WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER
Many successes found in Alvin's economic development By David Rupkalvis Publisher Attracting businesses to Alvin is one of the key elements of city government, so much so the city of Alvin has its own economic development department. Led by Larry Buehler, the department has many jobs, but one of the biggest is keeping existing jobs and working to bring in new ones. “It’s one of our focal points,” Buehler said. To prove his point, Buehler pointed to one of the first things he did after he was hired several years ago. “When I first came here, I met with Team Industrial Services,” Buehler said. “The business was born here and they had purchased property to move their business. I met with them and said I want to compete for your business.” After a series of meetings, Team Industrial Services made a decision that left everyone happy — the corporate offices moved to the new location while the manufacturing side stayed put in Alvin. Several years later, the business now has more jobs in the city than it did originally. It also invested more than $13 million into its facilities at the time and is investing another $3 million now. Buehler said jobs like those provided by Team Industrial Services are what Alvin is always searching for. “Those are what we call the primary jobs where people move here, they buy houses here and the rest will follow,” Buehler said.
One of the big success stories from an economic development standpoint in recent years in Alvin is the move of Empereon to the city. Empereon chose to open in Alvin shortly after Dish Network closed its call center. Empereon brought in new equipment, made a sizeable investment in the city and created hundreds of jobs. (Photo by David Rupkalvis) Buehler said his office also pays a lot of attention to the three plants at Chocolate Bayou. While officially outside the city limits, the plants are still vitally important to Alvin because most of the employees live here and
many of the subcontractors who work with the plants have their offices and employees located in Alvin. He explained that for every direct job at the plants, there are four to six jobs in the region.
Those range from the obvious — companies making or providing parts and services to the plant — to things like waitresses and cooks at restaurants used by the plants. Ascend Performance
Materials, as an example, spends $130 million a year to purchase items from local vendors. “Those are the types of things people don’t hear about or see, but it has a big impact here,” Buehler said.
Buehler said when he is talking to companies about Alvin, he shares a lot of information, but ultimately the message is pretty simple. “You couldn’t come to a better
Third Annual Winter Festival Friday, Saturday & Sunday November 24th - December 22nd
-Activities-
Lights (more than 100,000) and photo opts Hayrides (Lighted at night) Mining Sluice • Berry Funland • Cookie Decorating • Fire Pits • Friendly Fire • Citrus Picking Weekends Ornament Decorating • Corn Cannon • Photos with or without Santa & More To Come
Also Welcoming Fred Dickens & the Garden Rd. Baptist Church Choir - 5th Annual Appearance - COME SEE SANTA! December 8th 10:00 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. For more information & prices for the Winter Festival. Visit our Website: www.frobergsfarm.com
281-585-3531
3601 W. Hwy. 6 • Alvin, TX 77511
Store Hrs: Open 7 Days/Week • Mon.-Sun. 8 A.M. - 6 P.M.
See ECONOMY, page 2
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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
ECONOMY Continued from page 1 place,” he said. “You’ve got a great college system, you’ve got a great place to live and you’ve got a good school system for the kids.” Buehler said having Alvin Community College and Alvin ISD are invaluable when it comes to attracting or retaining jobs. While there have been several new businesses that have moved in, bringing good jobs with
them, Buehler said one of the biggest successes at his office has been something smaller. “The success story for the last five years for Alvin is information,” he said. “I push out the great stories that are happening. I push out information that there’s 80,000 people shopping in Alvin every day.” And that effort is working in some ways that will make the
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A sign of the economy doing well in Alvin is existing businesses investing in the future. Domino's Pizza has had a home in Alvin for many years, but the company is building at a new location on Gordon Street. Below, although the economy is humming along nicely, there are commercial locations ready to be moved into. (Photos by David Rupkalvis) community happy. A few weeks ago, Mayor Pro Tem Keith Thompson announced Chick-fil-A is planning to open a store in Alvin. Buehler confirmed that, saying the company has already chosen a location and could begin construction soon. Buehler also applauded the Alvin City Council for having a pro-business philosophy. He said potential businesses recognize pretty quickly if the city is going to work with them or against them. “By us being able to push out information and having a development process that is probusiness, it works,” he said.
“Our team prides itself in being pro-business.” As the community grows, Buehler said Alvin is working to be ready when business opportunities arise. He said the key is to be ready in advance. As an example, he pointed to the Empereon Marketing call center.
Buehler explained Dish Network came to Alvin and built the call center. At the time, the city gave Dish Network a sevenyear incentive package, but required the business to be in place for 10 years. In its 11th year, Dish Network decided to move, but the city was ready
when Empereon came calling. “We were very fortunate because the infrastructure was there to bring in Empereon,” Buehler said. “They came in and brought new equipment and hired back many of the workers. That was a success story.”
We Are Alvin-Manvel Proud!
Celebrating 24 Years
911 S. Gordon • Alvin, Texas
281-331-3172 Terry & Jody Droege
Members of the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce gather in front of Fade Stop Barber Shop for a ribbon cutting Aug. 22. Owner Moises De La O can be seen holding the scissors. Ribbon cuttings have become common in a booming economy. (Photo by Joshua Truksa)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER
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Industry: An inside look at the Chocolate Bayou plants By Joshua Truksa Staff Reporter Members of the Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce were given an industry tour of INEOS and Ascend on Wednesday. Members of the chamber first took a tour of INEOS and Ascend in 2014, and both companies said more had been built and developed in that time. INEOS Chocolate Bayou site director Mike Hazel said the tour is a “really good opportunity for folks to get out here and see what we do out here.” Frazer said there are $2 billion of approved investment projects being done at INEOS between now and 2020. Eddie Carter, site maintenance and managing engineer for the INEOS Chocolate Bayou Plant, gave attendees a brief overview of facts about how INEOS operates as a company, with 51 sites in 11 countries. The Chocolate Bayou site produces 5.8 billion pounds of olefins and polymers per year, which are used to produce numerous common consumer products such as water bottle caps, lubricants, car interior components and food wrappers. The site receives its raw materials through an 800-mile pipeline from the Hobbs Fractionation Complex in Hobbs, New Mexico. The Chocolate Bayou plant has two ethylene crackers used for production, including the second-largest hydrocarbon cracker in the United States. The plant houses approximately 500 INEOS employees and 1,000 resident contractors. “So, on a daily basis we have about 1,000 INEOS and embedded contractors on the site,” Carter said. After the presentation, Carter guided the ACC bus around the plant to showcase not only the current facilities, but where more is being built. The plant has experienced an influx, with nearly 3,000 to 3,500 workers on site throughout the day
Site Quality and Guest Relations Manager Lynn Crear (left) and Manufacturing Director Brian Connelly welcome members of the Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce to the Chocolate Bayou Ascend plant. (Photo by Joshua Truksa)
because of new construction. The plant has had to find additional parking areas for this rise in people, but Carter explained it is “a good problem to have.” The tour included a look inside the site Central Control Room. Walking in, it looks like what one would expect to see when visiting the CIA or FBI headquarters – dozens of computer monitors situated in a circle, filling a large room, displaying a constant stream of colorful graphics and readouts monitoring the conditions of all of the plant’s inner workings and displaying alerts when problems are detected. Unfortunately, pictures could not be taken inside of this room for security reasons. After INEOS, members of the chamber went to the Ascend plant, formerly owned by Monsanto. The Chocolate Bayou Ascend Plant is the largest producer of acrylonitrile in the world, which is sent to Ascend’s other plant in Decatur, Alabama, to be used in producing Nylon 66, which is
used in textiles. Ascend is the largest producer of Nylon 66 in the world. The Chocolate Bayou Ascend Plant also produces linear alkylbenzene, for use in laundry detergents, and sodium cyanide, used for the extraction of gold in mining, methionine, a naturally occurring amino acid used as a feed source for chickens, disodium imino diacetic acid, used to produce RoundUp, diphenyl oxide, used as a “heat transfer fluid in solar panels and flame retardants,” and nitrillo triacetic acid, “used as a detergent builder to improve cleaning ability.” The Ascend Chocolate Bayou Plant employs approximately 580 people full time and 250 contractors. Many companies own assets in certain areas of the plant, and Ascend provides the workforce for operation. These companies include the Huntsman Corporation, Eastman Chemical and Alimet, a subsidiary of Novus International that produces methionine for chicken feed.
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1400 E. Hwy. 6 • Alvin 281-331-9626
Joe’s Holiday Turkeys & Hams Order Now: 281-331-9626
Whole Smoked Holiday Turkey: $49.95 Ready to eat - Avg. 22 lbs. raw wt.
Whole Old Fashioned Country Carving Ham: $49.95 Site Manager Mike Hazel welcomes members of the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce to the INEOS Chocolate Bayou Works facility. (Photo by Joshua Truksa
Ready to eat - Avg. 4-5 lbs. cooked wt.
Fried Turkey: $49.95
Ready to eat - Avg. 10-12 lbs. cooked wt.
Whole Boneless Turkey Breast: $39.95
Ready to eat - Avg. 3-4 lbs. cooked wt. Side Orders Available - $20.95 per Gal. Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread Dressing, Gravy, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans Available.
Last Day To Pick-Up is Christmas Eve • Close at 4 pm
Also Available: Holiday Value Packs Open Sun. - Thurs. 10:30 am to 9 pm
Fri. & Sat.
10:30 am to 10 pm Open Christmas Eve until 4 pm Closed Christmas Day
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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
JSC Federal Credit Union finds a new home in Alvin By David Rupkalvis Publisher More than 55 years after it opened its doors, JSC Federal Credit Union has a new home — Alvin. The credit union that has served the greater Houston area for decades opened its 20th branch in Alvin a few weeks ago in an effort to make life easier for the many exisiting Alvin
customers who were driving to their branches in Pearland and Friendswood. “We wanted to make ourselves more accessible to our members in order to meet their financial needs,” JSC Chief Operations Officer Paul Maslonka said. “We began researching the possibility of opening a branch in the Alvin area in 2015. The Alvin population has been growing steadily and has always
JSC Federal Credit Union opened a new branch in Alvin earlier this year, expanding to the city after realizing so many local residents use its services. Alvin native April Ferguson, below, was brought in to manage the branch. (Photos by David Rupkalvis) been a great place to live, work and raise a family. Because Alvin is such an evolving community, we searched long and hard for the perfect location. We were excited to become part of this great community when we purchased the land at 887 E. Hwy. 6. The Alvin branch opened in August.” For 55 years, JSC Federal Credit Union has built a reputation of serving its members with professionalism and courtesy. That reputation has helped it steadily grow, reaching more than 123,000 members and more than 2,000 community business partners. “JSC FCU is a memberowned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, and we take pride in supporting our members through all the stages and needs of their financial life,” Maslonka said. “We offer low cost products
Online Grocery Pick Up
281-585-2825
and services to the diverse economic and social make-up of our members and potential members.” Like most credit unions, JSC is similar to a traditional bank with a few important differences. The biggest key, Maslonka said, is that as a nonprofit organization, it returns profit to its members, not shareholders, and those members have a say in who runs the operation. “Each credit union member has equal ownership and one vote — regardless of how much money a member has on deposit,” he said. “At JSC FCU, every customer is both a member and an owner. We are governed by a volunteer board of directors, elected by and from the credit union's membership.” As far as services — if you find it elsewhere, they probably have it. “JSC FCU is a full service financial institution that offers all the same products as a traditional bank with lower fees and higher dividends,” Maslonka said. “We offer a wide variety of products and services including no-fee checking and savings accounts for all stages in life, mobile banking with express deposit, mobile wallet – contactless payment, bill pay and much more. Our low-rate loan products include all types
of vehicle loans, credit cards, lines of credit, debt consolidation loans and more. We have a variety of mortgage and other real estate loan products as well as investment services.” One of the big differences between credit unions and traditional banks is credit unions are designed for a specific market, meaning not everyone can bank there. But JSC has worked hard to expand who can use its facilities and is open to almost all Alvin residents. “There are more than 2,000 ways to qualify for membership and become part of the credit union, including where you live, work, worship or attend school,” Maslonka said. “You are eligible to join JSC FCU if you are an employee or a member of one of the 2,000 companies, organizations, churches, homeowner associations or areas of community service in our field of membership.” And if you want to open an account and become a member, it is quite easy. “It is simple to join JSC FCU. Simply open a savings account with $5 or more and begin enjoying all the benefits of being a member,” he said. “You can apply in a branch or online from the comfort of your home.” So why should someone
consider JSC as a credit union? “Credit unions are not-for profit financial cooperatives,” Maslonka explained. “We exist to serve our members, not to make a profit. Unlike most other financial institutions, JSC FCU does not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to our members in the form of lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits and lower fees.” But perhaps the biggest difference is not even financial. “JSC FCU is not just about checking accounts and auto loans,” Maslonka said. “We subscribe to the credit union philosophy of people helping people. We strive to enable our members to become financially self-sufficient and successful. We place high importance on consumer education and the teaching of financial thrift. Dozens of education seminars, workshops and events are hosted by JSC FCU each year to help our community become more financially independent. Our goal is to serve all of our members well, including those of modest means — every member counts.” JSC Federal Credit Union is located at 887 E. Highway 6 and can also be found online at www.jscfcu.org.
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McCoy's celebrates grand opening of new location in Alvin By David Rupkalvis Publisher One of the largest familyowned businesses in Texas is up and running in Alvin. McCoy’s Building Supply celebrated its grand opening recently with an official ribbon cutting with the Alvin-Manvel Chamber of Commerce and a gathering of top company officials. Brian McCoy, the third generation of McCoy’s to lead the company, said his company is excited to be in Alvin. “We are most excited about opening our Alvin facility,” McCoy said. “It’s something we have dreamed about a long time.” What is now known as McCoy’s Building Supply and has 87 stores in five states, started with much humbler beginnings. In 1927, Frank McCoy opened the McCoy Roofing Company in Galveston. He later added McCoy Supply Company, but the growth of the company did not begin until Emmett McCoy took over from his dad. In 1960, Emmett McCoy opened the company’s second store in Texas City, which started a period of rapid growth. Brian McCoy is the fourth McCoy to serve as CEO, following his grandpa, dad and older brother, Brian. He is proud his son and daughter are also working in the family business as it expands into Alvin. “My grandad started us in business as a roofing company in 1927,” he said. “We’ve been growing methodically.” That methodical growth includes hand-picking new locations. In Alvin, the company hopes it has found a good fit. Alvin Mayor Paul Horn said
With members of the AlvinManvel Chamber of Commerce looking on, Brian McCoy saws through a board to officially open the new McCoy's in Alvin. Many members of the McCoy family came to Alvin to celebrate the opening of the company's newest store earlier this year. (Photos by David Rupkalvis)
not only is he happy to see the company in the city, he believes the timing could not be better. “We’re really proud they’re here,” Horn said. “He came to Alvin at just the right time.” Horn explained that new home construction is ongoing at four subdivisions in the city, giving McCoy’s the opportunity to help as the city grows. In addition, work is continuing as the region rebuilds after Hurricane Harvey. While making a profit is always key, Brian McCoy said being an active part of the community is equally important. To make that point, McCoy’s made three donations during the grand opening ceremony. The company gave $500 to Alvin Little League, $1,000 to the Alvin Sunrise Rotary Foundation and $3,000 to the Karpales Museum.
During the grand opening, the store was full of chamber members and other dignitaries, but the employees still took time to help shoppers looking for a variety of items. Helping those customers is key, Brian McCoy said. “We enjoy serving our customers,” he said. “We have a blended customer base we enjoy serving. We are thrilled to be here.” The Alvin store will be led by Store Manager Daniel Retteghieri, a 33-year veteran with McCoy’s. Kait Busby and Jason Keith will serve as assistant managers. The staff includes multiple employees who have served more than two decades with McCoy’s. McCoy’s Building Supply is located at 675 FM 517, directly behind Buc-ees.
REMODELING FOR OFFICES AND HOMES
FREE ESTIMATES CALL TODAY!
281-245-6243
www.bunkyandsonconstruction.com
~ MEMBER OF THE ALVIN-MANVEL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ~
Say it With Flowers
Family Owned and Operated 281-331-3438
Angel Tree of Remembrance Service Dec. 9, 2018 at 2 p.m.
Come place an angel ornament on our tree in celebration of the life of your loved one. 300 Oak Park Dr. • Alvin 281-331-8217
Email: frobergfh@gmail.com www.frobergfuneralhomeatoakpark.com www.alvinflowers.com 500 W. House St. ~ Alvin, Texas 77511 Complimentary angel ornaments will be provided or you may bring your own. “Flowers ~ The Perfect Expression”
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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
For decades, Joe's Bar-B-Q has remained a favorite of Alvin residents. The restaurant was opened in 1983 and it is common to find the parking lot full any day of the week. (Photo by Joshua Truksa)
HAWKINS Lease would like to thank all their employees and management for five years of safe work.
Strong Character
Quality Service
3205 F.M. 2403 • Alvin • 281-331-2739
After 35 years, Joe's BBQ remains a favorite in Alvin By Joshua Trukas Staff Reporter Opened in 1983, Joe’s BarB-Q has been a tradition for many years in Alvin. Joe Saladino’s family has lived in the area for over 100 years, and Saladino can be seen every day in his restaurant sitting with his group of friends, an unofficial forum that discusses whatever’s on the mind, with a lot of lively jokes. Saladino doesn’t believe in bragging or accepting praise. The love and loyalty his customers show for the restaurant by being regular customers is enough. Joe’s has undergone two expansions since it first opened at its current location —one in 1989 and one in 1990. In 2001, Joe’s built a banquet hall next door. Many Alvin residents remember going to events at the hall, from Little League to wedding receptions. Alvinites can smell barbecue being prepared for lunch on their way to work or school in the morning. Joe’s has been “advertising” this way for years. It is not only customers who are loyal to Joe’s. Several employees have stayed for decades. Pam Robbins is a secretary at Joe’s; she has worked there for 34 years, starting as a waitress. She said Saladino’s amicable treatment of his employees and her interactions with customers have kept her there over the years. “Joe has kept me here at Joe’s for so long because he’s good to work for and he’s a very fair employer,” Robbins said. Socorro Alvarez has worked at Joe’s for 28 years, first bussing
Joe's Bar-B-Q has not only been a favorite of Alvin diners, it is also a favorite for employees. Socorro Alvarez, above, has worked at Joe’s for 28 years while Sandy Bynum, below, has worked there for 31 years. (Photos by Joshua Truksa) tables and now as a waitress. She said she has seen “little kids from babies” grow up and continue coming to Joe’s. Sandy Bynum has worked at Joe’s for 31 years and has seen Joe’s grow over the years. Her husband, Delbert, also worked at Joe’s for many years before retiring. “Business has probably quadrupled. When I first came
here, this room wasn’t here, and the other side wasn’t there,” Bynum said, referring to the extensions, “It was just the center building; that was the original building. When you walked in the door it was dark. There was no light up in the front; they’ve added all of the front on. There was like a little bitty lamp right above my register.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER
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Giving back helps Manvel Mattress stand apart By Joshua Truksa Staff Reporter Frank Hagdorn Jr. moved to Manvel in 1994 from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to open Manvel Mattress and Furniture. Already having connections in the bedding manufacturing business, opening a mattress store seemed like a natural move, and the location that is now Manvel Mattress became available. “It seemed crazy that we were going to open up a bedding store in the little town of Manvel. I think there was only 500 or 600 people here, so demographics wasn't the best, but it was an opportunity and we opened up a sleep shop to start with and furniture came later,” Hagdorn said. Having run a landscaping business in Florida, Hagdorn had experience in running a business. With Hagdorn’s expertise and commitment to customer service, Manvel Mattress became a success. “I just felt that if you took care of your business, you took care of your customers, you were a man of your word, you provided a good product and a fair price, gave good service and concentrated on customer service. In a small town like this you get involved in the community, you get involved with your churches, you get involved with your schools, you get involved with your city affairs and you get yourself known and be a man of your word and you can write your own ticket in business today,” Hagdorn said. Hagdorn believes in giving a
After moving to Manvel to open Manvel Mattress, Frank Hagdorn Jr. has made quite a name for his business by selling quality furniture at affordable prices and running a business that gives back to the community. (Photo by Joshua Truksa)
lot back to the community and being grateful for a successful business. Manvel Mattress is heavily involved in local schools, providing support for the Manvel High School football team and holding events for AISD’s special needs children at Christmas and before the end of the school year. Hagdorn is a commissioner on the local Emergency Service District Board, was chairman of the board for Manvel EMS for 13 years, has been involved in the Manvel Lions’ Club and Meals on Wheels. “In my world and the way I was brought up,” Hagdorn said, “the more you give back, the more comes back to you and that means something to me. So the
more I give back to my community and to the people in this area and the church, it works. It comes back to me.” The store has made an impression not just on the local market. People visiting from other parts of the country have stopped by, and Manvel Mattress has shipped furniture all over the country to customers as far away as California and New Jersey. “If we decorate the front of our store so that it looks appealing and people pull in and if they decide they like it then we got to figure out how to get it to them, and if you can make that work at a reasonable rate then you will generate those sales outside of your local tricounty area,” Hagdorn said.
Family Owned & Operated Since 1951
1655 Bypass 35 • Alvin info@Leeoilalvin.com
ALVIN ROTARY CLUB WOULD LIKE TO
The Alvin Rotary Foundation would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support of our Novemberfest Celebration featuring Alvin’s largest & best car show ever. Thank you, also everyone who came out to support. Please help our community by supporting the following sponsors. Kelley's Country Cookin' has grown into one of the top restaurants in Alvin, with customers flocking for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Photo by Joshua Truksa)
Kelley's Country Cookin' has remained an Alvin favorite since moving here in 2007 By Joshua Truksa Staff Reporter James “Jim” Kelley Sr. opened the first Kelley’s in 1983 after retiring from the Houston Police Department with 26 years of service as badge #1. Shortly after Kelley’s retirement, the owner of his favorite restaurant, Rocky Brook’s Grill, located inside of Lang’s Pharmacy off the Gulf Freeway, passed away. Facing boredom in retirement, Kelley purchased the 50-seat restaurant from the owner’s widow for $7,500. Jim Kelley Jr., who owns the Alvin Kelley’s location, said the first restaurant was not a moneymaker. “It was just something to do, till we started expanding,” Kelley said. Soon after, Jim Kelley Sr. was driving down the Gulf Freeway and noticed a Sambo’s location which had become vacant during the restaurant chain’s demise in
1982. This location became the first expansion of Kelley’s. Over the years, new locations have opened as the Kelley family bought closed restaurants and converted them into Kelley’s. The chain has a unique business model. Each restaurant is a completely independent business entity, owned and run by a family member. Decisions are made collectively about where to open a new Kelley’s when a family member wants to do so, but the business is not incorporated. The number one rule is that a Kelley’s restaurant must be owned and run by a Kelley. Kelley said having an owner at every location helps the restaurants keep a personal touch. Kelley’s Alvin location opened in 2007. Jim Kelley Jr. wanted to build a facility from the ground up. All Kelley’s prior had been existing restaurants. Jim Kelley Sr. suggested Alvin as the place for the first Kelley’s
location with a new building constructed from scratch. “Actually, my brothers fought me on it. They didn't want me to put one in Alvin; they didn't think it would support it. But it's done far better than we ever expected,” Kelley said. Kelley said that if Kelley’s expands again, the family has decided that it will be in the Angleton/Lake Jackson area. After 30 years in the business, Kelley has seen a lot of changes. Food distributors do many things online now and Kelley said he misses going to food shows hosted by companies such as Sysco to find new things to serve his customers. Kelley’s also sees more competition in serving breakfast than in the past. “Back then, it was Denny's, IHOP or us. I mean, there wasn't that many places you go. Now you can drive through anywhere and get a breakfast and a biscuit or whatever,” Kelley said.
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
GOLD SPONSOR:
Texas Advantage Community Bank
SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS: Auto Zone Alvin Animal Clinic Chocolate Bayou Federal Credit Union HomeTown Bank of Alvin
BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS
Claron Salter - Clark, State Farm Insurance Edward Jones Investments - Kelly Hayes Jeter Memorial Funeral Home Matt Sebesta - Brazoria County Judge Scott Funeral Home Stacy L. Adams - Brazoria County Commissioner Pct. 3
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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
GREAK’S SMOKEHOUSE
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* Homemade Pecan Smoked Sausage -Summer & Breakfast * Variety of Meats & Cheeses -Stuffed Pork Chops, Homemade Jerky & Boudain
CUSTOM DEER PROCESSING 3601 W. Highway 6 ~ Alvin
(Located at Froberg’s Farm)
281-388-0368
Neal Stanton checks out the garden plants for sale at his family business. Stanton's offers everything one could want for lawn and garden, hardware and food at the three-part business that has been in Alvin for generations. (Photo by David Rupkalvis)
For almost 100 years, Stanton's has met the needs of Alvin By David Rupkalvis Publisher
“FROM SCRATCH COOKIN’ LIKE GRANDMA MADE”
13021 Hwy. 6 ~ Santa Fe (409) 927-6545
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Now Serving Breakfast! Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
DINE IN OR TAKE OUT • Meatloaf • King Ranch Chicken • Hamburger Steak • Pinto Beans • Chicken & Dumplings w/cornbread • Beef Tips Variety of homemade burgers, vegetables, pies & much more!
Also Soups & Specialty Salads Find our daily menu on fb
“Yum Yum” and “Key Lime” Pies
In 1922, a small Alvin business opened right next to the rail line that helped form the city. At the time, the family business sold wood and coal, primarily for heating. Over the years, the business has grown, adapted, expanded and changed. But the family focus that started Stanton’s is still in place in 2018. You can no longer buy coal at the business now run by brothers Neal, Paul and Allen, but pretty much anything else related to your home, garden and ranch can be found inside. Neal Stanton runs the home and garden section of the business, and he said being a smaller business has helped Stanton’s meet the needs of its customers. “How we separate ourselves from other stores is we have a lot of things that are more local to the Houston area,” he said.
“We don’t have to have as much nitrogen as other areas.” To make his point, he showed a bag of Stanton’s fertilizer designed specifically for homes in Alvin. “This was specifically made for us,” Neal said. “We did soil samples of area yards and that’s what they need.” Inside the home and garden section is a lot of what you would find in bigger nationwide stores, but there are some differences. Bulk seeds are still sold for those wanting to plant their own gardens or flower beds. A large variety of fertilizers and soil treatments can be found, many designed for the Gulf Coast region. There’s a wide variety of feed for animals, ranging from chickens to livestock. Oh, and this time of the year, the store echoes with the chirps of baby chickens and ducks. Neal said one of his favorite items is the bulk seeds, although he admitted sales have decreased in recent years and potted plants
have grown in popularity. The seeds are hand-picked for their ability to thrive in the region. “If you plant this stuff, it’s going to do things,” Neal said. “Now is the time.” Neal said the garden center always does well in Alvin because people who live here tend to care about their yards and gardens. “People have a tendency to take care of their houses and yards in Alvin instead of hiring to have it done,” he said. The home and garden section of Stanton’s sits in the oldest part of the family business. Located feet away from the original railroad tracks, the building still has the doors where materials used to be unloaded from the train. Now it serves as a warehouse holding bags and bags of feed for locals who raise a variety of animals. “We still do a lot,” Neal said. “We still do beef cattle operations, horses, chickens. We See STANTON'S, page 10
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, THE ALVIN ADVERTISER
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Top employers in Alvin
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n Alvin Independent School District – 2,520 n Empereon – 700 n Alvin Community College – 545 n Walmart – 520 n Ascend Performance Materials – 470 n INEOS Olefins and Polymers – 440 n Ron Carter Automotive – 320 n Rice-Tec – 300 n Team – 257 n City of Alvin – 247 n BeAed – 200
2018 Sales Tax for Alvin and Manvel City % Change 2018 Payments
2017 Payments
Alvin 10.86% $5,784,412.52 $5,217,518.25 Manvel 10.52% $1,796,107.71
$1,625,135.24
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Garrett's dream turns into Jack & Jills consignment shop By Joshua Truksa Staff Reporter Kerri Garrett comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Both of her grandfathers were selfemployed and her father bought, restored and sold classic Corvettes. Garrett was an advertising manager for nearly 20 years with a degree in radio, television and film from Sam Houston State University, but when her son was born in 2004, she was introduced to the consignment business. She noticed that her son would outgrow his clothes so quickly that some stuff was never worn. She found herself visiting various consignment shops to sell the old clothes and buy new items. Garrett began working at a
consignment shop with a friend in League City, and when Jack & Jill’s was put up for sale by the original owner in 2011, she jumped on the opportunity. Using the knowledge learned at her previous consignment job, Garrett said learning to run the business was easy and the transition in ownership went smoothly. Garrett did not merely want to mimic the policies of other stores. She used what worked and created new, innovative policies. Jack & Jill’s was one of the first consignment shops in its area to begin including new boutique clothing along with its consignment products. Other shops have since followed. In 2014, the business space next door to Jack & Jill’s was for sale. Garrett purchased it and
opened her second business, this one, Jill’s Boutique, to be built by her from the ground up. Garrett’s mother also helps with the business in setting up window displays, posting on social media and going to market with her daughter to help decide which products to carry. Garrett has given back to the community through Jack & Jill’s over the years. During Harvey, the store gave 50 percent off to disaster victims, meaning only consigners received money for certain items and Jack & Jill’s relinquished its share of the sale. Jack & Jill’s also adopted a family at Christmas 2017 through Alvin HOPE’s Giving Tree program and regularly donates to local schools during fundraisers.
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281-996-8000 Southeast Hypnosis Kerri Garrett stands inside Jack & Jills, one of two consignment shops she owns in Alvin. Garrett and her stores have become a favorite in Alvin. (Photo by Joshua Truksa)
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THE ALVIN ADVERTISER, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018
STANTON'S Continued from page 8 have a lot of variety. We have four different suppliers, which is hard to keep up with. We have a lot of loyal customers.” As the fourth generation to help run the business, Neal said while things have changed, there is still a need for what he and his brothers provide. “I guess the biggest part is feed, but the lawn and garden is pretty big, too,” Neal said. One advantage of having a local home and garden store nearby is the owners are local folks, too. Neal explained that he has a garden at home, so having the right plants and right fertilizer is important to him. He
also works closely with his vendors to keep up to date on happenings in the region. “They’ll brief me if there’s something coming up in the Houston area, like sod worm which hit a few years ago,” Neal said. While Neal runs home and garden in the oldest part of the business, his brother Paul takes care of the hardware store. Like most hardware stores, it includes tools, nails and screws and other supplies. But that is just the beginning. “We have a lot of unusual things that may not be fast sellers, but they will be needed
to finish a project,” Paul said. He explained that since Stanton’s does not have shareholders or corporate offices demanding things be sold in a set amount of time, they can hold on to something until it’s needed. The biggest seller in hardware? “Mainly plumbing,” Paul said. “That’s what we sell the most. We also sell a lot of nuts and bolts.” Stanton’s also has things you would rarely find in a traditional hardware store. “We sell appliances,” Paul said. “I’m a little bit low. We’re
SAVE THE DATE!
Paul Stanton looks over some of the gifts that can be purchased at the family-owned store in Alvin. One of the most popular gifts is the wind chimes next to Paul. Below, Neal Stanton purchased a shark and hung it above the entrance to the home and garden section of Stanton’s to greet visitors. (Photos by David Rupkalvis)
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getting a new shipment this week.” The appliances are not name brand, but they work well, are easy to operate and have low prices that make them popular. As a family-owned store, Stanton’s also has things for sale that might be hard to find elsewhere.
The three brothers attend trade shows in Texas and if they see something that excites them, they will bring it back to the store. Once such item is wind chimes made in Austin that are a favorite. “We’re always looking for something we think might be good that won’t make it into the
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mass merchandise stores,” Paul said. While home and garden and hardware are long-standing elements at Stanton’s, the part of the store that draws crowds from all over is the grocery store, especially the meat market. Allen runs that portion, which has earned a reputation for exotic meats and sausages. At the meat counter, shoppers can find buffalo, elk, camel, frog legs, alligator, pheasant and much more. Sausage and smoked bacon have become favorites and have won awards in big competitions. “We’ve got a lot of exotic stuff,” Allen said. “They all seem to go well.” Allen and a team of seven employees run the meat market, which includes processing wild game for others. The sausage ranges from traditional pork to alligator, camel and even some made with ghost peppers. Good meat has been a longstanding tradition in the family business, but it recently expanded into the exotic fare. “We’ve always had a really good meat market,” Allen said. “We had to branch out. All that processing is relatively new. You have to have something that is quality.” And quality may be the key at Stanton’s. The three brothers are there almost every day, and they are joined by loyal employees who know many of their customers by name. Stanton’s has been forced to adjust as more competition has hit the market, but keeping their focus local, they have continued to offer an important element to Alvin and the region.