Community Impact Newspaper featured 12 business in the Sugar Land and Missouri City communities in 2019. Take a look back at these articles, which appeared in the print edition each month.
January 2019 - New Strength Pilates in Missouri City tailors classes to the needs of its clients
Beth Posa helps people regain their mobility after injuries, but it was not very long ago that she was in a similar position. She opened New Strength Pilates in April 2018 to provide a unique approach to wellness: Posa and her team of two trainers tailor workouts to the needs of the client, their body and movement challenges. They even discuss medical history, working with the client’s doctor or physical therapist.
February 2019 - Dance Du Coeur Sugar Land Dance Studio opened when other studios closed
Kathy Morrow’s typical experience with dance was taking her daughter, Olivia, now in college, to classes and recitals around Sugar Land. That all changed when two Sugar Land studios closed in 2011. Morrow, a Realtor, saw the closures as an opportunity to open a new studio, despite the fact that she did not have a background in dance.
March 2019 - Bean Here Coffee owner prioritizes building customer relationships
At Bean Here Coffee, when customers sit at the bar they can expect a barista or owner Mike Ouano to strike up a conversation.
April 2019 - Groove Music School offers private, group lessons
Gonzalo Arjona, a Berklee College of Music alumnus, moved to Sugar Land from Mexico City when he was 16 years old. This was when he began experimenting with music, first testing his skills on the acoustic guitar and ultimately sticking to playing the bass guitar. Later in life, when his children were taking guitar lessons off Hwy. 90A, Arjona agreed to buy the store from the previous owner in April 2015, inheriting three teachers and launching Groove Music School. Arjona now employs 13 teachers and has about 300 students.
May 2019 - La Rêve Bridal Couture offers dream dresses for brides
When a bride walked into La Rêve Bridal Couture one day, she was crying. Her wedding was a few weeks away, and she had not yet found a dress. Manager Aisha Osanyin said her staff found a dress for the bride that day and helped secure alterations in time for her wedding. It is those kinds of moments that Osanyin said is why she does what she does.
June 2019 - Hot Yoga Sugar Land helps clients find their center while getting sweaty
Hot Yoga Sugar Land owner Alanna Partin recalls an injury—a stress fracture following a fitness competition—that had her stepping on a yoga mat for the first time. After moving to Texas, she was laid off in 2015; however, Partin had other plans. At yoga class one day, she heard the owner was retiring and would be closing the studio, something she did not want to see happen. With the support of her husband, Partin took over the studio as owner June 1, 2018.
July 2019 - Sienna Cryo offers pain-management options to clients
When Meco Choates’s wife, Yolanda, decided to take on a more traditional exercise routine, the movements exacerbated some old injuries she received while serving in the U.S. Army. Passionate about bringing cryotherapy options to their Missouri City neighbors, the Choateses opened Sienna Cryo in March 2018. (Note: this business has closed in the time since Community Impact Newspaper wrote the feature.)
August 2019 - Sweets in the Sky cake shop offers custom-made creations in Missouri City
Naomi Lindsley left her analyst job with an oil and gas company to pursue her dream of opening a cake shop. Sweets in the Sky opened in Missouri City in June 2018, and Lindsley said the business is doing well.
September 2019 - Inspiration Stage theater company finds niche in Sugar Land
Between overseeing theater summer camp programs and running rehearsals, Mandy Seymore-Sensat, artistic director of Inspiration Stage, can be found at the Sugar Land Auditorium at almost any time of day or night during the summer months. Inspiration Stage is a theater program that operates year-round, offering dance and acting classes for children ages 3-18 as well as performance opportunities for youth and adult students.
October 2019 - Heaven on Earth event venue reopens after sustaining damage during Hurricane Harvey
After sustaining tornado damage during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, Missouri City’s historic event venue, Heaven on Earth, reopened this summer.
November 2019 - Wishbone Pet Care owner strives to provide quality services
Becoming a pet owner 11 years ago changed the course of Tammi Bui’s career. Bui, whose background is in marketing and graphic design, said she never imagined that one day, she would own a pet business.
December 2019 - Escape Again Rooms owners provide customized challenging experiences in Sugar Land
During an April 2016 trip to College Station for parents weekend at Texas A&M University, Tracie Whitacre and David Sebek played their first escape room. In November of the same year, they opened Escape Again Rooms in Sugar Land.
