Island-born billionaire Tilman Fertitta is driving his latest acquisition into Galveston — food delivery startup Waitr.
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, …
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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, …
Retail detail: After months of rumors and much speculation, Houston development firm Edifis Group has divulged details about plans for the 98,816-square-foot Palmer Plaza shopping center in the 3400 block of Palmer Highway in Texas City.
Hammer time? If all goes as planned, crews in June will begin long-awaited work on a six-story parking garage and an apartment complex in a development that will save what remains of the historic Medical Arts Building and ease parking woes in the island’s downtown.
If you've heard rumors about a popular Houston and Dallas concept planning to serve up a Galveston version at 2410 Strand, it's just Hearsay — the actual name of the concept is Hearsay Galveston.
Project Manager Jodi Montemayor last week said engineering was in the design phase and Dickinson Economic Development Corp. officials were about six months from going out for construction bids on the project planned for state Highway 3, across from Dickinson’s City Hall and library.
The island continues to establish itself as a craft beer destination with the recent opening of Devil and the Deep Brewery, 2425 Postoffice St. — the storefront faces 25th Street — in Galveston’s downtown.
Michael Martini, who owns the downtown building — on the corner of 21st and Church streets — last week said crews were cleaning up damage from Hurricane Ike, which struck in 2008.
Plugged in: Islanders shouldn’t be surprised if they start seeing more Tesla automobiles cruising around town.
Medical alert: After months of construction and many inquiries from Buzz readers, Hospitality Health ER plans a March 30 opening of its 4222 Seawall Blvd. site.
Icon Bank confirmed last week it was the prevailing bidder in a foreclosure sale of multiple tracts, lots and property at luxury West End island development Bayside at Waterman’s, which includes the newly renovated Stewart Mansion.
Plans developing for site of former Texas City H-E-B; Local Staples plans to close
Mudbug mission: Crews are about a month away from completing a massive crawfish and shrimp processing facility on Dike Road in Texas City that for months has generated much buzz.
Steak out: Inquiring readers are hungry for answers about the opening day status of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in Bay Colony Town Center, 2955 S. Interstate 45, in League City.
Can we call this a boom? Downtown Galveston is bustling as businesses expand or open new concepts.
Smokin’ buzz: Five long months after Hurricane Harvey badly flooded its building, Dickinson Bar-B-Que & Steakhouse, 2111 FM 517, has reopened. And owners Keith and Holly Lilley had some encouraging words for other area businesses and homeowners still battling to recover from the devastat…
Retail rumblings: An unconfirmed but intriguing rumor is making the rounds that no-frills grocer Aldi and clothing retailer Ross Dress for Less plan stores at Palmer Plaza in the 3400 block of Palmer Highway in Texas City. It’s the same shopping center Chick-fil-A has been pecking around.
Room service: Friendswood attorney and developer Jerome Karam has reached major milestones at two developments — one in Galveston and the other in Texas City.
The cluck stops here: Will Texas City residents soon be eating more chicken? It’s looking that way.
Raise your stein: A year after buzz broke that King’s Bierhaus would open a League City restaurant, the Houston-based concept promises a spring opening. King’s Bierhaus, with strong followings in The Heights and Pearland, offers German/American cuisines and German and Texas drafts. The Leagu…
Temporary tattle: A major manufacturer and retailer of furniture is planning a temporary store in Dickinson as consumers whose homes were flooded during Hurricane Harvey prepare to refurnish.
Glut feeling: Is this contained or contagious? That’s what some observers are wondering after Neighbors Emergency Center recently closed its doors in Texas City, a little less than two years after opening at 3302 Palmer Highway.
What’s that? A reader emailed to ask: “I noticed a construction fence and workers on top of the old H-E-B location in Texas City. Any clue what’s going on?”
Checkout lane: Inquiring readers want to know when the registers will ring again at longtime Dickinson grocer Ziegler’s Foods. The family owned business has been closed since it was flooded during Hurricane Harvey in late August.
Not surprisingly, Houston-Galveston area auto sales stalled in August at the height of Hurricane Harvey flooding, dragging third-quarter total vehicle sales down by 8.8 percent.
Beer buzz: Owners of popular Fetching Lab Brewery in Algoa say they’re preparing all the bank paperwork for a move to 901 Ninth Ave. in Texas City.
Hoots and holler: Just a little more than a year after announcing plans for an island return, Hooters will officially open at 4 p.m. Monday.
Building buy: A Houston businessman known for redeveloping historic buildings has acquired the James Fadden Building, 2410 Strand, in the island’s downtown, with plans to open a bar.
Greek peek: For everyone who called or emailed over the past several years inquiring about when and where Olympia Grill would open in the north county, there’s appetizing news.
Palace intrigue: Inquiring readers want to know what happened to Bubba’s Shrimp Palace, which has closed its original 113 Sixth St. restaurant in San Leon and its more recent one in the former Sudie’s Seafood House, 325 Interstate 45 N. A sign on the door at the League City site, which opene…
Hooter holler: The sign is up and crews are busy at the site that’s soon to be home to Hooters, 6028 Heards Lane, on the island.
Another chance: After much negotiation, Legend Communities late Friday was able to ward off a foreclosure sale of many parcels and properties in Harborwalk, a luxury waterfront development on West Galveston Bay. The foreclosure sale had been scheduled for Tuesday.
Collateral damage: If there’s a theme to this week’s column, it’s that bankers are taking legal measures to recover loans made on developments and ventures that were once big Buzz items.
ZIPped lips: On paper, it’s the kind of high-tech industry League City officials have dreamed about and one they would certainly want to trumpet loudly. But on June 30, when California-based software company AccuZIP announced it would move its corporate headquarters to League City, creating …
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