San Antonio Business Journal articles from July 2000

San Antonio Business Journal archives from July 2000

ILEX Oncology inks big lease with Orion.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... In 1998, Orion Partners took a gamble on the San Antonio market when it rolled out plans for several speculative office buildings. The bet has paid off. The firm has inked a deal with ILEX Oncology Inc. to lease all of its newest development,...

Manufacturer wants to add up to 115 jobs.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Trade magazine publisher Story Communications is embarking on ambitious plans to relocate its printing facilities from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to a new $7.5 million corporate campus it is developing in Seguin. Story Communications, an...

S.A. insurance fraud case full of twists, turns.
July 28, 2000... An insurance-fraud case brought against a local Iranian family and their business, the Pain Theraphy Clinic, is continuing to spark controversy on the rocky route to justice. A recent development related to the case appears to raise...

Area firm seeks to make the big scene.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... In 1936, A.I. and Martha Beck worked long hours to put their small San Antonio theatrical stage-equipment business on the map. Martha sewed the company's scenic curtains and her husband traveled the region selling them. The Becks had a great...

NICB's FBI ties prompt query from congressman.
July 28, 2000... An insurance industry investigative group with dose ties to the FBI has itself become the subject of a congressional inquiry. The close relationship between the FBI and the insurance group, called the National Insurance Crime Bureau...

Thanks, Tim, thanks.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Local hero Tim Duncan, who also finds time to be a power forward for the San Antonio Spurs and auto-dealer pitchman, has combined the latter two of those occupations in his current Gunn Auto commercial. In the ad, Duncan, who declared...

U.S. Department of Labor.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... A $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor is expected to help displaced workers at Kelly Air Force Base find new jobs. Kelly will close next July as part of Defense Department downsizing. The project, to be operated by the Alamo...

San Antonio Zoo.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... The San Antonio Zoo has added a new exhibit, "Cranes of the World," near the Riverview Restaurant. It surrounds a section of the San Antonio River and houses wattled, hooded, Manchurian and the endangered whooping cranes. The San Antonio Zoo...

Mack-Cali to sell S.A. office properties.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Entire portfolio will be up for sale, sources say Mack-Cali Realty Corp. has decided to exit the San Antonio market. The real estate investment trust is putting its entire office portfolio on the market for sale, say sources knowledgeable...

Gonzaba Medical Group is back in the founder's hands.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... When Dr. William Gonzaba sold the medical group bearing his name in 1995, he figured that it was the end of an era for the practice that he founded 10 years earlier. But a series of developments regarding those owners has taken Gonzaba...

Rural/Metro bowing out of nonemergency transit in S.A.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... In an attempt to clip its losses, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Rural/Metro Corp. has discontinued its nonemergency services in San Antonio and has laid off 63 employees. The private ambulance service provider shut down its nonemergency...

Southwest Cadworks is being acquired by area entrepreneur.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Local businessman William Lee Coley is in final negotiations to purchase Southwest Cadworks Inc. of San Antonio, which sells equipment and supplies for the architectural and engineering markets. If successful, Coley has plans to expand the...

Premier Parks.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Premier Parks Inc. announced it has changed its name to Six Flags Inc. In addition to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the company owns 37 parks throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. The company will continue to trade on the NYSE...

June retail sales.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... June same-store retail sales rose just 3.4 percent over the same period last year, according to data compiled by TeleCheck Services Inc. These figures indicate the economy is expanding, but at a more moderate pace, according to TeleCheck's...

Tower Life Insurance.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Standard & Poor's affirmed its triple "Bpi" financial strength rating on Tower Life Insurance, based in San Antonio. Key rating factors of the company, which is 95 percent owned by the Zachry family, include strong capitalization and good...

Dynacore Holdings Corp.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Dynacore Holdings Corp. (formerly Datapoint Corp.) completed the sale of its European operations and certain U.S. assets to Datapoint NewCo I Ltd. for $49.5 million in cash, less certain adjustments. Dynacore is expected to have remaining...

Tesoro West Coast.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Tesoro West Coast Co., a subsidiary of Tesoro Petroleum Corp., has closed on the purchase of eight retail fueling facilities in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota and New Mexico from Gary-Williams Retail Co. Purchase price was not...

The Exploration Co.
July 28, 2000... The Exploration Co. announced it has adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan and has declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of common stock. The plan is intended to protect the company and its stockholders against unfair or...

South Texas Drilling.
July 28, 2000... South Texas Drilling & Exploration Inc. reported a net loss of $383,617, or 6 cents per share, on revenues of $19.5 million for the fiscal year 2000 ended March 31, 2000. That compares to a net loss of $1.6 million, or 27 cents per share, on...

CPS.
July 28, 2000... City Public Service (CPS) announced that San Antonio registered a new hourly peak demand record on July 14 at 5 p.m., due to the 102-degree weather. The new record of 3,759 megawatts exceeded the previous record of 3,729 megawatts established...

Home Depot is buying land for a new North Side outlet.
July 28, 2000... Home Depot is continuing its feverish pace of expansion here. The, developers of a new 400,000-square-foot retail center near U.S. Highway 281 North and Encino Rio, are in the process of selling a tract to the Atlanta-based home improvement...

Switching flags.
July 28, 2000... The Sumner Suites hotel properties here will soon be flying a different flag. ShoLodge Inc., based in Hendersonville, Tenn., has inked a deal with Prime Hospitality Corp. for Prime to take over operations of the hotels and rebrand them as...

Kmart Corp.
July 28, 2000... Kmart Corp. announced it will dose. 72 stores by Nov. 1,2000, to enhance its financial performance. The Kmart located here at 4902 Fredericksburg Road is the only Texas property on the announced list of closures. The company also plans...

Stage Stores Inc.
July 28, 2000... Stage Stores Inc. announced it will close 120 stores as part of the plan it filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District in Houston. The company operates stores under the Stage, Bealls and Palais Royal names. The company,...

SBA & small business finance.
July 28, 2000... Resources Networking Getting started Money management The Small Business Administration recently reported that there are now more than 25 million small businesses in the United States. Today, those small businesses represent 99 percent of...

Feds realize payoff from SBIC program.
July 28, 2000... It's no surprise that venture capitalists have made bunch of money on the technology explosion of the past decade. But investors have not been the only ones to benefit from this trend. Thanks to a program created by the Small Business...

Bank Design's work helps public remember the Alamo.
July 28, 2000... The Alamo Federal Credit Union located at Interstate 10 and First Park Ten might look familiar at first glance. That's because the financial institution bears a remarkable resemblance to the Alamo. The credit union has been conducting...

Former Falstaff brewery to see rebirth as retail, lofts complex.
July 28, 2000... What once was one of the nation's premiere breweries, the historic Falstaff Brewery, is being readied for a rebirth of significant proportions. The brewery most recently was used to house a packing and labeling company. Thomas Wells...

Number of women joining field of architecture edges up.
July 28, 2000... The ranks of women are swelling within the field of architecture. Last year, about 13 percent of all registered architects were women, up from 10 percent in 1996, according to the American Institute of Architects. The real growth,...

Sun seeks to shine on Austin.
July 28, 2000... AUSTIN -- Sun Microsystems Inc. is combing Austin for space to put a 150,000 square-foot design center that could grow to as much as 450,000 square feet over time. Sun executives couldn't be reached for comment, but real estate sources...

Capital Senior buying two REITs.
July 28, 2000... DALLAS -- In what would be the biggest acquisition in the senior-housing industry this year, Dallas-based Capital Senior Living Corp. is preparing to snap up two Virginia real estate investment trusts for $155 million. Capital's purchase...

Walgreen plans three-state distribution center.
July 28, 2000... WAXAHACHIE -- Spurred by its aggressive retail expansion in Texas, Walgreen Co. will build a $151.5 million distribution center here that will employ 300 to start and possibly as many as 700 over time. The Illinois-based drugstore chain...

Wisconsin retailer scouts Houston.
July 28, 2000... HOUSTON -- Wall Street darling Kohl's Corp., one of only a few retail stocks currently in favor with investors, is gathering up its discount merchandise and heading to Houston. Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Kohl's has hired a real estate...

Colonnade upgrades.
July 28, 2000... The owners of Colonnade I on Interstate 10 are giving the building's lobby its first facelift since the property was constructed in 1983. Chicago-based Equity Office is completing lobby renovations, including changes to the elevators, floors...

SBC Communications set to stake its claim in Atlanta.
July 28, 2000... Atlanta -- BellSouth Corp. now has a fellow Baby Bell in its own back yard. San Antonio-based SBC Communications Inc. recently signed a lease for 20,000 square feet of telecom space on Decatur Street in downtown Atlanta. The move...

Minority groups fear global warming treaty.
July 28, 2000... Harry Alford, president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, lived in Detroit in 1977, when he says a bad energy policy led to high unemployment in the Motor City. "I don't want to return to those times," he says. But...

Alamo Moving and Storage.
July 28, 2000... Alamo Moving and Storage, an agent of nationwide Mayflower Transit, was honored recently by the van tine for exceptional professional performance.

The San Antonio chapter.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... The San Antonio chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute earned three awards at the national Chapter Awards Competition in June. NIRI-San Antonio won a Chairman's Award for innovation and creativity for its newly designed logo and...

Dr. Antonio Rigual.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Dr. Antonio Rigual, professor of Spanish at Our Lady of the Lake University, received this year's Francine and George Fleming Award for his exemplary faculty service.

Rosemary Allen.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Rosemary Allen, marketing staff consultant for Reliant Energy Entex in New Braunfels, recently received a Texas Gas Association Chairman's Distinguished Service Award at the company's recent annual meeting.

Supreme decision.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Recently, the Supreme Court agreed to conduct a hearing over an effort by national business groups to make the Environmental Protection Agency study how much its clean-air regulations will cost to be implemented -- before they are imposed....

In business it's important to get to the point.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... What does your company do? Business people should be able to hit this question out of the park with ease, but many individuals have trouble with it. The hard part is answering the question with a brief cohesive statement. The test of...

Mexican election, is sign of hope for future.(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Not often do we have the occasion to see genuine history being made; even more rarely does it occur so near to home. But, such is the case in the recent election in Mexico where the citizens of that country chose Vicente Fox as their next...

The joy of home-ownership is found in the doing.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Tim "the Toolman" Taylor has always amused me, but I have to admit, I've never really been on the home improvement bandwagon (TV show or otherwise) -- until now. After years of apartment and townhome living, I have traded the simple....

The San Antonio Area Foundation.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... The San Antonio Area Foundation has awarded a grant of $5,000 to The Winston School San Antonio for "Project Play," a developmental playground for elementary-age students with learning disabilities.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(Brief Article)
July 28, 2000... Architecture/Engineering Melissa G. Byler BIT, a Texas A&M University-Kingsville graduate; Jay W. Reissig, a Texas Tech University graduate; and Ronald C. Mick, a University of Texas at Austin graduate; recently joined the municipal...

HUBzone firms in S.A. lead nation in contracts.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... San Antonio leads the nation in federal contract dollars awarded to small businesses participating in the year-old HUBzone program. Since Lackland Air Force Base awarded the first contract in the ration as part of the historically...

Children's hospital seeking to touch the kid in all of us.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... It's hard to keep up with Dr. Arthur E. Marlin as he makes the rounds of the hospital he oversees. As chief executive officer of the Methodist Children's Hospital of South Texas, it is his job to make sure that everything runs smoothly. ...

Area retail, office markets stay on track.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Activity in both sectors is robust, reports show Two recently released reports indicate San Antonio's retail and office markets continue to show a healthy amount of activity, both in space absorption and development. A 12-month...

Local chamber seeks funds to build new HQ.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... The North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce is on a million-dollar mission to build a permanent home for the organization. In the little over two months since the organization kicked off its three-year campaign, the North Chamber has gotten...

Talk Around Town.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Kaufman and Broad Kaufman and Broad Home Corp., the area's largest homebuilder, has named a new president for its San Antonio division. Dwaine Rivers will be responsible for all day-to-day operations, including land acquisition and...

Sirius starts new entity to focus on info-tech services.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... San Antonio-based Sirius Computer Solutions has launched a new unit that will focus on providing information-technology consulting for clients nationally. The new entity is called Point5 Solutions. Both Sirius and Point5 will maintain...

NEWS BYTES.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Chase BankCard Services Inc., a subsidiary of Chase Manhattan Corp., is looking at opening a new office here and eventually building a corporate campus in Westover Hills that will employ up to 850 people. Officials with the city's economic...

S.A.'s Veintec inks clinic deals in Dallas/Ft. Worth area.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... A local franchise is preparing to expand to the northern reaches of the Lone Star state. Veintec, which owns and operates The Varicose Vein Clinic of Texas, recently negotiated two separate deals for additional clinics in the Dallas and...

Wells Fargo's top gun here promoted to post in Denver.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Wells Fargo & Co. is merging two of its regional banking groups on the heels of recently announced plans to merge with a Utah bank-holding company. As part of the restructuring, Wells Fargo is promoting the head of its Southwest Banking...

Star Shuttle & Charter unveils a new motorcoach tour service.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... San Antonio-based Star Shuttle & Charter has terminated its tour booking relationship with Dan Dipert Tours in order to launch its own prepackaged tours on its motorcoach line with eventual plans to expand nationwide. Initially, Star...

Computer firms strike deal to offer training.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... San Antonio-based Amos Technology Group Inc. has entered into a new partnership with New Horizons Computer Learning Centers to jointly teach computer courses to individuals and businesses using the Linux operating system for their networks....

Dominion Advisory Group pursues retail projects here.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Dominion Advisory Group is working on several renovation and expansion projects on the North and South sides of town. On the South Side, Dominion is putting in about $2 million worth of additions in Southwest Junction, located at the...

Creative Civilization chosen for Cancer Society campaign.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... The American Cancer Society has named Creative Civilization - An Aguilar Agency, as agency of record for its Texas division. The agency will be responsible for the development and execution of a Hispanic multimedia outreach campaign. The...

WEEK AT A GLANCE.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... SBC Communications Inc. SBC Communications Inc. is rolling out its long-distance service here following a June 30 decision by the Federal Communications Commission allowing the company to enter the Texas long-distance market. Highlights...

ARCHITECTS AT HOME.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... IF YOU COULD DESIGN YOUR HOME THE WAY YOU WANT IT, what would it be like? The Business Journal wanted this question answered by some of the architects responsible for designing some of the city's striking commercial projects or exclusive...

LARGEST SAN ANTONIO MSA TITLE INSURANCE COMPANIES.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Ranked by title insurance premiums for calendar year ended December 31, 1998 Published July 21, 2000 Percentage Name Title ...

Remodeling fever hitting San Antonio homeowners.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Many homeowners who want more space and modern amenities are choosing to stay put instead of move. But they're not giving up their dreams for larger and more appealing kitchens, bathrooms with hand-cut stone tile or home offices -- they're...

Should I stay or should I go?(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... According to Rudy Nino and the Greater San Antonio Builders Association Remodelers Council, there are many questions you should ask yourself when considering whether to move or remodel. Here are some of the most important ones: * Do you...

LARGEST SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERAGES.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Originally published April 28 2000 Ranked by 1999 funded residential sales-- Part 1 Name Address 1999 No. of Telephone Fax (Year funded(*) ...

New programs help borrowers buy homes with zero down.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Some potential homeowners who fear they don't have enough for a mortgage downpayment, or those worried about raiding their savings accounts for that 5 percent or more downpayment, may find some new "no money down" loan programs are just for...

Age is no obstacle for young entrepreneur.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Most young adults celebrate their 18th birthday with a party, but Daniel Leffel chose another option. Instead of blowing out 18 candles on a cake at his home among his friends and family, he was at his lawyer's office, signing papers that...

CAPITOL BEAT.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Convention logos Lots of corporations will have their logos prominently displayed in Philadelphia and Los Angeles during this summer's national political conventions, but don't look for their business banners inside the Republicans' and...

Merger plan renews attacks on airlines' hub monopolies.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... United Airlines and US Airways say their proposed merger should pass antitrust scrutiny because the two airlines do not compete with each other in many markets. This lack of overlapping routes is not unique to these two airlines, says...

Finding the right hire on-line requires using the right tools.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... If you're trying to hire up, as we are at my company, you've had the experiences of being overwhelmed with the responses you get from online job portals, and underwhelmed with the match between what you thought you were advertising for, and...

Real estate transactions.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Burdick Homes Ltd./Art Bur Inc. to Amjad J. and Alya Habbas, 5221 Valerie St., Bellaire 77401, Lot 21 Legends at the Dominion, $453,000, Book/Page 8442/1315. Associates Relocation Management Co. Inc. to Russell C. and Phyllis Porter,...

State/local construction bids.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Location: San Antonio Description: Adult Detention Center Annex expansion Bid Package 2BG -- General Work Package Estimated cost: N/A Owner Bexar County Submit bid to: Owner Bid due date: 7/2't/0C Location: San...

State/local construction contract awards.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Project: Demolition/site clearance service Location: Jourdanton Contractor: Eagle Rock Excavating, Jourdanton Cost: $5,200 Project: Lake Casa Blanca international State Path Location. Laredo Contractor F&W Electrical...

Federal tax liens.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... A.G.D. Inc. 9200 Broadway. San Antonio 78217, $7,638, (Employee Withholding), Book/Page 8443/38, 06/09/00 G.T.M. Creative Intergration Inc. 3838 Medical Drive, San Antonio 78229, $68,677. (Employee Withholding), ...

Releases of federal tax liens.(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... M.L. Beacon Electric Co. San Antonio, $42,525, Book/Page 8439/1087, 06/06/00. Advanced Century Transit Inc. San Antonio, $49,623, Book/Page 8439/1091, 06/06/00. M.L. Beacon Electric Co. San Antonio, $37,828, Book/Page ...

State tax liens.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... Art Inc. 9401 San Pedro Ave San Antonio 78216 $8501 (Limited Sales Excise and Use Tax), Book/Page 8438/567, 06/05/00. Andric Corp. 425 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio 78205, $18,764, (Limited Sales Excise and Use...

World trade.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... OFFER TO BUY Aluminum Ingots Puebla, Mexico, firm involved in producing chemicals and ferrous and nonferrous metals would like to buy aluminum ingots designed and manufactured to the firm's specifications. No: 10013268...

The Lead sheet.
July 21, 2000... The Lead sheet is a listing of Use and Occupancy Certificates filed with the City of San Antonio, and Sales Tax Permits applied for by Bexar County businesses through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Use and Occupancy...

Going the distance.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... When the North American Development Bank (NADBank) was established in 1994, its goal was to improve the border by providing loans for sustainable development in the communities along the U.S. and Mexico border. The problem the bank --...

Northern Ireland is at war with its past.(Government Activity)(International Pages)
July 21, 2000... I was hopeful this year that the renewal of the Good Friday Peace Agreement would mean a more peaceful parade season in Northern Ireland. Clearly, I was naive. However, I still believe all is not lost. There are many who are eager to...

Competition is great game plan, but not perfect.(Brief Article)
July 21, 2000... I often extol the virtues of competition. In my opinion, it ranks right up there with the wheel, ice cream and air-conditioning as among our most important social contrivances. It lowers prices, enhances consumer choice, promotes innovation...

Battle over fluoride is set to break out again.(Brief Article)
July 14, 2000... The push to add fluoride to San Antonio's water supply is on again. And this time, local civic leaders hope to make it a business as well as a health issue. "In a town of a million people, to not have fluoridated water is not sending a...

Development transforming Loop 1604.
July 14, 2000... Pastoral setting giving way to mega centers Gil and Margaret Cadena recall a time when the biggest thing on Loop 1604 near their house was the, sign directing people to Dan's Icehouse. "Now it's just swallowed up by banks of lights,"...

British firm to develop a new plant in Seguin.(Brief Article)
July 14, 2000... British Vita PLC plans to construct a new $5 million factory in Seguin that will supply insulated fiber materials for companies involved in the apparel, automotive and furniture industries. The Seguin plant will be the Manchester,...