Dallas Business Journal articles from June 1999

Dallas Business Journal archives from June 1999

Two FirstPlus execs pitted in suit over stock.(FirstPlus Financial Corp.)
June 4, 1999... STEMMONS CORRIDOR - Already staggering from a six-month assault by rate shareholders and aggressive reporters. FirstPlus Financial Corp now must fend off an attack from within its elite inner circle. FirstPlus President Eric C. Green is...

Firms plot 'lifestyle communities': Carlson, developer eye Circle T. Flower Mound, Frisco, Las Colinas.(Carlson Hospitality Worldwide; International Consolidated Investors Corp.)
June 4, 1999... WESTLAKE - A well-known hospitality group and an Arizona developer are teaming up to develop and manage as many as five Metroplex "lifestyle communities," a concept that combines full-service resort hotels with condominiums and townhomes. ...

Parkland in expansion mode: hospital considers building new facility, begins to upgrade 1 million square feet.(Parkland Health & Hospital System)
June 4, 1999... MEDICAL CENTER - Parkland Health & Hospital System is taking steps toward what could be another hospital or a major expansion of its campus in the next decade. Board members will consider preliminary plans this fall to build another...

Faison-Stone, Cousins Properties talk merger.(Cousins Properties Inc.)
June 4, 1999... LAS COLINAS - Faison-Stone Inc. is in merger discussions with Cousins Properties Inc., an Atlanta-based real estate investment trust, according to a source close to Faison-Stone. Dary Stone, president of Faison-Stone, declined to comment....

Centurion to transform site into luxury homes; lakefront property along Eagle Mountain Lake draws $300M project.(Centurion American Development)
June 4, 1999... Lakefront property along Eagle Mountain Lake draws $300M project EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE - A former sand and gravel mining pit in northwest Tarrant County is being developed into a 400-acre, $300 million luxury residential development bordering...

CompUSA may be ripe for takeover by Staples; analysts say insiders loading up on company stock signals acquisition.
June 4, 1999... NORTH DALLAS - Shares in CompUSA are on the rise on renewed rumors that the troubled computer retailer will be acquired by the office-supplies giant Staples. CompUSA (NYSE: CPU) rose about 9% last Friday, from $7.43 to $8.12, with 3.5...

Building a solid foundation: growing from a mom and pop to a multiple location business takes planning.(Growth Strategies: An Information Arsenal for Emerging Companies)(InStaff)(Company Profile)
June 4, 1999... PLANO - Gary Waggoner opened his own personnel agency, Waggoner Personnel, 15 years ago. The company was small enough that he and his wife Sandra could run it all. But it didn't stay that way - the company grew, and as it did, Waggoner realized...

Senior housing project to begin in Richardson: Capital Senior Living to build six Metroplex sites.
June 11, 1999... Capital Senior Living to build six Metroplex sites FAR NORTH DALLAS - A $60 million project to build six assisted- and independent-living centers in the Metroplex, Oklahoma City and Indiana could begin construction within a month. ...

Myers & Crow seeks tax break on Class A complex.
June 11, 1999... Spec building case could set precedent for other Lewisville deals LEWISVILLE - Dallas-based Myers & Crow Co. Ltd. hopes to gain a city tax abatement to build a $24 million, 235,000-square-foot office complex in Vista Ridge that would be...

Motel 6 seeks growth via franchising: Addison-based company to add 50 sites annually.
June 11, 1999... Addison-based company to add 50 sites annually ADDISON - Motel 6 has a new vision: Become the leading U.S. multibrand lodging chain in the limited service sector by 2004. The Addison-based company announced the goal at its annual...

Trillium picks Coppell for its corporate headquarters.(Trillium Industries Inc. leases building in Dallas, TX)
June 11, 1999... COPPELL - Trillium Industries Inc. has chosen the fast-growing suburb of Coppell over a Kentucky city for its new corporate headquarters. The Raleigh, N.C.-based company has a strong presence in Louisville, Ky., but Trillium liked...

Lawyers leave Gardere and Wynne to launch firm.(Marty Rose and Hal Walker establishes Rose Walker LLP)
June 11, 1999... New Rose Walker office expected to open July 1 DOWNTOWN DALLAS - Marty Rose and Hal Walker, long-time veterans of the Dallas-based law firm Gardere & Wynne L.L.P., are trading in their corporate offices to hang out their own shingle. ...

Riding the Spanish radio wave: Hispanic Broadcasting comes out on top of fast-growing segment.
June 11, 1999... UPTOWN - It's been a great ride for David Lykes. As chief operating officer of Dallas-based Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., Lykes is enjoying the prestige of leading the Spanish-language radio industry nationally with a market value of $2...

Source Media replaces founders with new CEO.(Stephen Palley replaces chairman Tim Peters and president John Reed, who have resigned)
June 11, 1999... Shakeup a surprise to some as Peters, Reed also resign from board NORTH DALLAS - The news just keeps getting more surprising at Source Media Inc. Shares in the Dallas supplier of information and services via phone and cable TV rose...

Analysts scrutinize Entrust operation.(Entrust Technologies Inc.)
June 11, 1999... Young company faces tough competitor in network-security sector PLANO - Entrust Technologies Inc. isn't exactly hurting for cash. Though it had sales of only $48 million last year, the Plano maker of network-security software boasts a...

Cook children's expands transplant unit: $2.5 million project updates bone marrow facility, amenities.(Cook Children's Medical Center)
June 11, 1999... FORT WORTH - Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth is expanding and updating its bone marrow transplant unit to meet the increase in transplant referrals and patients. The $2.5 million project will double the number of permanent...

See-Worthy test the water with Rockfish grills.(See-Worthy Restaurants Inc. opens five Rockfish Seafood Grill restaurants in Dallas, TX)
June 11, 1999... Five more restaurants on tap in suburban areas SOUTHLAKE - See-Worthy Restaurants Inc. hopes to reel in the Metroplex dining market with this week's opening of Rockfish Seafood Grill at the Southlake Town square, as well as plans for...

Mutual benefits: firm sheds light on company insurance plans.(Benefit Seminars Plus)
June 11, 1999... TURTLE CREEK - Failed landing gear in a Lear jet led Marcia Zimmermann to a new career direction in 1982. A busy grocery executive for what was later to become Whole Foods Market, Zimmermann was traveling with her then-husband, a pilot, in...

$200 million project planned.(Realty Capital and Robson Communities' residential project in Tarrant County, TX)
June 18, 1999... Realty Capital, Robson exec team for residential subdivision in Tarrant 'hotbed' EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE - A partnership between a Grapevine developer and the president of Arizona-based Robson Communities will develop 655 acres near this lake...

Ex-Lomas execs find a niche with upscale cleaners.(Bert Byerley, Jess Hay and Jim Crowson's Bibbentuckers dry cleaning)
June 18, 1999... UPTOWN - Bert Byerley always knew he wanted to start a business. He just never dreamed it would be a dry cleaners. Byerley and a group of heavy-hitting Dallas business people - including restaurant icon Norman Brinker and former Texas Gov....

REIT tries to regain luster after Haddock.(Crescent Real Estate Equities Co.'s former chief executive officer Gerald Haddock)(real estate investment trust)
June 18, 1999... FORT WORTH - Gerald Haddock resigned as CEO of Crescent Real Estate Equities Co. because Wall Street wanted him out. Crescent observers say Haddock's style clashed with investors and analysts. Under Haddock's maverick leadership, Crescent...

Mahoney realtors joining Briggs.(Mahoney Realtors Inc., Briggs-Freeman Real Estate Brokerage)
June 18, 1999... Both agencies specialize in Park Cities properties UNIVERSITY PARK - The 15-person agency of Mahoney Realtors Inc. has closed its doors and joined forces with Briggs-Freeman Real Estate Brokerage. "It's really hard for the little guys...

Blue Cross selling unit as part of merger terms.(Blue Cross Blue Shield's sale of TrailBlazer Health Enterprises L.L.P.)
June 18, 1999... Blue Cross of South Carolina to buy TrailBlazer Health, keep employees local RICHARDSON - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is in the filial stages of selling TrailBlazer Health Enterprises L.L.P., its wholly owned Medicare third-party...

Plans under way for 144-acre Lewisville building project.(Lewisville, TX)
June 18, 1999... Growth along I-35 corridor is boon to city coffers LEWISVILLE - A strong retail market and dwindling industrial space in Lewisville have moved Trammell Crow Co. to plan a 60-acre retail and 84-acre industrial development at the southwest...

Troubled CompUSA may spin off Net.com sales unit.
June 18, 1999... NORTH DALLAS - CompUSA is considering spinning off its Internet sales unit, CompUSA Net.com Inc., as part of a broader plan to overhaul the troubled computer retailer. A spokeswoman says President and CEO James Halpin first revealed this...

Assisted Care to develop 96-unit center in Arlington.(Assisted Care Developer's planned unit in Arlington, TX)
June 18, 1999... ARLINGTON - Assisted Care Developers of Atlanta is seeking a joint venture partner to develop a 96-unit assisted-living center in Arlington. The developer selected the site at 5319-5329 Kelly Elliott Road because of its residential...

Gaylord banks on Opryland name for local hotel.(Gaylord Entertainment's planned hotels in Grapevine, TX and Orlando, FL)
June 18, 1999... Names like Lonestar Grand didn't make cut for Grapevine location GRAPEVINE - The Opryland name is carrying clout for Gaylord Entertainment's new hotels planned in Grapevine and Orlando. Nashville-based Gaylord (NYSE; GET) has passed...

Opryland hotel designs seek lasting impression.
June 18, 1999... GRAPEVINE - Gaylord Entertainment wants to create a lasting impression for travelers and conventioneers staying at the company's hotels planned for Texas and Florida. The idea behind both hotels is to create and deliver a memorable...

McCurley Kinser to move law offices north.(McCurley Kinser McCurley and Nelson L.L.P.'s planned move to Park Cities, TX)
June 18, 1999... Firm signs 10-year lease at Park Cities building DOWNTOWN DALLAS - McCurley Kinser McCurley & Nelson L.L.P. plans to move its downtown Dallas family law practice to the Park Cities to be closer to its client base. Late this year, the...

Campbell Ranch clears way for development.
June 18, 1999... 140 acres of Lewisville land is zoned for light-industrial projects LEWISVILLE - Owners of Campbell Ranch will begin clearing and grading the land in preparation for possible commercial development, city officials say. The 140-acre...

Hospital plots expansion.(John Peter Smith Hospital of Dallas, Texas)
June 25, 1999... John Peter Smith nabs Fort Worth land for addition costing up to $30 million FORTH WORTH - Officials with John Peter Smith Hospital have approved acquiring land to build a $20 million to $30 million addition housing a new women's health...

PhyCor wants Internet firms to name names.(PhyCor Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee)
June 25, 1999... NORTH DALLAS - Angered by what it claims are libelous statements on Internet message boards, PhyCor Inc. is demanding that Dallas-based Internet America and other providers reveal the identities of e-mail writers nationwide. The...

Banking on automation.(supermarket self-checking lines)
June 25, 1999... State's only 'cashless' bank takes tech to the supermarket, eliminating tellers - and long checkout lines PLANO - Legacy Bank of Texas and Super One Foods have taken the next step with their cutting-edge "cashless" operation, adding two...

Clarant set for high-risk, high-reward IPO.(Dallas, Texas-based Clarant Worldwide Corp.'s initial public offering)
June 25, 1999... FARMERS BRANCH - Led by the former chief executive of CBS Corp., a fledgling Dallas company is making a daring bid to become a major interactive-services player by acquiring eight companies and paying $314 million for them with a public stock...

'Old, tired center' gets a face-lift.(Richardson Heights shopping center in Richardson, Texas)
June 25, 1999... Hopkins Commercial plans major upgrades at Richardson center RICHARDSON - The city's oldest shopping center is getting a multimillion-dollar face-lift courtesy of its new owners. Dallas-based Hopkins Commercial Real Estate Inc. in...

Love Field skirmish set for next court hearings.(Dallas Love Field aviation feud)
June 25, 1999... Both sides confident of win in battle for right to fly out of Dallas airport LOVE FIELD - The players in the long-running Dallas Love Field aviation feud are gearing up for the next episode in that court drama. The latest developments...

Companies tap into lucrative bike parts market.(American IronHorse Motorcycle Co.'s alliance with The Biker's Choice)
June 25, 1999... American IronHorse, Tucker Rocky align to meet aftermarket demand FORT WORTH - Worldwide distributor The Biker's Choice has teamed with manufacturer American IronHorse Motorcycle Co. in a deal to tap deeper into the ongoing white-collar...

Jackson Walker law firm opens its Richardson office.(Dallas, Texas-based Jackson Walker L.L.P.'s Richardson, Texas, office)
June 25, 1999... Expansion of intellectual property practice impetus for telecom corridor site RICHARDSON - Jackson Walker L.L.P. is moving to expand its intellectual property practice by opening a second Metroplex office in Richardson's Telecom Corridor....

First Mercantile boosts assets by $70 million.(First Mercantile Bank N.A. of Dallas, Texas)
June 25, 1999... Independent bank beats start-up odds by targeting niche market, expanding locations NORTH DALLAS - Just 18 months after its launch, First Mercantile Bank N.A. is already preparing to open a third location - this one in the Preston Plaza...

Physicians bargaining bill draws out debate.(Senate Bill 1468)
June 25, 1999... GREATER METROPLEX - Power to the physicians. That's what a new law was designed to give individual physicians wanting to jointly negotiate with health plans. But uncertainties about the just-signed Senate Bill 1468 and past experience with...