Roxy Trevino figured it would be a gap summer after earning a graduate degree in architecture from Texas A&M University. Back home in Weslaco, she was helping her parents run one of the Rio Grande Valley’s better-known Mexican food restaurants. Trevino lent a hand with the business’ social media, marketing and event planning. It was the summer of 2019. She was getting a breather after rigorous academic work that included…
South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce‘s “Shop the Island” initiative is back through Dec. 20. For every $20 spent with any Island businesses, shoppers may register for a $500 shopping spree. Every dollar spent locally also ensures a healthy and growing South Padre Island economy. Original receipts may be dropped off at the following SPI Chamber member businesses: Padre Island Brewing Co. Renee’s of South Padre Ship Shape Sea Turtle…
The green space grabs your attention upon pulling up to The Ruff House on West Van Buren near downtown Harlingen. It’s a well-kept spot with ramps for dogs to climb and jump off. There are large ovals on stands nearby, the next stops on an obstacle course of fun for dogs to romp. The open space is fenced but looks inviting as does the dog boutique store next to it. …
Harlingen’s largely vacant Valle Vista Mall is getting an investment boost as a Los Angeles-based company announced it had acquired the retail space formerly occupied by Dillard’s. BH Properties said it is analyzing the best use for its new property, which since 1983 had been an anchor store at Valle Vista until its recent closure. The company said its Harlingen acquisition is a good fit in its strategies to re-imagine…
The intersection of FM 802/Ruben Torres and I-69C is among Brownsville’s busiest corners. An old-school filling station with gas pumps and cars jacked up on lifts stood on that location for years. Even as Sunrise Mall’s renovation and rebirth loomed behind it, the 1970s-era gas station lingered, a holdout to the past with new developments all around it. The pressure to sell such a coveted corner of real estate finally…
Everything is coming up golden for Iselle Perez. It shows in her smile and a new boutique gaining a footing in Brownsville. Golden Girl Boutique is tucked next to the Vermillion, an iconic Brownsville restaurant and watering hole she co-owns with her husband, George. Golden Girl is Iselle’s enterprise. It’s a business she launched in spring 2020. Those were perilous months to start anything new given all of the public…
Walk into Karma Coffee & Books in South Padre Island and it’s immediately a place where you want to sit and stay a while. There’s a wide variety of coffee-based drinks to go with breakfast and lunch sandwiches – and of course books. It’s an ideal place to take a break from the beach sun and surf. The way that Will Everett sees it is that his new coffee and…
In 2016, Cynthia Villarreal and daughter Ximena Martinez turned meal prepping to creating fresh dinner options that were ready in minutes. They used what they learned in Villareal’s nana’s traditional Mexican kitchen. Their creations then became La Casa de mi Abuela, a line currently of seven stews and products. The duo are now one of 20 contestants who will present their products for H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best. A panel…
The Edinburg Chamber is shifting gears by transitioning its outdoor market to a late afternoon/early evening event. The Sunset Member Market takes place Aug. 19 from 3-7 p.m. at the Historic Edinburg Chamber Depot, 602 W. University Drive. The free event will allow attendees to discover new products and services from different members of the Edinburg Chamber. Vendors will have products such as food, coffee, clothing, jewelry, home decor and…
Most mornings, while enjoying a cup of coffee, Kim Edwards-Garza spends this quiet time before her workday with God. “I fill up my soul with His Word, and it enables me to tackle any problem or stress I may have that day,” she said. Born and raised in McAllen, and a graduate of Memorial High School, Edwards-Garza earned a degree in marketing at St. Edward’s University in Austin. She later…