From the age of eight, Nancy Algrim was fascinated by fabrics and fibers, sewing and weaving baskets from fibers. After earning a Fine Arts degree with a focus on fibers, Algrim arrived in the Valley in 1982 with dreams of opening a boutique in Mission. Lacking the money to buy inventory for a shop, she began teaching art classes while sewing on the side. Her Black Iris Boutique and Gallery…
“We do not have the attitude that all workers comp claimants are frauds. We know the majority are legitimate, and that they want to get back to work full time,” said Eileen Cook, supervisor of the Texas Mutual Insurance claimant fraud unit and an experienced investigator. “We find that folks don’t really like light duty. They want to get back to a full paycheck.” Formed by the State of Texas…
Creativity is intelligence having fun, according to Albert Einstein. But can you run a business based on creativity, which is traditionally the realm of artists, musicians, and writers? The stereotype has them setting their own hours, wearing nontraditional attire, acting independently and not earning much. In “The Rise of the Creative Class,” author Richard Florida gave an entirely new definition to the term creative class, which he describes as the…
When the economy gives building contractors a lemon, some make lemonade. Clayton Brashear on the other hand has made margaritas and pina coladas and built Texas’ biggest beach bar to serve them. Last June Brashear opened Clayton’s Resort, a restored 1950s private beach retreat, and Clayton’s Bar & Grill on South Padre Island, opposite the World Birding Center. The Brownsville native and longtime island contractor positioned his beach bar to…
“Last year, we saw a 4.2 percent increase in sales. This year we are looking at an eight percent increase,” said Francisco Miranda, Carling Technologies plant and distribution center manager. Behind him, tidy coils of thin brass, copper and steel alloys sit on pallets next to massive 25 to 125 ton presses or metal stamping machines. The advanced manufacturing plant, in Brownsville since 1973, cuts, punches, bends and forms components…
The lush 1,400 acre resort with palms towering over the red tile roof of the white hacienda brings to mind postcards of a tropical getaway. The seven-mile long waterway meandering through the resort enhances the tranquility and beauty of the destination. Among the amenities at this hidden gem are two 18-hole championship golf courses, fine dining restaurants, a lagoon-style pool with a waterfall and swim-up bar, and guest rooms in…
The Rio Grande Valley’s first Costco is a game changer. Costco is the largest membership warehouse club in the U.S., according to Greg Brenner, Costco Warehouse Manager in Pharr. It’s the seventh largest retailer in the world with sales of $90 billion annually, while its nearest competitor rings up $50 billion. Built from the ground-up in only three months, the 151,000-square-foot Costco warehouse is the 601st store of the Washington-based…
When Larry and Lisa Wray started their second catering company in 2007, they knew how it should differ from their first, the very successful Edible Pursuits which they had sold two years earlier. Wray & Company Catering by Design, first of all, didn’t have to prove their competency to the world. Their reputation was already golden on all counts: menu design and food preparation, event planning and impeccable service. They…
Casa Antigua’s rustic and Mexican colonial furniture was selling well when Jesus Gonzalez decided six years ago to branch out into upscale contemporary furniture and opened Niu Urban Living. “Nobody else was doing it and that’s when I saw the potential, said Gonzalez, who has an MBA from the University of Texas. Now he is preparing to move Niu Urban Living into the three story Home Design Center he’s built…
If your image of a Bed & Breakfast is a fussily decorated Victorian house heavy on dried flower arrangements and porcelain figurines, it’s time you saw the Rio Grande Valley’s refreshing, site-specific take on B&Bs. A dozen B&Bs cater to Valley visitors who love both comfort and the outdoors: birders, anglers, naturalists, beach walkers. In urban and rural settings, these retreats provide privacy and high levels of service at unique…