The Galveston County Daily News

Home again: After months of hammering it out with insurers, the island’s Village Hardware has returned to the 6627 Stewart Road building, which has housed the business since the 1950s, reports Toby Thoresen, part owner.

After Hurricane Ike, which struck nearly a year ago, Village Hardware took temporary shelter across the street in much smaller quarters as it worked to repair its store.

Its temporary space was 600 square feet compared with the 5,000 square feet in its longtime store.

Village Hardware had both windstorm and flood insurance. But in what has become a familiar story around hard-hit parts of the county, insurers took months to decide who would pay what.

The store, which carries supplies for lawn and garden, outdoor living, home goods, paint and hardware, is completely repaired, Thoresen, whose family purchased the business in 1978, said.

There’s also a new cat to greet customers. Strays taken in by Village Hardware always are named “Spot.”

Spot II survived the storm but succumbed to an unrelated illness a month later. Spot III, a stray that just walked up to the store a while back, is now Village Hardware’s resident cat.

“It’s wonderful to be back,” Thoresen said. For information, call 409-744-3555.

Nine lives: On the subject of cats, upscale boutique Nefertiti, named after a feline, is making a post-Ike return Monday, owner Connie Dryden reports. Nefertiti, 202 25th St. in the Panama Hotel Building, offers casual and dressy clothes in all sizes.

Storm surge flooded the store, damaging all the fixtures. But the store now is ready for business. Dryden and husband also own Island Flowers, 513 25th St., which reopened just months after the storm.

Nefertiti, which also carries handbags and accessories, is named for the resident cat at Island Flowers. For information, call 409-765-0400.

Pray tell: A lot of readers have been hungry for news about the post-Ike status of Church’s Chicken, 4825 Broadway on the island. Church’s had been closed since the Sept. 13 storm.

Feathers were ruffled by the appearance of a sign saying the owner would “build-to-suit” for any tenant. Some interpreted that to mean Church’s wouldn’t return.

But John Saracco, who, with wife Judy, owns the building, called Wednesday to report that a lease has been finalized and Church’s again would be serving up its fried fare soon.

Crews already have begun preparing the building, Saracco reports. Stay tuned.

Star gazing: The island’s Star Fine Furniture recovered quickly from the storm and even has completed renovations upstairs that included some painting and remodeling.

So why all those tents? The store, 3727 Broadway, is preparing for its famous Labor Day “tent event.”

Cabin fever: Texas City officials report that USA Self Storage has gotten permits to go ahead with construction of about 60 so-called “micro cabins” near where its already building climate-controlled Access Self Storage units to the west of Lowe’s Home Improvement, which is at 3620 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway.

The micro cabins, which will be built behind and to the east of the more than $1 million storage unit project, will include kitchenettes and are meant to be an alternative to motel and hotel stays, city officials say. No word on when construction begins. Stay tuned.

Checking in: Webster’s room boom continues. Springhill Suites has opened at 1101 Magnolia Ave., next to Main Event Entertainment and Cheddar’s Restaurant.

The 121-room hotel boasts such amenities as a swimming pool, a fitness center, a laundry facility for guests and meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 60 people.

Meanwhile, Webster city officials are reporting the fresh opening this week of Hilton Garden Inn, 750 W. Texas Ave.

The 126-room property includes restaurant, Great American Grill, and a banquet/special events facility that can accommodate 300 guests.

Hilton Garden Inn rooms each include high-definition TV, microwave, refrigerator and more.

The hotel also has a fitness center and business center, among other amenities.

And here’s some trivia. All the hotel construction will yield about 1,500 rooms in Webster, reports the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.

Biz Buzz appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. We welcome your tips and suggestions. Call 409-683-5248 or e-mail laura.elder(at)galvnews.com.