Apartment department: After more than a year of construction, tenants soon will begin moving into long-awaited luxury apartments at the iconic 12-story United States National Bank Building, 2201 Market St. in the island’s downtown.
In a year of pandemic, deals got done and undone, entrepreneurs were made, and prominent businessmen added to their growing empires or fought to hang on to all they had built. In between, commerce in Galveston County continued.
Property lines: Friendswood attorney and developer Jerome Karam, who likely now is the largest commercial property owner in the county, has acquired two small Galveston apartment complex buildings at 717-725 Broadway. He plans to convert the units to short-term rentals as leases expire.
No bull: Crews on Wednesday demolished the 45-year-old former and long vacant Mrs. Baird’s bakery distribution center in League City, clearing the way for a 16-acre development called Grand Oak Village just north of the intersection of Interstate 45 and state Highway 96.
The dirt: Recent sighting of crews cleaning up and cutting vegetation on parts of an 11-acre parcel behind island grocery store Randalls revived speculation the University of Texas Medical Branch had dusted off long-shelved plans to build 30,000 square feet of clinics to serve the city’s West End.
Taqueria troubles: The good news is that Silverio Guzman is determined to reopen his La India Bonita restaurant, which has been closed and boarded since August, when someone crashed through the 213 E. Main St. building with a car. The bad news is it won’t be easy to reopen in the same League…
What’s that? An inquiring reader emailed: “Can you please tell me what that huge — by local standards — building is that is located to the west, sort of behind Buc-ee’s in Texas City? It looks too big for a hotel or multi-family residences.”
Suite spot: After more than a year of renovations, Ami and Georgia Meyer Barzilay have transformed a long-vacant hotel space into nine boutique office suites in a venture called Urban Works, 601 Ninth Ave. N. in Texas City.
On the Trails: Inquiring readers want to know about that land clearing on the southwest corner of FM 1765 and Delany Road in La Marque.
Bank notes: A long-vacant bank building in Texas City is soon to get a new life. Eric Torres is preparing to open Pallet Bar & Grill in the former Texas City National Bank, 701 6th St. N.
Palm reading: Long-term rental houses on the island’s West End and even citywide are hard to come by in a market known for lucrative short-term vacation units. But that might soon change. Texas-based Wan Bridge plans in December to begin work on 94 single-family detached houses in a developm…
Room service: Friendswood attorney and developer Jerome Karam has signed a franchise agreement that will brand his island boutique hotel, underway at the former Falstaff Brewery site, as a Trademark Collection by Wyndham, he said.
On the burner: Breakfast and brunch enthusiasts soon will have a new reason to rise, shine and dine. Franchisee Akash Patel plans a December opening of The Toasted Yolk Café at Pinnacle Park, Interstate 45 and Big League Dreams Parkway in League City.
Market makeover: Closed since March, a modified Galveston Shrimp Co. today will reopen its seafood retail market at 8011 Harborside Drive. The island market had been closed under pandemic precautions to limit employee and customer exposure to the coronavirus, said Nello Cassarino, whose fami…
Tru story: Readers are wondering about all the preconstruction activity west of Hospitality Health ER in the former military housing complex known as Fort Crockett. The work is for a 200-room hotel, confirms Ricky Patel, a principal in the company behind the venture.
Tattle-Tail: Nearly two years after opening in Galveston, Texas Tail Distillery is moving into a larger space to accommodate growth, even after a bumpy year for purveyors of adult beverages.
Pulling up stakes: A company founded in 1956 in Galveston is consolidating its island and League City operations.
It’s showtime: The long intermission is over. A little more than five months after closing under pandemic precautions, island movie theater Premiere Cinema has returned, ushering in a new name, new look and new Hollywood releases.
Secret sale? Pertinent parties aren’t talking, but rumors are flying that an unnamed buyer will soon acquire roughly 1,000 acres on the island’s West End.
Retail detail: Will commercial development rise on a prime Interstate 45 parcel in Dickinson?
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