Front Page || Main Index || Corpus Christi News || Business || Texas || Sports || Entertainment || Selena
Tuesday, Sep. 22, 1998
On Retailing
Whataburger to build two-story restaurant on Shoreline
Flagship store, the chain's biggest yet, to overlook the marina and be built by year's end
Whataburger is building a two-story flagship restaurant on Shoreline Boulevard that will be the chain's biggest yet, said Tim Taft, senior vice president for the Corpus Christi-based chain.
``It'll be twice the size of the ones we build everywhere else and we'll never build another one like it,'' Taft said.
The new restaurant, the chain's only two-story outlet, will be 6,000 square feet and seat 200 customers. Its second-floor dining room will overlook the marina. A specially designed kitchen will be able to accommodate a greater volume of customers, Taft said.
Besides the new design and larger size, the Shoreline Whataburger will feature an expanded menu, with items such as gourmet coffee and cappuccino, Taft said.
It's being constructed next to the existing Whataburger at 201 Shoreline, which is about 2,500 square feet and seats 85 customers. After the new restaurant is open, the existing one will be torn down, Taft said.
Whataburger hopes to have the new restaurant open by year-end. Originally, the company hoped to have the restaurant open by July 4, but because of a statewide building boom, Whataburger has had to wait on the delivery of steel beams.
With more than 12,000 employees, Whataburger has 540 restaurants in seven states and Mexico and generates more than $500 million in revenues annually.
Relocated business
Video Star, a video rental store in Corpus Christi, has relocated to the Bel-Aire shopping center, 2773 S. Staples St.
The store was on Alameda next to H-E-B. But after 14 years, owner Erlie Johnson moved to 1801 S. Staples St. in 1996 when the grocery chain expanded.
Video Star stayed at 1801 S. Staples St., for about two years before moving to its current 1,800-square-foot site at Bel-Aire. The store carries more than 10,000 movie titles and does video transfers.
Vela's 100% Natural
Vela's 100% Natural, which specializes in fruit desserts, recently moved to a larger site within the same shopping center at Everhart Road and Saratoga Boulevard. Vela's left its 1,000-square-foot site at Everhart Park shopping center for a 2,250-square-foot space, said Jeannette Stevens, vice president of property management firm Landlord Resources. . . . Stylistic Tanning Salon has moved from Airline Road to 6121 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite B. The salon celebrated the move with a grand opening on Friday.
New businesses
Family Auto Insurance Agency has acquired the Zeke Serna Insurance Agency and Contractors Insurance Services, giving the agency a total of eight offices. Also, Family Auto Insurance has entered into a lease agreement to open a new location at 3502 Leopard St. . . . A&R Laundry is opening a 1,000-square-foot laundromat at Five Points Station shopping center on Up River Road. The laundromat is expected to be open in mid-October, said property manager Rachelle Belcher of Atrium Management Services. . . . The Money Box, a chain of check-cashing stores, has opened a new, 1,000-square-foot office at Everhart Park.
On Retailing is published each Tuesday in the Caller-Times business section. On Retailing items include new, relocated and expanded businesses. Items for consideration should be submitted to: On Retailing, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, Texas 78469; e-mail Jeffrey Tomich at tomichj@scripps.com; fax items to (512) 886-3732; or call (512) 886-4316.Post your comments about local news eventsFront Page || Main Index || News || Business || Texas || South Texas Outdoors || Birdwatching || Sports || Entertainment || Selena || Education || South Texas Attractions || World Wide Web