Shelton Craig is not a typical entrepreneur. He likes to get his hands dirty and has done everything from working as a busboy at a restaurant to running a car wash to harvesting pecans.
“My dad was a logger,” Craig said. “We worked hard. If the plumbing broke, we fixed it. If the electricity broke, we fixed it.”
Craig stumbled on the Agave Road site at 1016 FM 1463 in the early 1990s when he saw a "take over payments" sign, and for years the property served as a private family retreat until 2001 when guests were invited to a service for Craig's late father.
In 2007, Craig and his partners Steve Livingston and Buddy Cox built and launched Agave Road, one of two wedding venues now owned by the parent company, Agave Estates.
Although it is known for its two all-inclusive wedding venues—flowers, DJ, stationery, catering, linens and all the planning—Agave Estates also hosts memorial services and includes a restaurant, Agave Rio, which features a play area for kids and an adult-only patio with live music on weekends.
Craig and his wife, Karina, married in Mexico, which they say may have inspired some of the agave decor. The adobe-style property features big-screen TVs and a full bar.
“We offer every resource a bride needs or wants,” Craig said.
The restaurant features steaks, pork chops, barbecue and fresh fish. Chef Eric Aldis has created signature dishes for the venue, including Shipley Do-nuts bread pudding.
Aldis, who has worked at The Bellagio and River Oaks Country Club, was pretty much a gift from God, Craig said.
“I Googled top chefs in Houston and put them into a spreadsheet,” he said. “He was from Katy. I thought, ‘This is our guy.’”
But Craig said was concerned about how to get face to face with the renowned chef.
The next day Craig got a call from someone who wanted to host a party at Agave, and Aldis came with him to cater the party. The rest is Agave history.
The venue has attracted guests from all over the world, said managing partner Steve Livingston.
“I’ve heard more than one bride say, ‘I’ve always pictured my dream wedding and this is even better.’ It’s hard not to appreciate a job like this.”
The business partners said they dream of one day adding a hotel.
“People tell me, ‘I can breathe here,’” Craig said. “You get kind of warm, fuzzy feelings.”
