Author Archives: Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Ricardo D. Cavazos is a Rio Grande Valley native and journalist who has worked as a reporter, editor and publisher at Texas newspapers. Cavazos formerly worked as a reporter and editorial writer at The Brownsville Herald, Dallas Times Herald, Corpus Christi Caller-Times and San Antonio Light. He served as editor of The Monitor in McAllen from 1991-1998 and from there served for 15 years as publisher at The Herald in Brownsville. Cavazos has been providing content for the Valley Business Report since 2018.

View all posts by Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor →

Restorations Brings Opportunities For Harlingen

February 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Restorations are underway at two large vacant buildings in Harlingen and the company behind those efforts sees new opportunities ahead for both facilities. BH Properties, a Los Angeles-based company, focuses on purchasing and turning around buildings like the former Dillard’s at Valle Vista Mall and a warehouse formerly belonging to Valley Baptist Medical Center. The latter facility at 4405 Glasscock Avenue, just west of Ed Carey Drive, has been vacant…

Finding Opportunities In The Pet Market

February 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Samantha Mendoza has been busy baking after getting past a recent illness that temporarily sidelined her. It’s a Saturday morning and there will be a street market going up soon near West Van Buren in Harlingen. It’s a block over from The Ruff House, where Mendoza is sliding a tray full of freshly made dog snacks into a lighted display. They look inviting and are sure to light up any…

CEO Earns Acclaim By Serving Community

February 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Community News Comments

Esmeralda Villarreal spent 15 years in Brownsville’s hospitality business, watching and taking note of how her city attracted business travelers from far and wide. “I was mesmerized by how we were visited by so many travelers,” she said. Villarreal recalls that many were tied to the maquiladora industry or related investors in the border economy. Villarreal’s career goal during that time was to become a general manager at one of…

Center Seeks To Boost Tourism & Educate Students

February 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

News Recreation & Tourism Comments

A 30-foot ramp angles upward toward a setting sun and a sweeping view of the Bahia Grande plains of coastal South Texas. It’s the high point of the South Texas Ecotourism Center in Laguna Vista. From there, the view stretches eastward toward the Port of Brownsville. SpaceX is off in that direction as well at Boca Chica Beach. The rectangular-shaped ecotourism center lays behind the soaring ramp. In all, there’s…

Hat Company Features Texas Flavor & Designs

February 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Edinburg Adds Assistance For Home-Based Businesses

January 13, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

e-Brief Features Featured Government News Comments

The City of Edinburg and its economic development corporation are starting the new year with a new addition to an existing program designed to assist locally owned businesses through COVID-19-related hardships. The city’s Stimulus Program Aimed at Recovery from COVID is adding assistance to business owners who are based out of their homes. The SPARC program will provide up to $2,000 in grants for use to purchase furniture, supplies and…

Finding Fertile Ground In `Underserved’ Weslaco

January 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Community News Comments

Corporate Asset Partners has developed retail and business plazas across South Texas and one of its chief executives has come to a conclusion about Weslaco. “The community has been underserved,” said Craig Garansuay of the San Antonio-based asset partners. Garansuay has crunched the numbers and determined that Weslaco is above area market averages in some key consumer categories. In Weslaco, restaurants featuring hamburgers are 35 percent above area averages in…

Business Perseveres & Keeps Faith In Employees

January 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

News Professional Services Comments

Rose Snell’s two decades of experience of being a business owner were put to the test in early 2020. The fears and uncertainties of the time left businesses like Snell’s FASTSIGNS to grasp for answers. Business plummeted at her stores in Harlingen and Brownsville. “The phones stopped ringing,” she recalled of that time. “We didn’t know if the business was going to survive.” It wasn’t long before Snell reached a…

Mission Ranks As Top Texas City For Winter Texans

January 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Community News Comments

The City of Mission every February hosts a Winter Texan Fiesta to show its appreciation for tourists who are often seen more as local residents than visitors. Winter Texans have been mainstays in the Rio Grande Valley economy for decades. Mission perhaps more than any other Valley city has a reputation for catering to its winter visitors. It has more RV parks than other Valley cities. The Greater Mission Chamber…

Millennial Entrepreneur Transforms Space To Success

January 1, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor