Retail

In 2009, Somali pirates took Captain Phillips and his crew hostage. In a crisis that gripped headline news and spawned a Hollywood movie, Phillips’ ship, the Maersk Alabama, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. It was one of 20,000 merchant ships sailing through a vital artery of world trade that opened into two million square miles of water comprised of the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. These acts of piracy posed…..Read More

Pacha Nikkei Merges Two International Cuisines with New Restaurant What do you get when two great culinary traditions intersect? Serving Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine, Pacha Nikkei recently opened in Carillon Shopping Center next to Marble Slab Creamery. Chef-owner Masaru Fukuda curates and creates the recipes influenced by his Japanese-Peruvian ancestry. Fukuda's concept centers around Nikkei food which comes from Peruvian ingredients - tropical fish, quinoa, Amarillo peppers - molded by techniques perfected in Japan. Ceviche is…..Read More

Zafar Anvarov wanted soccer cleats and his own bicycle when he was a young boy. Anvarov eventually got both by earning money working in his dad’s restaurant at the age of 7. In 2005, Anvarov arrived in the U.S. from Tajikistan, a mountainous country in Central Asia that was once part of the Soviet Union. He came for college but needed to pay for his tuition. “My life was to work in restaurants while studying…..Read More

Changing hearts one taco at a time The Mexican culture is steeped in rich tradition, and one of the most celebrated elements of the tradition is food. Uno problemo: once Jesse and Denise Hernandez learned the specific details of how meat gets to market, they knew animal products could no longer be a part of their lives. A unique opportunity was staring Jesse in the face, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy. How does…..Read More

Wholesale Jewelry, opened in 1953 by Margaret and Abe Donsky in downtown Houston, is one of the city’s oldest, longest operating businesses. The couple then migrated from the city to a location that would place the business in the future Westchase District. As their grandson Rex Solomon took reins as president, he established the new name to Houston Jewelry. It’s a full-service jewelry store that specializes in diamond and bridal jewelry. It also manufactures and…..Read More

Roderick Walker and his daughter Kai began baking for fun. Baking in the kitchen together was a way to share quality time. After perfecting recipes and receiving rave reviews from friends and family, the father and daughter baking duo decided to convert their cooking talents into a full-fledged business. “We began focusing on keto/low carb with no added sugar, gluten free, and vegan cookies after doing lots of research,” said Walker. “There were many products…..Read More

A restaurant concept born in a food trailer in Austin, Texas 15 years ago has heated up the Westchase District dining scene while growing to become a regional favorite in 11 states. Torchy’s Tacos founder Mike Rypka set out to elevate the traditional street taco with unique flavor combinations. Rypka hit the sweet spot with taco lovers, building a menu out of experimental tacos that were coined by early fans as “damn good,” which continues…..Read More

It’s said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If so, a relatively new restaurant in Westchase District has got your mornings covered. With a thoughtfully prepared menu seven days a week, Eggcellence Bakery & Café caters to early morning and late morning appetites. Eggcellence opened two years ago at 10001 Westheimer Road in the Carillon Shopping Center. One step inside and the baked aroma emanating around you gives one impression: don’t…..Read More

John Vargas has been in the Cantina Laredo family for almost two decades. He began with the Dallas-based restaurant company when it had only four locations. In December 2003, it was looking to expand into a new market which brought Vargas to open its first Houston restaurant. The growing company selected the former site of Good Eats in Westchase District. While Vargas and his partners were not thinking long-term, the restaurant’s reception dictated other plans.…..Read More

Whether for lifelong sport, cleaner air, improving health, saving money on gas, less traffic, turning a work commute into a workout or just to feel the wind, people ride bikes for many reasons. And in Houston, cyclists peddle to Bike Barn. The retailer has been supporting the world of cycling since 1983. Serving Cycling Community Bike Barn’s market niche has been reinforced by increasing trends for bike commuting which has grown by 62 percent since…..Read More