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Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999

City remains 7th-largest restaurant market in state

Also, Tuesday Morning to relocate, Hot Topic and 2nd Espresso Magic open, Casa Ole closes

By JEFFREY TOMICH
Staff Writer

   Corpus Christi will maintain its place as the state's seventh-largest food-service market in 1999 with projected sales of more than $440 million, the Texas Restaurant Association says.
   But while the restaurant industry in Corpus Christi continues to grow, the pace isn't fast enough to put the city among Texas' 10 fastest-growing markets, according to the group's forecast.
   The hottest market for restaurant growth in Texas is Laredo because of the stabilized peso and major expansion in the health care industry, the association says. Food-service sales in the border town are expected to grow 13 percent next year.
   Houston, with $5 billion in projected sales, will hold its position as the state's largest food-service industry.
   Overall, food-service sales in Texas will grow 6.4 percent to $23 billion this year - No. 2 among all states, behind California. The average Texan will spend about $1,141 dining out, the association estimates.
   "The climate couldn't be better," said Denise Grasso, a spokeswoman for the group. "The state's population has been riding a decade-long growth surge, unemployment is reaching record lows, and there are healthy gains in personal income growth."
   

New teen clothing store

   Hot Topic, a national, mall-based chain specializing in trendy clothes for teen-agers and young adults, will open in Padre Staples Mall this spring, said Jim Baxter, the mall's general manager.
   Pomona, Calif.-based Hot Topic has signed a lease for 1,500 square feet on the first floor of the mall and is beginning construction.
   Founded by chief executive Orval D. Madden in 1988 to take advantage of the tie between alternative music artists and teen fashion, the fast-growing chain now operates more than 150 stores and had 1998 sales of $70.5 million.
   

Woolworth space for rent

   Padre Staples Mall has purchased the remaining 16 years on its lease with Venator Corp. for 27,000 square feet formerly occupied by Woolworth.
   Woolworth Corp. changed its name to Venator in April, months after the company announced it was closing the last of its Woolworth stores nationwide.
   The mall has not yet found a new tenant for the space, but is in discussions with several large national retailers, Baxter said.
   One store, After Thoughts, is operating in the former Woolworth's space now, but will move to a new space within the mall.
   

Casa Ole closes

   The 3,900-square-foot Casa Ole restaurant at Padre Staples Mall has closed. The Mexican food chain had operated the mall location for 10 years. Baxter said talks are ongoing with a possible replacement tenant. He wouldn't name the possible tenant, but said it is not another restaurant.
   

Tuesday Morning moving

   Tuesday Morning, the Dallas-based chain of deep-discount close-out stores, is moving its Corpus Christi store from 4200 S. Alameda St. to 4102-B S. Staples St. at Carmel Village shopping center.
   The 11,045-square-foot relocated store will re-open Feb. 11.
   Tuesday Morning sells on an event basis in which stores are open four times a year during the retail industry's peak selling season.
   

Espresso Magic expands

   Espresso Magic proprietor Louie Ruggerio has opened a second location in the second-floor skywalk at Frost Bank downtown.
   Ruggerio has operated the original coffee bar location for nearly four years at Sunrise Mall, offering specialty coffees, espresso drinks and pastries.
   On Retailing is published every other Tuesday in the Staff Writer business section. The column includes items on retailing news and trends. Items for consideration should be submitted to: On Retailing, Corpus Christi Staff Writer, P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, Texas 78469; e-mail Jeffrey Tomich at tomichj@caller.com; fax items to 886-3732; or call 886-4316.

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  © 1999 Corpus Christi Caller Times, a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.