Community

Long before the sun rises in the morning, area residents are lining up their cars on Rogerdale Road and Meadowglen Lane. They have come to West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM) to have their vehicle trunks filled with food and supplies to get them through another week. WHAM’s Executive Director Mark Brown can recite the daily statistics on how many families were served and how long they were able to work before supplies ran out. He…..Read More

“We need to stay in business. My employees need their jobs.” Tina MacInnes’ words echo the paramount sense of urgency facing hundreds of thousands of businesses across the nation. A leading Salata franchise owner, MacInnes joined local elected officials and economic development professionals at an event hosted at her restaurant. MacInnes’ message found a receptive audience as they all celebrated the launch of Bounce Back Westchase. The campaign was created by Minuteman Press Westchase and…..Read More

Tina MacInnes was operating two of the highest volume restaurants in Salata’s growing restaurant chain system. Then, out of nowhere, COVID-19 strikes. Between the excitement of seeing her customers relish build-your-own salads and a dynamic transformation of her restaurant, a pandemic crashed the economy, putting her business in survival mode. New Year, new look, new challenge MacInnes unveiled a new look for her 10898 Westheimer Road location in January after using the Christmas holiday to…..Read More

Stressing fun, John Boriack brings leadership skills to HAA and Westchase District John Boriack punched his ticket to commercial real estate success in a very unusual way when, after graduating from high school, he accepted his parents’ offer to take the money they’d saved for college and launch a business instead. “I set out to find an industry where no one in my family had any experience and I found it in commercial real estate,”…..Read More

For 36 years, Quillian has offered summer camps, giving kids exceptional opportunities during the summer, while their parents go to work knowing their children are playing and having fun in a safe environment. COVID-19 halted many things, but it couldn’t halt camp, not very long anyway. “We were forced to close our spring break camp after just one day,” said Quillian Center Director Tom Gaden. Quillian was closed all of April and most of May…..Read More

Broth known as pho is one essence of Vietnamese cuisine. Bánh mì, the Vietnamese word for bread, is the other. Not just any type of bread but a baguette which is split lengthwise. It’s a signature menu item that is stuffed to please at newly opened Bánh Mì Bon AT 10555 Westheimer Road. Specializing in baguettes and traditional Vietnamese dishes, Bánh Mì Bon owner Hien Huynh makes sandwiches filled with savory ingredients like grilled chicken,…..Read More

Phase one of Governor Abbott's reopening Texas includes restaurants, perhaps the hardest hit businesses by the COVID-19 crisis. Restaurants of all categories, from franchise-owned and operated, company-owned to independent saw dine-in customers come to an abrupt stop. The crisis affected staffing levels and resulted in a significant loss of revenue - especially for independent owners in the industry who helplessly watch cash flow evaporate. Furthermore, when dining rooms open, there’ll be reduced seating capacity and…..Read More

The Westchase District Community Fund (WDCF) presented WHAM with a $10,000 donation on April 27. WHAM provides social services including food donations, rent and utilities assistance and employment assistance to individuals and families who have nowhere else to turn. The need for WHAM's services, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, has surged. WHAM has seen an enormous increase of serving 200 families a day, in addition to first responders. Reverend Chris French, Pastor of Missional Living for Grace Presbyterian Church,…..Read More

With fewer cars traveling on one of the state’s busiest roads due to the stay-at-home order, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) seized an opportunity to shift the Westheimer Road resurfacing project to a 24/7 operation. Phase one, beginning at IH-610, began on April 2 and is near completion on the stretch within Westchase District’s boundary between Westerland Drive and Woodland Park Drive. Phase Two of the project is the eventual completion to Dairy Ashford.…..Read More

Inspiration to become a police officer was always around a young Cody Thomas. “As soon as I could start making memories, I’ve always known I wanted to become a police officer,” said Thomas. That was at age four. His dream was boosted by many family role models. His father, who wasn’t a police officer, and two uncles at the Houston Police Department set an example by actions that he wanted to follow. Thomas recalls how…..Read More