The Galveston County Daily News

Fasten your seat belts. A lot of island businesses — even some we thought were permanently sidelined by Hurricane Ike — are preparing to open this month.

Greek revival: First, for those who missed last week’s Buzz Blog, owner John Ragusa defied rumors by reviving Papa John The Cajun Greek, closed since the Sept. 13 storm. Ragusa is aiming to open by, if not before, Labor Day, which is Monday, reports Tom Cook. (Cook owns the 61st Street Shopping Center that houses The Cajun Greek).

The restaurant will reopen in the same spot, 2226 61st St., and last week was awaiting some equipment, which already had arrived at D’Angelo’s Restaurant Equipment, 850 51st St. on the island, Cook said.

Cook’s shopping center also has a new tenant — Christel’s Pet Grooming, 2218 61st St. Christel Labomme owns the shop, which offers grooming and weekend boarding for cats and dogs. For information, call 409-356-7677.

From head ... New-to-town retailer On Your Head is hanging its hat at 2311 The Strand, in the island’s downtown. On Your Head specializes in cowboy and baseball hats, sunglasses, necklaces and more.

... to toe: Shoe lovers are going to have a hard time keeping their heels on the ground with the latest news about beloved downtown store Footsies. Joyce Calver will open Head to Footsies, 2211 The Strand, reports Mitchell Historic Properties, which owns a slew of downtown buildings, largely on The Strand, in which merchants lease retail and office space.

Before the storm, Calver owned Footsies, which specialized in shoes and accessories at 206 24th St. The storm destroyed more than half of Calver’s inventory and fixtures at the old location. Head to Footsies, set for a mid-month opening, will offer women’s clothing, shoes and accessories with a motto: “Extra small to extra large — equally cherished.”

The boutique will carry resort, casual and career separates, along with cocktail dresses. Stay tuned.

Candy land: Mitchell Historic Properties also is reporting the fresh opening of newcomer Sweets on The Strand, 2226 The Strand. The shop offers novelty candy, such as Jelly Belly, Nostalgia Chewing Gum, Crystal Rock Candy, Pop Rocks and “candy from your childhood.” The shop also sells stuffed animals and toys.

Oven fresh: Still have a sweet tooth? Chuck and Delinda Sanchelli are preheating for a Thursday opening of the long awaited Nestle Toll House Cafe, 126 23rd St., also in the island’s downtown. The franchise is a dessert cafe and bakery serving up brownies, cookies, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, smoothies and more. The Sanchellis signed a lease on the building six days before Hurricane Ike sent devastating storm surge into downtown.

“It’s been a long wait for us, but we’re finally getting open,” Chuck Sanchelli said. For information, call 409-621-2253.

Stroke of luck: Finally, Thomas Kinkade Gallery on The Strand is set to open at 2225 The Strand any day now. The gallery would be the largest Thomas Kinkade gallery in the nation, Mitchell Historic Properties reports.

Kinkade, noted for mass-marketing his work, is one the most collected living artists around. Stay tuned.

Coming soon: For more on business openings in the island’s downtown, check out Thursday’s Biz Buzz.

In the works: Look for construction to soon commence on a James Coney Island restaurant in Clear Lake Center, on the southwest corner of Interstate 45 and NASA Parkway in Webster. (The shopping center is anchored by Burlington Coat Factory, The RoomStore and Garden Ridge.)

Some Clear Lake-area readers still are mourning last year’s closure of the James Coney Island at 1109 Bay Area Blvd. The restaurant was not connected to Houston-based purveyor of gourmet hot dogs James Coney Island.

An unusual arrangement struck back in the 1980s, when the company was emerging from bankruptcy, made that store independent. Want to talk hot dogs? Visit Buzz Blog at galvnews.com.

Biz Buzz appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.