The Galveston County Daily News

Glittering again: After extensive renovations, one of the island’s oldest jewelry stores has reopened in time to mark a major milestone.

Vic’s Estate and Fine Jewelry, 2413 Market St. downtown, has completed its post-Ike remodeling, reports owner Sharon Levy Pagan. After Hurricane Ike struck more than a year ago, the store reopened in time for the holidays. But in June, the shop, which also offers appraisal and repair and design services, moved to a temporary site as crews made extensive renovations.

Pagan is the granddaughter of the store’s founders — Victor and Helen Reiswerg, who established the business in 1929. Pagan has retained the name of the business in their honor.

Next month, Vic’s Estate and Fine Jewelry will celebrate 80 years in business. Pagan plans to mark the occasion with an “open house,” shortly before Thanksgiving Day.

The shop also is planning its yearly Holiday Trunk Show in early December, featuring an estate jewelry collection from a Fifth Avenue business in New York. For information, call 409-762-5792.

Got a light? As some business owners and residents continue to fume about the city’s comprehensive smoking ban, which goes into effect Jan. 1, a cigar shop is marking a grand opening Friday.

Cigar lovers still will be able to smoke at Havana Alley Cigar Shop & Lounge, 415 21st St. — at least until the year’s end. Owners, including Charlie Head, are fighting the sweeping ordinance, which would ban patrons from lighting up at the shop and pretty much all public places on the island. Havana Alley is the island’s only cigar shop, opening in the space formerly occupied by Hava Cigar Shop and Lounge, which was snuffed out by Ike’s storm surge.

Havana Alley will sell premium cigars and provide a game room for members to enjoy chess, backgammon and such. The shop also will boast a walk-in Caribbean humidor and plans to bring in expert Cuban cigar rollers weekly for exhibitions. For information, visit http://havanaalley.com.

Year in the making: Clinton and Judy Edwards had planned to open the antique shop Artsy Fartsy one week before Hurricane Ike struck Sept. 13, 2008.

“Needless to say, we didn’t, and we lost more than half of our inventory,” Judy Edwards said.

Finally, on Saturday, the Edwards will celebrate a grand opening of the shop, 2004 35th St. Along with antiques, Artsy Fartsy will carry gloves, hats and gowns for Dickens on The Strand, a yearly island festival named for author Charles Dickens at which participants dress up in Victorian garb. For information, call 409-939-8278.

Checking in: Owners of the Ramada Inn, 2300 Seawall, have checked in, offering more details about their plans for the property.

Surendra Patel, along with her son, Neil, are giving the property an extreme makeover and changing the concept. The hotel has been closed since Hurricane Ike ripped off its roof and caused severe water damage to the five-story building.

In Ramada Inn’s place, the Patels plan to build a Four Points by Sheraton, which offers reasonable rates with such amenities as free bottled water, high-speed Internet access and limited restaurant and bar service.

Sheraton has strict protocols and must approve the model rooms before the property can fly its flag, Neil Patel said.

Renovations will do away with the balconies at the property, he said.

Crews have removed all drywall and furniture from the hotel. The Patels are shooting for a pre-Memorial Day opening, he said. Stay tuned.