Houston Business Journal articles from September 2000

Houston Business Journal archives from September 2000

Rice puts the bag on Quaker's Quisp with clandestine buy.(Rice Epicurean Markets)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Houston-based, Rice Epicurean Markets has "bootlegged" a discontinued cereal familiar to most baby boomers and is bringing it to Houston. Rice has purchased 1,200 boxes of Quisp Cereal, a Quaker Oats creation that was all the rage in the...

American General mints expansive e-tail strategy.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... American General Corp., Houston-based insurance and consumer finance giant, has branched into e-tailing. In a case of branding gone amok, the financial services company has slapped its "American General Financial Group" moniker on a wide...

Courier's legal maneuver could cream competition.(MACH 5 Couriers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... This information could be dangerous if it gets out. Gary Murphy, president of MACH 5 Couriers, has discovered the secret weakness of lawyers in some of this city's largest, most powerful law firms. Ice cream sundaes. Murphy holds "Mach...

Every move you make, every rule you break.(Harris County Toll Road Authority)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... As of last week, Big Brother has his eyes peeled to every toll booth in town. The Harris County Toll Road Authority completed the systemwide adoption of a digital camera enforcement technology on 96 miles of tolls roads throughout Houston....

News from the food and drink front.(Jillian's Entertainment Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Entertainment-oriented venue Dave & Busters will see its first maior run at competition this month after the high-profile Jillian's restaurant opens its doors in the new Marq-E Entertainment Center. Jillian's will encompass 70,000 square...

Joey Vallone and caterer Richard Flowers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... * Restaurateur Joey Vallone and caterer Richard Flowers are seeing stars. The pair, who merged their catering companies in June, have recently returned from Los Angeles where they catered a weekend of parties. attended by President Clinton and...

Dream flips building to Fertitta.(Hakeem Olajuwon to sell building to Tilman Fertitta)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Rockets center trades Trade Center to restaurateur Less than two years after Hakeem "the Dream" Olajuwon struck a deal to purchase the World Trade Center, the basketball great now plans to sell the abandoned downtown structure to local...

Azurix treads water in California project.(Azurix Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Exit of Mark increases opponents' hopes Large signs posted along Highway 99 in Madera County, Calif., tell Houston-based water company Azurix Corp. and its creator, Enron Corp., to head out of the county and take their underground water...

Theater troubles cloud silver screen futures.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Edwards goes into Chapter 11, Loews warns creditors So much for the summer blockbuster. As financial problems continue to dog the theater industry, some Houston-area movie theaters could be in danger of hitting the cutting room floor....

Deep thinking: Transocean deal places drilling firm among Big 3.(Transocean Sedco Forex Inc. acquires R and B Falcon Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... With R&B purchase, oil service company market cap nears $18 billion As it transforms the deepwater drilling market, Transocean Sedco Forex has triggered a reordering of world powers in oilfield services. Fueled by its recent agreement...

Corestaff spends $13 million for Northwest staffing firms.(Corestaff Services acquires General Employment Service Inc., General Employment Oregon Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Houston-based staffing company Corestaff Services is making a Northwest excursion. Corestaff has paid $13 million to acquire a pair of staffing companies in the Seattle area and Portland, Ore., that will serve, as a gateway for Corestaff's...

Window coverings firm Novo Industries wins abatement for $14 million growth.(Novo Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A planned expansion of manufacturing and distribution operations at Novo Industries is expected to create 500 new jobs over the next three years. Novo Industries already has 600,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution space on 60...

Tour 18 founder takes a swing at developing golf community.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Deriving its name from famed golf courses Augusta National, home to the Masters tournament, and Pinehurst, where the U.S. Open was played, Augusta Pines Golf Club, the latest creation from the development group of Tour 18 Inc., is just months...

Real estate roundup.(Tishman Speyer Properties L.P. rents space to to multiple companies.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Tishman Speyer Properties has signed new leases totaling more than 160,000 square feet in its BriarLake Plaza in West Houston. The 20-story, 500,000-square-foot speculative office building, located at 2000 West Sam Houston Parkway South...

Mann Frankfort exec holds out IPO hopes for parent Centerprise.(initial public offering, Centerprise Advisors)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Houston accounting executive Richard Stein invested two years of his time orchestrating the merger of seven professional services firms into newly created Centerprise Advisors. For an encore, he and Centerprise have set their sights on Wall...

BOK Financial Corp.(acquires CNBT Bancshares Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... The illiquidity of BOK Financial Inc. shares played a key role in the Oklahoma bank holding company's recent move to pay cash for Houston-based CNBT Bancshares, analysts say. On Aug. 21 BOK announced plans to buy the six-branch Bellaire...

Southwest Bank of Texas.(new branches)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... * A new branch grows in The Woodlands. Southwest Bank of Texas will open a 40,000-square-foot building in the sprawling suburb this month. Houston-based Southwest Bank and affiliate Mitchell Mortgage Co. plan to share the facility on Research...

BioQuest lands $3 million deal, private financing could double.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Houston-based BioQuest Inc. has secured $3 million in funding, an amount which could double under an agreement with lead investor Merck Fink & Co. BioQuest, which is in the process of merging with San Diego-based BioKeys Inc., will use the...

SurgiCare Inc.(to acquire Surgery Center Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2000... Ambulatory surgery centers, which at one time were thought doomed not to make a profit, are suddenly in fashion in Houston. Two companies have begun moving forward with plans to build new ambulatory surgery centers here, just weeks after...

Methodist Health Care System.(and Kelsey-Seybold Medical Group)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... * First it was Methodist Health Care System that was putting its stamp on Kelsey-Seybold Medical Group. Now it's Kelsey's other parent, St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, that is making its mark on the three-way relationship. St. Luke's,...

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.(eliminating paper patient charts)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... * The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center took a major step toward becoming a paperless operation on Aug. 25 when it signed an agreement that it says will virtually eliminate paper patient charts. M.D. Anderson has inked a deal...

Oracle office targets high-tech start-ups with low-cost options.(E-Business Studio)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Oracle Corp. will open an E-Business Studio in Houston this December as part of a newly-developed consulting strategy from the Redwood Shores, Calif.-based software company. The E-Business Studio concept, launched in July with six locations...

Tech notes.(Orillion Corp. establishes Japanese subsidiary)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Houston-based Orillion Corp. announced this week that it has established a Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo to deliver telecom system solutions to the Japanese market. Kan Higashi, former president of Teleway Japan Corp., has joined Orillion...

High-definition shop Jonestreet begins with slate of new clients.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Long-time local director and producer Scott Hulan Jones is back in the director's chair full-time -- and with specific plans to start rolling into high-definition. Although he never left the business entirely, Jones took about a three-year...

TrakWare Inc.(alliance with Mantra International Ltd.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... * TrakWare Inc., the local software firm that developed and markets PRtrak, has formed a strategic alliance with Mantra International Ltd., a media analysis and market research firm based in the United Kingdom. Under that agreement,...

Patrick Henry Creative Promotions.(new campaigns)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... * Patrick Henry Creative Promotions has been busy cooking up campaigns for a slew of new clients and projects. Maryland-based Phillips Seafood Restaurants has tapped the agency to redesign its menus and create specialty drink menus. Sun...

'Green' power or hot air: Wind energy gets a renewed interest.
September 1, 2000... "Where there's smoke there must be fire," the saying goes. But how about, "Where there's wind, there must be energy?" Wind -- one of several renewable or "green" forms of energy -- has had some press fanfare recently, with the announcement...

Tractor pulled: Rancher's estate tax 'stunt' fails to impress Dems.(Montana rancher Lynn fornwell)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Montana rancher Lynn fornwell traveled by tractor from the Capitol to the White House to deliver legislation to phase out the estate tax over the next 10 years. "Mr. President, don't veto this bill!" said 97-year-old Sen. Strom Thurmond,...

Study: Ergonomics rule to cost $91 billion a year.(Employment Policy Foundation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A new study by the Employment Policy Foundation estimates OSHA's proposed ergonomics standard will cost American businesses $91 billion a year over the next 10 years, not the $4.2 billion that the agency predicts. The foundation based its...

Ads escalate battle over HMO reform bill.(health maintenance organizations)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The battle over managed care reform was waged in the heartland during Congress' August recess. During the week before Labor Day, the American Medical Association stepped up its grass roots "National House Call" public relations and...

SEC's heavy hand threatens auditors.(Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A proposal being advanced by the Securities and Exchange Commission that would restrict accounting firms from providing non-audit services to their audit clients would likely lead to one outcome -- restrictions on choice of services. The...

Seeing the East End for the first time again.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... One of my first jobs in journalism was putting out a newsletter for a concrete company on Navigation Boulevard in the East End of Houston. The East End was a hub of industrial business activity in the early 1970s. The string of various...

The United stand of one frequent flyer.(United Air Lines' services.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... I'm one of those business travelers that you'd think the airlines would like to have. I travel 60,000 to 70,000 miles a year, often to exotic and pricey Midwest destinations like Oklahoma City or Des Moines. Unlike most business travelers,...

CORRECTION.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The Top 25 list of Houston Energy Companies: Exploration and Production and Service, which appeared in the August 18-24, 2000, issue, and the Top 100 list of Houston Public Companies, which appeared in the June 9-15, 2000, issue, included...

On call.(Vocalis Inc.)(WorldShare.net)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Speech technology company Vocalis Inc. and WorldShare.net, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based national Internet service provider, have formed a partnership to provide WorldShare.net members phone access to e-mail using Vocalis SpeechMail. The technology...

In the mail.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Sharps Compliance Corp., a logistical and training solutions provider for the health care and hospitality industries, has inked a deal with C & H Wholesale Inc. to provide its Sharps Disposal by Mail systems to health care organizations...

Done deal.(Devon Energy Corp. and Santa Fe Snyder Corp. merge)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Devon Energy Corp. and Santa Fe Snyder Corp. have completed a merger deal that was announced May 26. Terms of the merger call for each Santa Fe Snyder common share to be converted into 22 shares of Devon common stock. The conversion requires...

Survey says.(Conoco Inc. ranked first in exploration and production for 1999)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... A Prudential Securities survey has placed Conoco Inc. first in exploration and production results for 1999, the second consecutive year the company has topped the list in a comprehensive, comparative performance analysis of major integrated...

Energy conversion.(Waste Management Inc. has inked a deal with Reliant Energy Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Waste Management Inc. has inked a deal with Reliant Energy Corp. to develop 12 landfill gas-to-energy projects in Texas. Waste Management will gather, transport and deliver landfill gas to Reliant Energy at each electric generation facility,...

Gathering gas.(Northern Border Parnters buys facilities from Enron North America)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Omaha, Neb.-based Northern Border Partners LP has agreed to buy gas gathering facilities in Wyoming for about $200 million from Enron North America Corp., a wholly -owned subsidiary of Enron Corp. Northern Border Partners says the two companies...

Computer friendly.(Compaq Computer Corp. contract with Department of Energy for supercomputer)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... The U.S Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration has picked Compaq Computer Corp. to build the world's fastest and most powerful supercomputer -- a system code-named "Q." The supercomputer is the latest advancement in...

Bricks-to-clicks.(Trendsetter Staffing Services Inc. acquired by Internet Venture Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Internet Venture Group Inc. has inked a deal to acquire Trendsetter Staffing Services Inc. Trendsetter is a bricks-and-mortar professional employer organization that manages small business employee administration, including taxes, payroll...

Dish: Trendy cafe puts new spin on traditional American classics.
September 1, 2000... Located in River Oaks next door to the French Gourmet Bakery, the former Wendy's at 2300 Westheimer began attracting serious foodies' attention as the home of Armando's. So la-di-da that it didn't stoop to putting up a sign announcing its...

Clients for Life: How Great Professionals Develop Breakthrough Relationships.
September 1, 2000... By Jagdish Sheth and Andrew Sobel Based on research, Clients for Life sets forth a comprehensive framework for how professionals in all fields can develop breakthrough relationships with their clients and enjoy enduring client loyalty. ...

Athletic feat.(orthopedist Jack E. Jensen)
September 1, 2000... Sports medicine has kept clinic owner Jack Jensen in the game The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta put Dr. Jack E. Jensen into a situation that called on his medical training in an unexpected way. With his wife Allison, Jensen was walking...

Employers innovate to find and keep top employees.(creative perks and benefits)
September 1, 2000... Strapped by the tight labor market, employers are offering more than cash to recruit and retain good employees. In these days of low unemployment, companies have to make an extra effort to keep employees happy. So, more firms are offering more...

Talent crunch gets personal in today's tight job market.(recruiting leadership)
September 1, 2000... All three finalists for a crucial executive leadership position in an organization have solid accomplishments to their credit. Each made good initial impressions and seem interested in the opportunity. All three also have two or more other...

First things first in recruiting: Search for the searchers.(how to pick a search firm)(Brief Article)(Column)
September 1, 2000... For some companies, finding the right executive search firm can seem as difficult as finding the right executive. For many companies, especially those in the high-tech sector, the current job market calls for drastic measures. Stock...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.
September 1, 2000... ACCOUNTING KPMG LLP has elected Robert S. Pink and Craig B. Allen as partners. Jay E. Sternberg has been named partner in the tax and legal services department of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp Advisors Inc....

Taking time to choose right copier can guard against future jams.(Brief Article)(Column)
September 1, 2000... The other day, I walked into a store to buy a TV -- and soon walked out. The choices that lined the walls seemed endless. I just wanted a TV I could watch. Wasn't that enough to know? If your business needs a copier, you may end up...

A few steps to follow when doing the 'salary dance'.(wage negotation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2000... Some time during the course of interviewing for a job you will be asked how much you want or need to be paid. And the salary dance begins. It,s like a dance, only you must make your partner believe he is leading when really you are the one...

LARGEST AREA RETAINED EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS.
September 1, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Earnings.
September 1, 2000... [TABLE HAS BEEN CLIPPED]

Energy exchanges prep for change.(oil brokers and natural gas and power traders )(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Trading platforms proliferate as experts predict eventual consolidation In a new office building along the Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land the crude oil brokers and natural gas and power traders of RedMeteor.com are ensconced behind rows...

Dry cleaning wars get a new wrinkle.(franchise rights for the Houston area for Hangers Cleaners)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 8, 2000... Stitching upscale designs, Shell chemist snags Hangers franchise A Raleigh, N.C.-based dry cleaning chain has snagged a Houston franchisee that is hoping to hang its competitors out to dry. Greg York, a 36-year-old Shell Oil senior...

Inside trades, outside battle: Top Continental insiders cash in, selling big blocks.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 8, 2000... Takeover speculation swirled around Continental Airlines Inc. this summer and provided a tailwind behind its stock. But active insider selling in Continental shares is the latest recent indicator to suggest the Houston-based carrier is on a...

Inside trades, outside battle: Air carrier duels with Delta over Colombian route.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Although Delta Air Lines was tentatively awarded a new route to Colombia this summer, its local competition hasn't given up quite yet. Continental Airlines Inc. and Houston officials had hoped to beat out Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc....

Warwick staying power wins 'Leading' label.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... It took 15 years, but a Houston hotel has finally made the grade. The Warwick has officially become a member of The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd., the prestigious luxury marketing organization that represents 340 of the world's finest...

Rockets give HOK an A-OK to design arena.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... HOK Sport has been named design architect for the Houston Rockets' proposed downtown arena, giving the Kansas City-based company a trio of just-completed or continuing projects in Houston. HOK designed Enron Field where the Houston Astros...

Revved-up promo puts PetroMoly on Indy car.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... A Houston manufacturer of high-performance lubricants for motor vehicles will soon see its name displayed on racing cars. Worldwide PetroMoly has signed a co-sponsorship agreement with Mid-America Motor Sports to put PetroMoly on the side pods...

H-E-B unplugs 'Pantry' from first expanded store.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... There's something new in H-E-B's Pantry. The San Antonio-based grocery company has converted its first Houston-area Pantry store into a regular H-E-B store by adding 6,000. square feet and a full assortment of new products. H-E-B held a...

A Continental kiosk for hotel guests on the fly.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... As if the telephone and Internet weren't convenient enough, the Sheraton North Houston Hotel is now offering a way to purchase airline tickets right in the hotel lobby. The Sheraton has been selected as the nation's first hotel to receive...

Businesses unaware of health deductions.(health insurance premiums )(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... A new survey of small businesses finds that 57 percent are not aware they can deduct all of the health insurance premiums they pay for their employees. Educating small employers about this favorable tax treatment -- and the positive impact...

News from the food and drink front.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Bucking the trend toward dressing down, one of the creators of Regine's club is launching a new buttoned-up club concept in Houston this month. Perry Podaras will begin operating The Gatsby Social Club at 2540 University Blvd. in the Rice...

Continental Airlines Inc.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * A former Continental Airlines Inc. employee is hoping his run at the food business will take off and make for a healthy bottom line. Andre Edwin, an ex-worker in Continental's employee communications department, has quit his day job to...

Michael Cordua.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * Local South American restaurant Americas just received some national attention. The Latin eatery was selected as one of Bon Appetit magazine's favorite restaurants in America in the September issue. Americas was chosen best...

Cafe Anthony.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * Longtime restaurateur and Cafe Anthony's founder Anthony Russo is launching a new no-frills eatery in Midtown called Cafe Botticelli. Cafe Botticelli, which will serve only coffee, wine, appetizers and dessert, is set to open its doors...

Taco Cabana Inc.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * San Antonio-based Taco Cabana Inc. is rolling out a new concept in Houston that the restaurant chain hopes will help spice things up a bit. The company opened its newest Houston restaurant last month at Interstate 10 and Uvalde, but this...

Amazon.com's Bezos: Digital age just beginning to reveal its winners, losers.(Jeff Bezos)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... The founder and CEO of Amazon.com said entrepreneurs are just scratching the surface when it comes to the potential of e-commerce on the Internet. "For the industry as a whole, it's still day one. The alarm clock hasn't gone off yet," said...

Blue Cross, Blue Shield ups staff as AmCare digests AmeriHealth.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Five months after its acquisition of NYLCare Health Plans of the Gulf Coast Inc., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas this week announced plans to increase the merged company's staff by 33 percent in the next six weeks. Meanwhile the...

TDI shutters one medical group, places another under supervision.(Texas Department of Insurance)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... The Texas Department of Insurance took over a pair of struggling physician-owned medical companies last week. Medical Community Insurance Co., a subsidiary of the Harris County Medical Society's Physicians Inc., was placed in temporary...

Houston doctor pushes grand vision for post-Saddam Iraq.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Dr. Mahdi Al-Bassam has a busy practice in cardiovascular medicine at the Memorial Hospital Southwest in Houston. But Al-Bassam leads a double life, devoting much of his time, his passion and his financial resources to the Iraqi National...

Checking in: Telecom hotels absorb tech wave.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... The demand for high-tech office space is growing and being met in Houston, as major telecom hotel deals -- in various stages of development -- are coming to fruition around the Bayou City. San Antonio-based Koontz McCombs Development, in...

Vista Equities Group.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... An investment partnership headed by Vista Equities Group has purchased a 20-acre tract of land on the southeast corner of Interstate 10 and Westgreen in far West Houston. Vista purchased the acreage from American Realty Trust. Both the...

Central Green Business Park.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * After leasing its fourth industrial building in its Central Green Business Park, Midway Cos. has announced plans to develop of a fifth multi-tenant distribution building in the industrial business park. The new 114,000-square-foot...

New Century Metals Inc.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * New Century Metals Inc. has leased 142,000 square feet in the Santa Fe Business Park for a manufacturing facility. B. Kelley Parker III, John Talhelm and James Foreman of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord CG 233 Inc. in the lease...

Mice guys finish first: Cain-backed Lexicon Genetics rebounds.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... The debut was dreary: Lexicon Genetics plunged 15 percent in its first day of trading in April. After going public at $22 a share April 7, the local biotech outfit slipped to $18.75 by the end of the inaugural session. As April unfolded,...

Fogarty Klein Monroe steps up to the job with recruitment ads.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Fogarty Klein Monroe is now pulling recruitment advertising, under its wing. The Houston agency has formed a joint venture with John Mitton and his locally based Recruitment Advertising Services. The unit, which will operate independently,...

SuperStand.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... SuperStand has closed the book on total of three Houston stores now. At the same time, however, the locally based company which retails consumer magazines and periodicals, has already added another chapter to its expansion plans. In addition to...

Bates Churchill Public Relation.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * Bates Churchill Public Relations has been retained by Irving-based Greystone, Communities and Westport Senior Living to handle the public relations campaign for The Buckingham, a senior living facility planned for development in Houston. The...

StarzMusic.com.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... * Locally based StarzMusic.com has launched four new online magazines that radio stations can use to expand their own Web sites. The four new e-zines, including classical, country rock and alternative music, allow radio stations to access the...

Growing grocery competition fells Albertson's in Texas City.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... There's been another casualty in Houston's much-talked-about grocery wars. For the first time since entering the Houston market a decade ago, grocery giant Albertson's Inc. is closing one of its stores. Boise, Id.-based Albertson's has...

Richard's Liquors.(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... Houston-based Richard's Liquors is ready to party. The company is moving quickly to fill a gap left by Kansas City-based Lukas Liquors, which exited the market this summer after corking plans td open several stores over the next few years....

Kroger Co.(prospective Fort Bend Center tenant)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2000... A Jacksonville, Fla.-based real estate investment trust announced last month that it will develop 30 acres of land in Fort Bend County into a retail destination. Kroger Co. has already signed on to be one of the anchor tenants for Fort...