The Galveston County Daily News

Miles of aisles: Look for Kroger to supersize its supermarket at 3135 FM 528 in Friendswood. The grocery chain plans to add almost 30,000 square feet to the store, city officials report. The addition will bring the store in at 94,759 square feet.

Kroger will use the new space to house perishable items, including the produce department, a “chef-on-the-run” service that includes soup, salad and olive bars, an expanded deli and bakery, along with areas for fresh sushi and international cheese.

The new space also will house parts of the seafood and meat departments and bigger departments for natural foods, frozen foods and dairy, city officials said. Stay tuned.

Green scene: Meanwhile, developers still are enamored with Friendswood. Karen Capps, the city’s economic development coordinator, reports plans for a 50,000-square-foot business park on FM 2351 at Edgewood Drive, just south of FM 518.

The development, called Edgewood Business Park, will be composed of eight to 10 buildings of about 3,200 to 9,000 square feet each.

Saldana Custom Homes plans to move into a 9,000-square-foot building with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

Edgewood Business Park would mark the second green building in Friendswood.

Details about the developer weren’t immediately available. Look for construction to begin in the middle of next year.

Mailbag: A reader e-mailed to say: “On the south side of Amburn Road between College Avenue and Jonquil Drive, there is a large tract of vacant land. There has been a corner of it fenced off and a temporary fuel tank and storage pod put in. On the other side of the property they are clearing a strip that looks like a road or street going in. I wish to know what all the activity is leading to.”

Answer: All the activity is neither for a condominium project nor an apartment complex as some residents have speculated, said Tom Maris, with the Public Works department in Texas City. Crews are working on a drainage ditch as part of a $2.9 million Amburn Road improvement project between Jones Road and Monticello Drive, he said.

Pins and needles: A lot of readers have been asking about the post-Ike status of Quilts By the Bay, 5923 Stewart Road, on the island. Owner Patricia Stephenson reports it took 10 months for the store to receive insurance proceeds.

Stephenson said she is searching for a new location for Quilts by the Bay, which is known for a large variety of quilt samples, fabric kits and patterns. The space where the store had done business for 17 years is no longer available, she said.

“My daughter and I are maintaining the business online while we’re looking for a new location,” Stephenson e-mailed. “We’re praying that God will show us where to go next.”

For information, visit quiltsbythebay.com.

Kleen start: After Hurricane Ike, the island’s Kleen Supply Co. was one of the first businesses to reopen downtown, where storm surge was as high as 12 feet. About 14 days after the storm, Kleen Supply Co., a full-line distributor of cleaning, janitorial and industrial supplies, set up card tables in front of its damaged offices and did business via cell phones.

The company, which also offers concession stand and swimming pool supplies, received shipments about 16 days after the storm. It wasn’t easy.

Finally, all the repairs are complete at its building, 2428 Church St., and the company is celebrating with a ribbon cutting at noon Thursday, the Pena family, which opened the business in 1971, reported.

For information, call 409-762-0140.

East End education: Raise your hand if you think island life is getting a little more normal every day. The island’s East End Preschool reopens today.

The school is housed at First Presbyterian Church, 1903 Church St. The church has been closed since the storm but is rebuilding, and the pastor was able to get the school ready, officials report.

For information about the half-day school for infants through kindergartners, call 409-762-8638.

Biz Buzz appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.