Read the latest business and community news from the Houston metro area.
Katy
American Furniture Warehouse opens in Katy
American Furniture Warehouse opened Aug. 1 at 500 Pin Oak Road, Katy. The business is also expected to bring about 400 jobs to the Katy area and bring in additional sales tax revenue for the the of Katy, Council Member Janet Corte said.
Sugar Land-Missouri City
Service First Automotive opens Aug. 3 in Missouri City after experiencing coronavirus-related delays
Service First Automotive had a grand opening for its Missouri City service center Aug. 3. The new location at 9450 Hwy. 6, Missouri City, is offering 50% off oil changes until Aug. 9.
Bay Area
Moody National Bank acquires Clear Lake branch of Spirit of Texas Bank
Moody National Bank has entered into an agreement to purchase the Clear Lake branch of Spirit of Texas Bank at 1010 Bay Area Blvd, Houston. The change will take effect in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to a July 20 media release.
League City businesses continue to combat COVID-19 with workplace protection pledges
While coronavirus cases continue to surge in Harris and Galveston counties, League City is taking proactive steps to encourage businesses to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and promote those that do.
Tomball-Magnolia
BREAKING: Texas Railroading Heritage Museum no longer coming to Tomball after five years in the works
Tomball City Council members unanimously voted Aug. 3 to terminate a development agreement between the city and the Texas Railroading Heritage Museum, a museum long proposed near the city's historic depot plaza on South Elm Street.
UPDATED: JDR Cable Systems Inc. US headquarters to bring new jobs to Tomball
The Tomball Economic Development Corp. is helping JDR Cable Systems Inc. bring its new U.S. headquarters to Tomball, according to an Aug. 3 news release from the TEDC, a project expected to create 20 new positions within its first years.
Spring-Klein
Louetta Automotive opens 12th Greater Houston-area location on Spring Cypress Road
Louetta Automotive celebrated the grand opening of its 12th Greater Houston-area location Aug. 3. Located at 9625 Spring Cypress Road, Spring, the new location is managed by Houston resident Bruce Zacaria, who has more than two decades of experience in the industry.
Spring-based Club Z Tutoring and Test Prep Services sees change in ownership
After 25 years of business in the area, Club Z Tutoring and Test Prep Services of Spring and The Woodlands changed ownership effective Aug. 1 and is now owned by Spring resident Monique Spell, according to a July 31 announcement.
Cy-Fair
Harris County Pets announces free adoption days in August
As part of a national initiative to clear animal shelters, Harris County Pets will offer free adoptions for spayed or neutered and heartworm-positive pets Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26 and 29, according to a press release.
Lake Houston-Humble-Kingwood
Paco Pops serves 80-plus flavors of handmade ice cream, pops
When Paco Pops co-owner Francisco Sanchez was 13 years old, he moved from Guadalajara, Mexico, to work at his aunt’s popsicle shop in Chihuahua.
For six years, Sanchez worked with his cousin, making the pops from scratch. After getting in a serious car accident in 2018 that left Sanchez unable to continue working in construction, he said he thought back to when he was younger and dreamed of opening a shop like his aunt’s.
Bellaire-Meyerland-West University
Houston hot sauce shop iBurn launches fundraising effort to keep business going
The Houston hot sauce shop iBurn has launched a $10,000 fundraising goal to help survive the COVID-19 downturn.
Conroe-Montgomery
Galavant's Coffee now open in downtown Conroe
Galavant's Coffee opened Aug. 3 in downtown Conroe. Owners Bradley Bailey and Makenzie Rankin operate the mobile coffee cart and sell teas, homemade syrups and espresso-based beverages using beans from Amaya Coffee, a specialty roaster based in Houston.
Heights-River Oaks-Montrose
Bayou City Art Festival in October will be a virtual event, organizers say
The Bayou City Art Festival, originally scheduled for Oct. 10-11 in downtown Houston, will be a virtual-only experience this year, the Art Colony Association Inc. announced Aug. 4.
Statewide
Whataburger to celebrate 70th anniversary, unveil food truck, expand into 3 states
Founded in 1950, the San Antonio-based fast-food chain Whataburger will celebrate 70 years of business Aug. 8, according to an Aug. 4 release from the company. Founder Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger location in Corpus Christi in 1950, and the restaurant chain has since grown to more than 830 locations in 10 states.
Danica Lloyd, Matt Dulin, Hannah Zedaker, Andy Li, Claire Shoop, Colleen Ferguson, Jake Magee, Anna Lotz, Nola Valente, Kelly Schafler and Adriana Rezal contributed to this report.
