Mr. B

Just this morning I walked over from the job site to a little Mexican cafe in the East End. I'm usually suspicious of places that don't have a menu. They could charge you any price they think you're willing to pay. I got two lard-surfaced flour tortillas stuffed with homemade Mexican chorizo, eggs, refried beans, cheese, and chunky red salsa. There was so much going on within that tortilla that I probably suckled more food by volume from the ends of these pockets of greasy, gooey goodness than I actually ingested by way of biting and chewing.

Now that sounds like some good breakfast taco's.

Hey, Hey what do you know the beloved TXDOT and commisioners which many of you so valiantly love and defend are back at it again.

This time they are gonna use Stimulus money to build toll roads and then charge everyone again to use those toll roads. Man that is a racket if I ever saw one.

Just close up some HOV Free lanes and convert them to Toll Lanes along with the Grand Parkway extension.

Guess they will probably need to raise our tolls again to pay for all the added paperwork, etc in order to build those roads.

OK you folks can show your love for them again.

Ok just came back from Mooyahs with the family.

Still trying to figure out who's smoking the crack rock. Fries were good along with the service but what do you expect when there are 15 people behind the counter and on the floor. Had the Junior burger and I have bad eyesight up close but that still didn't help them get that scrawny little patty buried under a bunch of lettuce, etc past me. That was pitiful and while it tasted ok it was not better than JR and the family thought Stadia Sports grill had a much better burger.

Nothing more than Wendy's with better fries and flashy name.

For the price paid and product given can't say we will be frequenting the place to often except for maybe some fries and shake. To many better places to go for burgers.

Don't you mean if the market returns.

Let's see, now...Galveston grocery stores are geographically isolated such that they receive practically no business from bi-directional traffic that is one the way from one destination to another (such as the HEB at I-45 and 646 does). Galveston's population is a fraction of it's former state. And its employment base has not only been interrupted by a storm, which was bad enough, but then afflicted by the loss of core employment which is what had justified a huge assortment of business and consumer services firms also on the island.

...and you are telling me that a grocer exhibits cowardice by exiting this devastated market after a total loss of its inventory!? Bear in mind, as well, that nothing out of that inventory is salvagable, whether they got 5" of water or 5' of water. It all has to go, and none of their equipment could just be turned on and used again without properly being sanitized. Basically everything of value in that store was rendered useless--or at least that is the case if the store management is the least bit concerned about abiding by health codes.

Grocery stores operate on razor-thin margins. When daytime population (the sum of permanent residents and payroll employment) is cut by a quarter or a third over the course of a few months, there either have to be fewer grocers or some grocers must be willing to lose money. To the extent that too many grocers re-opened, only those with deep pockets could hope not to go bankrupt. HEB might could afford to be there forever, but long-time community landmarks like Arlen's would eventualy just run out of money. Only big businesses would ultimately survive to see profitability (which would strangely seem counter to your personal ethos).

Grocers are not in business to lose money. I suspect that you and your wife--business owners yourselves--can probably sympathize with that basic assertion.

I don't know what your business is, but I'm positive that your margins are better than HEB's just by the nature of their industry. You may not be as exposed to the physical or economic devastation of Galveston (though I would suspect that the loss of an anchor tenant in your shopping center will have a materially impact). Still, if it turned (or turns) out that your business could not (or can not) continue to operate profitably, would you (or do you) still intend to operate it perpetually at a loss? And if not, and you decided to close up shop or move it to a community with better prospects, how would you feel if Galvestonians called its proprietor, your wife, a coward? Would you object? And if so, would you object if I then called you out as a hypocrite?

Kroger is right on the seawall and they opened up very soon after the storm. Many other businesses around HEB opened up right away after the storm. I guess the store was good for some people but my family kind of thought it was a dump. Maybe as HEB felt it just wasn't a profitable idea to reopen such a small mediocre store. The majority of the people I know went to Kroger or Walmart. My wife misses the quilt store and we miss the Diner and Cajun Greek. Saw some work going on in the Diner building last weekend but not sure if same folks are reopening it up.

Sorry to tell you but that picture must be from some Texas Gumbo Version. I spent my whole life growing up in South Louisiana and have eaten many Gumbos.

Up until recent years you would never see a gumbo with the consistancy as in the picture. That is more like a stew or etouffee.Everyone thinks that Gumbo should be this thick mess and I can tell you that is not so.

In 11 years haven't found anyplace in Houston or surrounding suburbs that made really good cajun food. But Luckily I can just cook it myself.

Went to the Stadia tonight with the family and its a really nice place.

Food was good along with the service and assuming it was the owner going around greeting everyone and making sure everything was ok. Bar is very nice area as well which is kind or secluded on one corner from the resturant section. Lots of people there tonight drinking and watching football and basketball

Overall very nice atmosphere and it was nice not having to deal with the smoke.

Might not be for everyone but will surely go back as we need some places like this to stay open around Cinco Ranch.

Haven't eaten there but just talked to a group of people who did. I asked how was the food and all of them (5 people) said it was ok but they thought it was way overpriced for a little bit better than average burger and fries. One lady told me she was scared to even ask how fattening the meal was. They paid on average somelike $11 for burger, fries and drink. Guess it depends on what you get.

All said they would probably eat there occasionally.

Was packed earlier today with High Schoolers from Cinco Ranch Baseball

Actually the post about everyone being overjoyed about the Freeway is not accurate so to speak. There were many people who were not for the Freeway expansions. I wasn't one of them cause the expansions were badly needed with the sprawl that came this way. The thing that people don't realize because all they see and read were artciles based on the above fluff. Majority of people out here at that time wanted the freeway expansion but they also were very adamant about wanting mass transit option. They were fought at every turn by almost all involved in the project from the Representatives, Judges, etc.

It was a very heated topic and issue here for quite some time. But I think as one of the above posters mentioned with the poor showing of the rail to nowhere and Richmond issues the rail died even though I think lawsuits, etc were filed to try to force them to at least put in the foundation for it should it be needed.

You also have a large faction of people out here that wouldn't part with there tanks unless they were dead and pulled out of it (just a figure of speech).

Wonder if gas skyrockets again and stays that way how long before people start asking how come no rail.

Also interesting how this thread got hijacked from Rage against Bikers to Katy Freeway issues and hatred for suburbanites. Somehow that always happens

Hmm lets see I moved here because my job was here and then it was gone so now I work in another place clear on the other side of Houston.

I own my home but I should sell it and get in debt to move someplace closer to the job I have now which might not last forever. I should tell my 3 year old you need to get up at 4 AM instead of 5 AM to get ready for your school at 8 AM so we can drop you off earlier someplace in order to take I-10 because some people who don't live out here and don't like the suburbunites think its perfectly ok for some people to raise the tolls on the roads we use daily to save time even though there is no reason to be raising the tolls except to pay for their favorite politicians pork projects.

I-10 opens up and traffic goes down on Westpark making all who use it happy, but wait; less traffic, less money coming in. We gotta raise them tolls due to congestion but only thing is the congestion was gone before the tolls were increased. That makes a lot of sense.

Man dealing with some rocket scientist here with responses like Move, Use I-10, Get up earlier, the tolls pay for our roads, tolls are good kill suburbans/suburbans bad.

Well bike lanes don't cut it.

Cell Phones, BlackBerrys, drunks and cars have killed more cyclist in Bike Lanes than I would ever be safe.

In 20 something years of cycling I have come to this knowledge

Have never spit at a car (But I have been spit on a few times and had hot butts flicked at us)

Have never tried to run a car off the road (But have been run off the road a few times)

Have never thrown anything at a moving car (But have had oranges, etc thrown at me, and one took my friend off his bike and us to the ER with a severly brused chest, ER doc was amazed)

Have never gone after a dog (But have had people sic there dog on me or riding group)

In all these instances was doing nothing more than riding the shoulder or the line on some pretty untrafficed areas.

There are fair amount of aholes on bikes but a profane word, etc I understand but be so enraged or just find so much fun in trying to take someone out or make it seem like you will run them over just escapes me. My wife is not a bike rider and she doesn't want me out on the main roads on my bike anymore strickly based on how she sees cars react to the bikes on Fry coming home from there jobs.

I own my home do you own yours ?????

Suggest you go back and reread the post from last time.

They have been bikers riding that route and many others out that way for many years and probably far longer than most of the people now living out there.

I cycle and used to ride out in those areas all the time but have stopped. Its just gotten to insane.

Find riding in the bike trail of George Bush park much safer and nicer.

But maybe some folks just won't give up there old routes and probably alot of what you see are bikers that are new to riding or seasonal when the MS comes around they ride anyplace.

Well it was me who posted the last time and I will still tell you again I don't like it, with regard to the tolls constantly being increased and as for me moving you can forget that option again as well. I use the roads every day as I have no options in order to get little one to school, work, etc on time.

There is no reason to raise the tolls and its just a money grab. Each portion of the roads to be built in the future should be built based on the funding they can borrow against the amount of money's to be made from the tolls raised from the use of those roads just like the first toll roads that were built in Houston. They are borrowing against current moneys made but never with a plan to cease or put the money back. People need to understand this the tolls will never come off. That is coming straight from the toll authority some years back at a meeting out here in Katy during the initial construction of I-10. They can pay the roads off and the tolls will still not come off

I will say though that I-10 in the afternoons is much better and I take that routing home in the evenings if at all possible, but the mornings still suck. I took I-10 to work thursday morning at 7:30 and it took 35 minutes to get from Fry to on ramp of Beltway, no wrecks (one broken down car on the side) or anything just pure slow moving and at some points no moving congestion.

Actually since I-10 opened back up full force the Westpark traffic has decreased considerably so where is your reasoning that the tolls should go up to ease the traffic flow on the Westpark ? There was no increase when the traffic was very heavy but now that the traffic is about half what it was on the Westpark the tolls are increasing seems like reverse logic you got there. Could it be they aren't making the money they were and now have to raise the tolls to keep things status quo or should I say again a money grab.

To be fair I would suspect the tolls would have been raised regardless of who was in office but Ed sure ain't doing anything to try to keep them down.

Curious to see if the media picks up on it again like a year or so ago when they tried to put a big increase on the westpark and had to recall the increase over so much pressure.

New tactic is to do it in small increments and no one will notice.

Ha not long ago during the election I got blasted because I spoke out about people putting Ed Emmitt back in office.

Well guess what ole Ed is back in and he and his cronies are already making up for lost time.

Boom raised the tolls on the West Park and Boom raising the tolls on the Main Beltway lanes.

Not enough money. My ass they are just a bunch of money hungry crooks.

Again we can't even vote on the man and he affects all of us out here which is wrong.

Ok go ahead and flame again.

Sorry we already broke that streak back here on the ass end of Mason.

We got one strip mall that has been up for a year now and has a nail salon and flooring place in it and thats it. The other one that opened up under the pretense of medical offices doesn't look like its even sniffed a tenant and the other on up on Mason and Westhiemer has a nail salon and soon to be defunct resturant.

But wait they have a sign up next to the strip mall on end of Mason looking to sell land for another strip mall or something worse probably.

Top all of that with all of the apartments that flew up expecting to have high paying tenants for all these jobs that have fallen by the wayside with the economy. So lets just hope that they keep the standards up on the apartments and not start cutting rent to get anyone in the door.

Kung Pow Chicken was very good as was the lo mien noodles.

Will try some other dishes on future visits.

Tried the Fortune Village tonight and had General TSO'S. It was not to bad. Not the best I have ever had but pretty good.

Have to try some other dishes there.

Tried Orient Cafe and didn't care for it.

My neighbors swear by Fortune Village so will have to go in and try out a couple of dishes. I haven't tried the HB Steakhouse here but the one by my office everyone likes. Thing is I got family that is not patient enough to do the HB routine.

I don't do Gumbo from any of the resturants here and probably won't start with them but I could definatly do some all you can eat Catfish if its fried right with maybe some hushpuppies and slaw.

I may be wrong but I think La Finca closed a long time ago or at least the one I knew of on Mason. I wouldn't call any of the Mexican places around here fantastic but they are pretty good. Some are better at things than others.

As for Azzereli's never ate there as not my kind of food so can't say if good or not. I have noticed the crowds at the Cochina Mediterainian place on Mason and Westheimer Parkway has all but died out lately. Wonder how long they will be open.

We were by Johnny Rockets the other day and they have even changed things. The atmosphere is all gone there now as you just go up and order at the counter, get your own drinks, but they at least bring you your food. Can't say I blame them though the place was empty.

Well so far Rocco's is still hanging in there for some good italian food.

I think CLA is right as location may be a killer to some of these places. I know for Chin Won once they opened up the BOA and Panda Express which basically hid them from view of any new business things dropped drastically for them. Heck we are still searching for a new Chinese Resturant to replace them. Anyone got any good suggestions for nearby Cinco Ranch area ?

CLA you are also right with your insight on South Louisiana Resturants. They are frequented by generation after generation of the same families. I should know my family did and I still do when I am back home.

You can add Azzerelli's to the list of resturants that have died a quick death in the Katy Resturant graveyard.

If you not a major chain save your money cause chances are you will fail.

I did see Azzerelli's had a new place going up over on park ten area but the one in Villagio has a notice that its closed due to failure to pay rent.

Well things are looking better for my waistline as soon we won't have any resturants to eat at in Katy except the Chili's, ect and I don't frequent those to much.

The Gymboree/Soccor mom generation is in the lead.

Bring on Chedder's

Yep went by there this evening and the new sports bar was looking pretty empty. Don't see them lasting to long.

A sports bar with no one in it on Sunday NFL final weekend doesn't bode to well.

MMMMM China Doll.

I think location was a big killer for Chin Won. They did a brisk business after they opened up 2 or 3 years ago. But when the BOA and other

went up in front things eventually started to decline. Sure like all places many liked and many didn't having another favorite. In talking to the

owners awhile back I think they realized things were not good as Harry mentioned that since the buildings had gone up in front new business

had dropped dramatically. They put magazine ads and coupons but don't think any of it helped. They used to have a resturant in El Campo

but sold it to come to Katy. Not sure where they have gone to now

Have to go in search of new resturant as quite a few have popped up in the past few years.

Then again I could just dive back into learning how to cook it myself but it was just a lot easier going to the local joint.

Well another good mom & pop bit the dust in the resturant death zone as Chin Won has closed its doors.

Don't know much about it as we were there just about a week and half ago before leaving on vacation and talked to Harry

the owner and the rest of the staff. No one said anything. We came back tonight to go get some food and the place is closed for lease.

Everything looks to still be inside so not sure what happened but I know they were not getting any business aside from take out even

with heavy advertising and excellent food people were still not going. Ah well that is about par for around here. They made it a bit more than

2 years.

Shame very nice people and really good food.

Another loss for the Cinco Ranch/Katy Area.

If anyone has heard what happened or information I would be interested to find out as we knew the owners very well but this was out of

the blue.