Houston Business Journal articles from November 1999

Houston Business Journal archives from November 1999

Betting Biggs on residential bundling.(Mike Biggs of Resident's Home Buying Services Inc.)
November 26, 1999... Real estate veteran markets one-stop home shopping concept to apartments Mike Biggs has spent the last year-and-a-half putting the pieces together on a residential puzzle that could pay off big for first-time home buyers and his newly...

Allergic reaction dividing doctor groups.(groups argue over which doctors can provide asthma treatment)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Confusion over the course of action for allergy treatment is prompting a split between a group of local doctors and a national physicians management group. Houston Allergy and Asthma Associates, the largest group of allergists in Texas,...

Labor of Lovett.(Lyle Lovett buys the Cycle Shack of Stafford, Texas)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Free-wheeling celeb buys local cycle shop Houston's own country-folk singer and songwriter Lyle Lovett is once again working at a motorcycle shop where he was employed as a teenager. But this time the performer with the disheveled hairdo...

Garden Ridge going private in cash sale.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Poised to go private, Garden Ridge Corp. has agreed to a cash buyout offered by an investment group spearheaded by Garden Ridge Chairman Armand Shapiro. Fueled by the announcement, the home-decor retailer's stock surged 53 percent to...

Rookie league, veteran player.(Robert Reid general manager of Sugar Land Sharks)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Robert Reid will soon be back on a Houston-area basketball court, almost 12 years after leaving the Houston Rockets. Reid has agreed to be the general manager and head coach of the Sugar Land Sharks -- a new team in the Southwest...

Pet parlor for pooped pups.(It's a Dog's Life provides day care for canines)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... In the growing pet retail category, a new doggie day care that opened at Dunlavy off West Gray is designed to make pups dog-tired. It's a Dog's Life is marketed as a center that will socialize, walk, play and completely tire out a pooch...

Smokeout a drag for some diners.(Carrabba's goes smoke free)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Smokers who walked into the FM 1960 Carrabba's Italian Grill last Thursday came away huffing and puffing. The eatery went smoke-free on Nov. 18 in recognition of the Great American Smokeout. The Texas Department of Health, Harris...

Restaurant maverick breaks away from pack.(Chuck Russell to open Farrago)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... A couple of years ago, Chuck Russell had a sneaking suspicion he could strike gold by keeping a swanky Downtown restaurant open past 5 p.m. At the time friends called him crazy, but Solero is now a smashing success. While Russell loves...

Prognosis: Higher health care costs.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Employers can expect to see double-digit increases in health care costs for the second year in a row. Companies will experience increases of 8 percent to 10 percent for next year, according to a study released this month by Hewitt...

News from the food and drink front.(Elvia's Cantina opens second location)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The Niels Esperson Building is about to get a saucy new tenant. Elvia's Cantina, which has operated a popular establishment on Fondren for 10 years, has leased a 10,000-square-foot spot on the first floor of the historic downtown...

Alex Brennan-Martin.(hosts the 1999 Houston Culinary Awards)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... In a sort of foodie version of the Academy Awards, 200 of the city's top chefs, restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered last week to honor winners of the 1999 Houston Culinary Awards. My Table Magazine founded the annual awards...

Deregulation derby: Shell marches into Georgia utilities market.(Shell Energy Services Co. acquires Peachtree Natural Gas Co.)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Houston energy marketer wins bidding battle for bankrupt Peachtree A Houston energy marketing company has become a major player in the newly deregulated Georgia utilities market after another Texas firm decided to pass up the opportunity....

Founding brewmeister buys out Saint Arnold beer buddy.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Top Texas independent brewer pours on quirky promotions with tie-dye Bentley and sausage crawls Saint Arnold beer brewmaster Brock Wagner has bought out partner and co-founder Kevin Bartol at the largest independent brewer in Texas. ...

Global Marine bails Irish shipyard with cash infusion.(advance of $106 million to ensure delivery)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The 140-year-old shipyard that built the Titanic has been saved -- at least temporarily -- through an infusion of cash supplied by Houston-based Global Marine Inc. The Belfast, Northern Ireland, yard is building two deepwater drill ships...

Venezuela to open local oil trading office.(Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. in Houston)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The state-owned oil company of Venezuela, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), plans to open a trading office in Houston in January as part of the company's strategy to expand international business activities. The focus of the new...

Chicago Lock a key acquisition for CompX.
November 26, 1999... Houston-based CompX International Inc. plans to acquire 80-year-old Chicago Lock Co. for $9.5 million in cash. CompX manufactures ergonomic computer support systems, precision ball bearing slides and security products. Chicago Lock,...

Compaq stock price rebounds with assist from optimistic analysts.
November 26, 1999... Snubbed by the national business media, Compaq Computer Corp. is scoring points with stock analysts who believe the worst is over for the world's largest personal computer maker. Analysts have warmed up to the stock with a variety of...

Conoco makes advertising comeback after spin-off from DuPont.
November 26, 1999... After gaining independence status from DuPont, Houston-based Conoco Inc. is launching a national advertising campaign following a 20-year absence from the ad scene. Last fall, Conoco sold 30 percent of its stock in a historic initial...

Foley'S could nail down anchor spot in fourth phase of Galleria.
November 26, 1999... Houston-based Foley's is rumored to be the next department store to anchor The Galleria's fourth phase of expansion. While Foley's officials are keeping strategies close to the vest, inside sources say the department store chain will join...

Humana acquisition to reshape Houston health care market.
November 26, 1999... Humana Inc. signed a definitive agreement last week to purchase the Memorial/Sisters of Charity Health Network for an undisclosed amount. The transaction makes Humana No. 4 in Houston's managed care market, represents the end of a...

A foot in the door.
November 26, 1999... Bob McNair displayed usual sense of patience and timing to land NFL expansion franchise Houston billionaire Robert McNair's neck shows no damage from a year of being jerked around by the National Football League, which stacked the deck...

State of the market symposium focuses on Downtown, energy.
November 26, 1999... Talk of Houston's energy ties and Downtown's market depth dominated an end-of-the-year symposium held last week, when five local real estate professionals shared their state of the market forecasts. Commercial Property News, a trade...

Many small firms adopt wait-and-see approach to correcting Y2K glitches.
November 26, 1999... Up to 500,000 small businesses have decided to wait until Jan. 1 to see if they have any Year 2000 computer problems, figuring they can address any glitches after they occur, says the White House's Y2K czar. This "fixing on failure"...

Franchise ties back on Congress agenda.
November 26, 1999... Legislation aimed at protecting franchise owners from being abused by franchisors was reintroduced by Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C. The Small Business Franchise Act, which failed to pass Congress last year, would establish standards of...

Injury prevention plans work, survey concludes.
November 26, 1999... Employers with ergonomics programs are less likely to have high rates of repetitive motion injuries, according to a survey of large companies in the manufacturing, transportation/communication, health and business services, and...

Tech firms help SBA expand online site.
November 26, 1999... The Small Business Administration has hooked up with Network Solutions Inc. and inc.com to beef up its Online Small Business Classroom. Network Solutions, a Herndon, Va.-based registrar of Web addresses, and inc.com, the Web site for...

U.S. Chamber forms supply chain group.
November 26, 1999... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a new Logistics Council to deal with supply chain issues impacting businesses. Third-party logistics providers have experienced explosive growth in recent years, thanks to advances in information...

Many businesses take self-financing route.
November 26, 1999... Small businesses continue to feel optimistic about the economy, and many plan to expand over the next three months. That's according to the Small Business Foundation's Optimism Index for October, which fell slightly from September's...

Concept meets concrete -- and a city gains character.
November 26, 1999... Those who design Houston's landmark buildings not only create the city, but they have a unique influence on both its history and its future. And the developers and other commercial real estate business leaders who turn concepts into concrete...

Corporate Radar: Tracking the Forces That Are Shaping Your Business.
November 26, 1999... In the book, author Karl Albrecht has devised a method for understanding the turbulent business environment and analyzing its impact on the future success of any organization. Backed by examples from real companies, the book pin-points...

Forward thinking.
November 26, 1999... Spotting a need in semi-pro hoops, Charles E. Johnson has picked up the ball. But in three years, the easy shots have been rare. Charles E. Johnson went from working as a sports agent representing such NBA players as former Houston Rocket...

The perils of consulting: But do they really like your work?
November 26, 1999... I've just completed a massive and exhausting consulting assignment. Months of labor were capped off by the development of a voluminous report, excruciatingly detailed recommendations and a five-hour, non-stop presentation. The body...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... ACCOUNTING Peter D. Nelson has been elected director of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas PC. Hein + Associates LLP announced that Stephanie Bauerkemper has joined the tax department and Sean Bumgarner has joined the business valuation,...

BMW 540i: A driving machine that earns its 'ultimate' reputation.
November 26, 1999... Two on the Road BMW 540i Mid-size sports sedan Base price: $51,100 Mpg: 18/24 Competition: Lexus GS400, Mercedes E430 Tom: It takes a supreme level of confidence to have a corporate motto "The Ultimate Driving Machine."...

Chairman's Letter.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Dear Colleague, Today's publication marks the second edition of Workplace Wellness. The intent of this insert within the Houston Business Journal is to provide employers (regardless of size) with a reference source for addressing...

Assessing Corporate Health Program Effectiveness.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Improving the Health and Productivity of Corporations Begins With Collaborative Efforts Corporate Health Programs... do they work? Yes! In the first Workplace Wellness insert in September 1999, several articles presented answers to...

Building a Healthy Workplace in Seven Easy Steps.
November 26, 1999... According to recent benchmarking studies, there are a number of common elements or best practices that are inherent in results-oriented health promotion initiatives. At the Wellness council of America (WELCOA), have distilled these best...

Coming to Terms with Wellness.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... These days there's quite a bit of confusion surrounding the terms "wellness" and "health promotion." Whether you have been involved in this arena for a number of years or not -- ask anyone and you are bound to encounter varying opinions...

Wellness Proclamation Issued to Houston Well Workplace/Well City.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The Houston Well Workplace/Well City was recognized by the City of Houston and Mayor Brown via a proclamation on November 10, 1999. The proclamation commended the organizers of the Houston Well Workplace/Well City initiative for "serving...

Strategies for Starting a Worksite Wellness Initiative.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... If health promotion is the vehicle by which lives can be changed and organizations transformed, then leadership is the fuel that drives it. And getting off to a fast start is essential if you hope to build momentum within the program. If...

A Team Approach to Building a Healthy Culture: A Case Study for Houston Companies.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... In this second edition of Workplace Wellness, we want to share with all readers regardless of their corporate responsibility an example of how one small company took the lead within their community and moved forward with a wellness initiative...

Why Wellness is Important Today.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... While the definition of wellness makes sense to most people, there are scores of hardcore skeptics who are of the opinion that wellness is nothing more that a trendy management fad that will only result in the diversion of precious resources...

Houston Well Workplace/Well City Initiative.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Although the leading causes of illness are largely preventable, preventable illnesses make up 70 percent of the entire burden of illnesses and associated costs in the United States. Through work site wellness initiatives, companies can reduce...

Restaurateur plans 'little Italy' in downtown Houston.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... A Houston restaurateur, born in Egypt and trained in the culinary arts in Italy, plans something different for Downtown, an endeavor earning the Project of the Month designation. "I'm not after money," he says. "I'm after culture." ...

Battlestein's will be turned into loft offices.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Many residential lofts are being built downtown, but brothers Aaron and Tony Wiese have made the Deal of the Month by taking the concept a step further. Collaborating to develop loft offices, one of the first projects of its kind in Houston,...

21-story building will become Millennium Tower.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Sale of the Month is a a transaction involving a 21-story, 365,000-square-foot Class A office property -- BMS Management Inc.'s purchase of west Houston's Enserch Tower. The building will be renamed Millennium Tower, as Enserch now has only a...

Safety is a serious concern during construction projects.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... The tragedy at Texas A&M University last week when the collapse of the traditional bonfire structure brought disaster has focused attention on safety issues at construction sites. America is a nation under construction. Highways, bridges,...

West Houston survey shows continuing growth for area.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... West Houston has been a boom area for years, and continued strong growth in the area is forecast in the West Houston Association's 1999 Development Survey, coordinated and edited by C. Daniel Tighe, project director for the association. ...

Building boom is bringing success to area contractors.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Houston construction companies aren't literally making hay while the sun shines, but they are filling the skyline with cranes while capitalizing on the city's building boom. Smaller construction firms in Houston are having a heyday....

Updated buildings add strength in North Belt office market.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... What tops the wish lists of today's tenants? For office tenants on the North Belt, Houston's third largest submarket, it's high-speed access to the information highway and to the Interstate. Two years ago, North Belt tenants were more...

Attention due due diligence in real estate transactions.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Anyone who has ever been involved in financing a real estate-related transaction, be it as a lender or borrower, has probably come to realize the complexities involved in judging a property's ability to generate income. But as parties of...

Web-based services move real estate into the new era.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Entrepreneurs are introducing a wide range of innovative Web-based services on the Internet, many of which relate to various aspects of real estate. Among the new services is a site to help veterans of the U.S. armed forces buy homes, a...

Multifamily developers cope with growing competition.(provides real estate occupancy statistics)
November 26, 1999... An abundance of new Class A multifamily units has created a favorable environment for renters and a less certain market for developers, according to O'Connor & Associates' newly released "Apartment Performance Update," which is based on a...

Occupancy, rents climb in U.S. apartment market.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Desirable apartments are growing harder to find in many of the nation's major cities. Occupancy in the better-quality properties has climbed to 96.1 percent, according to the latest issue of M/PF Research, Inc.'s "U.S. Apartment Market...

LARGEST AREA SHOPPING MALLS AND CENTERS.(listing of malls ranked by rentable area)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... LARGEST AREA SHOPPING MALLS AND CENTERS (Ranked by Net Rentable Area) Last Net Rentable Year's Name Area...

Choose office leasing broker for experience, reputation.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Selecting a broker to assist with office leasing details and negotiations is a delicate and sensitive task -- somewhat like choosing a dentist, except there are no pain killers to protect the prospective tenant from an inept broker. ...

Houston ties for 15th for real estate investment.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Houston is tied with Detroit as the 15th top major U.S. market for real estate investment and development in a new survey published jointly by Lend Lease Real Estate Investment and PricewaterhouseCoopers. For the fourth consecutive year,...

Equity Office introduces programs for tenants.(Equity Office Properties Trust's leasing services)(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Equity Office Properties Trust, which owns 285 office buildings throughout the country, is updating its services with initiatives including a simplified office lease document that streamlines the leasing process by eliminating frequent points...

Computer training suites open in energy corridor.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Computer training suites affiliated with the national franchising organization, Knowledge Development Centers were recently opened at 11200 Richmond Ave. by Jerry and Veniece Griffin. Jerry Griffin, formerly an independent consultant and...

Construction market strong throughout the country.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Construction put in place during September is estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $700.1 billion, nearly the same as the revised August estimate of $696.8 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau. ...

Personal income increases, national figures show.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... In September, personal income increased $2.6 billion, or less than 0.1 percent, and disposable personal income decreased $15.4 billion, or 0.2 percent, according to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal...

Kroger to buy 74 stores in Texas, Oklahoma.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The Kroger Co. has announced plans to purchase 74 Winn-Dixie grocery stores in Texas and Oklahoma. Sixty-nine of the stores are in Texas, primarily in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The stores will become part of the Southwest Kroger...

TREC chairman is elected to ARELLO board.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Texas Real Estate Commission Chairman Jay Brummett has been elected to the board of directors for the international Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. ARELLO works to improve the administration and enforcement of real...

Homeowners contributing to Galveston Bay pollution.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Lawn care may be contributing to the decay of Galveston Bay and surrounding bayous because individuals may unintentionally contribute to runoff pollution -- grease and oil from parking lots and garbage and other pollutants from homes and...

Eight watershed studies under way in Texas.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board is studying the effect of brush management on water yields in eight watersheds. All or part of the Canadian River, Wichita River, Upper Colorado River, Middle Concho River, Edwards...

Interstate highways are top influence on cities.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The 1956 Interstate Highway Act and the dominance of the automobile have had the most profound influence on American cities in the past 50 years, according to a Fannie Mae Foundation survey. The survey concludes that the biggest influence...

Maximum politics, minimum benefit.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... As the politicians slugged it out in Congress over raising the minimum wage, it was important to remember a simple fact -- hiking the wage would be detrimental to small business, the real engine of this country's jobs-growth machine. In...

This week's paper hot off the presses.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The first sign that something was up came from the erratically blinking computer. Then the lights went out all over the office. No problem, I thought. The building's electrical system occasionally glitches, but the power usually comes...

Report sheds new light on minorities, education.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Remember Lino Graglia? He is the University of Texas Law School professor who speculated in a widely condemned speech that the gap in academic achievement between blacks and Hispanics, and whites and Asians, might be attributable to cultural...

Texas legal system suffers as Toshiba surrenders.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Computer giant Toshiba flopped over in Beaumont this month. To the surprise of many, Toshiba, the world's leading maker of laptop computers, settled a class action lawsuit for an astounding $1 billion. The charge: Producing a flawed floppy...

Job cuts.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Pipeline company Midcoast Energy Resources is laying off 50 employees, including 18 in Houston, as part of a streamlining process. Positions targeted for the move include members of the company's staff in the corporate office and at several...

Tank cleaning buyout.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... HydroChem Industrial Services has acquired tank cleaning services firm Landry Service Co. for $35.5 million in cash. Houston-based Landry, also known as Lansco, specializes in on-site sludge removal and processing for above-ground storage...

Executive appointments.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Palm Works Inc., a provider of Internet data services and online applications for wireless handheld computers, has appointed James T. Voss as president and CEO and Ellen S. Eckler as executive vice-president and corporate secretary. Voss has...

Lock acquisition.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... CompX International Inc., has agreed to acquire Chicago Lock Co. for $9.5 million in cash, subject to certain price adjustments. Chicago Lock produces locks for vending, office furniture and other industries. The purchase price includes...

Energy services.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... Reliant Energy Solutions Inc., an unregulated services unit of Reliant Energy Inc.'s Retail Group, has acquired the energy services division of Southland Industries, a Long Beach, Calif.-based design-build mechanical contractor. Under the...

Deal completed.(Burlington Resources acquires Poco Petroleums)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 26, 1999... Burlington Resources Inc. has completed its acquisition of Poco Petroleums Ltd. The deal calls for Poco shareholders to receive 0.25 Burlington Resources common equivalent shares for each Poco share held. The exchangeable shares are Canadian...

Buyout proposal.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... The John Wood Group, which owns 89 percent of ERC Industries' shares, is proposing to pay $1.50 per share for the approximately 3.2 million shares outstanding. ERC, an oil-field service company that remanufactures, manufactures and services...

Post-war boom of 1940's brought 'dazzling' prosperity to Houston.(Brief Article)
November 26, 1999... In 1948, Houston received the distinctive label of "fastest growing city in the nation." World War II had propelled this growth, and the post-war years continued to fuel it. The city's ascent during this time was described by the Saturday...

Ogilvy & Mather Shells out of Houston.
November 19, 1999... After 30 years in Houston, ad firm Ogilyy & Mather has resigned its plum $40 million Shell account and will shutter its 60-person Houston office. O&M Chairman Tro Piliguian says the Houston office has resigned the account handling North...

Nasdaq nirvana: Exchange uplifts local tech firms.
November 19, 1999... Mission Critical Software Inc. epitomizes the investor fervor now sweeping through Nasdaq technology stocks. The Houston company's share price has more than tripled since it went public in August. And the local provider of systems...

Pint-sized premium fracas heats up cold competition.
November 19, 1999... Ice cream maker dips into upscale market To the folks at Dreyer's Houston ice cream plant, revenge is a dish best served cold -- and in 18 flavors. Two months ago, Ben & Jeny's Homemade Inc. dropped Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream LLC as...

What goes up, must come down in housing.
November 19, 1999... Not too long ago, pulling permits for housing was a race against the clock. But it seems Houston's hot-and-heavy housing market has cooled to a degree. After ranking No. 1 in multifamily permits pulled and No. 7 for single-family permits...

Sick 'em Houston: We're number five!
November 19, 1999... An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it didn't help the Big Apple during the latest flu season. But before Houstonians start snickering at the sniveling New Yorkers, they'd better grab some tissues. Houston ranks in the top...

Kids collect haul of Astros leftovers.
November 19, 1999... Orbit, the Houston Astros mascot,. may have felt a little more warm and fuzzy than usual this week. The mascot visited five charitable organizations delivering $30,000 worth of gifts to more than 340 children in the Houston area. The...