March: Funtastik Labs
Roli Sangol and Raj Gupta founded Funtastik Labs in 2017 and opened the business's facilities at 615 S. Mason Road, Katy, at the beginning of 2019.
Gupta said they fashioned the Funtastik Labs program after their two kids, who loved to explore and take on different projects in every room of their home in Katy, where they have lived since 2015.
Funtasktik Labs
615 S. Mason Road, Katy
281-819-6363
www.funtastiklabs.com/summer-camps
Hours: 9 a.m.-noon (morning camps), 1 p.m.-4 p.m. (afternoon camps), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (full-day camps)
April: Texas Star Grill Shop
Before Rick and Michelle Martin opened Texas Star Grill Shop, they and store manager Pete DeSantis were food distributors together.
DeSantis said he worked for the couple, who owned Texas Star Food. In 2007, the Martins traveled to Oregon on vacation to visit family and attended a party, where they first laid eyes on a Traeger grill and were amazed by its performance, DeSantis said.
Texas Star Grill Shop
22010 Highland Knolls Drive, Katy
832-913-6310
www.texasstargrillshop.com
Hours: Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
May: Leap Dance Center
Upon graduating with a degree in psychology from Texas A&M University, Demi Knight never imagined she would go on to own and operate a dance studio, she said. In fact, she spent a lot of her youth believing she would do the opposite.
Knight said she has always loved dance. Her mother, Kay Bily, owned a studio for 18 years in northwest Houston, where Knight danced from preschool to high school. During college, Knight made extra money teaching dance.
Leap Dance Center
10452 Gaston Road, Katy
281-890-9999
www.leapdancecenter.com
Hours: Mon-Thu. 3:30-8:15 p.m., closed Fri.-Sun.
June: Mind Neurology Clinic
After completing her adult neurology residency at St. Louis University, Dr. Jontel Pierce decided to forgo the usual route of joining a practice and opened her own instead.
Pierce first opened her practice, Mind Neurology Clinic, in Sugar Land in 2018. In April, she opened an office in Katy. The desire to open her own practice came from wanting to have autonomy and control over every aspect of the business, she said.
Mind Neurology Clinic
11929 University Blvd., Ste. 1B, Sugar Land
2043 N. Mason Road, Ste. 704, Katy
281-402-9522
www.mindneurology.com
Mon.-Thurs.: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Fri.: 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Closed Sat. and Sun.
September
Cherry Block Craft Butcher & Texas Market
Felix Florez brings his 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry to specialty Texas-raised meats with Cherry Block Craft Butcher & Texas Market in Katy.
“I like to do things right. I like to do things the best way that I possibly can,” Felix said. “It’s a passion for me.”
Cherry Block Craft Butcher & Texas Market
5305 Highway Blvd., Katy
346-257-4566
www.cherryblockmarket.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Project Halo Brewing
When husband and wife team Steve and Melissa Mendez set out to open Project Halo Brewing in Fulshear, they said they wanted to create a place that is inclusive and diverse.
“When we opened, we made a point on our tap list to [lead] with female brewers,” Melissa said.
Melissa integrates inclusivity into the brewery as a member of the Pink Boots Society Houston Chapter, a professional network that aims to assist and inspire women and nonbinary individuals in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry through education.
Project Halo Brewing
6520 FM 359 S., Ste. 500, Fulshear
281-533-4071
www.projecthalobrewing.com
Thursday: 3 p.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 12 p.m.-10 p.m., Sunday: 12 p.m.-9 p.m.
October: Cultivar
Plants mean comfort for Marita and Michael Gabriel, who own and run Cultivar, a rare plant shop in Katy’s LaCenterra development.
During the pandemic, the Gabriels’ source of income—coffee shops—had to close. At the same time, Michael was going through chemotherapy. His doctor said it was good to have plants at home to clean the air, so the couple bought their first plant: a fiddle leaf fig.
Cultivar
23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Ste. B100, Katy
832-437-1806
www.cultivartx.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu., Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
November: Katy Violin Shop
Katy Violin Shop owner Frank Li did not grow up playing an instrument in his home country of China.
However, the music shop owner has always held a passion and appreciation for music, and when Li moved to the United States in 2001, that passion never faded.
Katy Violin Shop
5131 S. Fry Road, Ste. 500, Katy
281-755-4169
www.katyviolinshop.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun.
