Hello AJ readers!
This week, we released news about two Lubbock restaurants – Toasted Yolk Café and Fajita Pete’s, as well as several upcoming restaurants expected to open in December, including Oceans Behavioral Hospital and The Mom Lounge.
Interviews with the hospital show they are looking to hire more than 100 staff to help improve the mental health of Lubbock’s people aged 50 and over.
“There’s a really big need, so the whole community and the medical community out there is open,” said Dax Parker, vice president of market development. “We’re really just hoping to raise awareness and complement UMC and Covenant and be a real mental health pillar in the community.”
Mary McCabe and Anna O’Steen, owners of The Mom Lounge, also shared the story of how they became friends and business partners. Their business aims to help parents and children meet others while offering lessons.
“Mums, it can be lonely, and postpartum is real,” the pair said in an email. “So, we wanted to open up the communication and let parents and families know that we’ve all been there. We’re determined to open a place where mums and their families can go to work postpartum and meet other new mums at the same time.”
Another feature provides a look at TEGA Kids’ move from 82nd Street to Milwaukee. The new gym, which has nearly doubled in size, will provide more comfort and activity for the kids. Owners Jeff and Michelle Dow explain the move, their history in gymnastics, and what they want people to know about their business.
“This gym (in Milwaukee) is your dream facility, what you want,” Michelle said. “It’s the same show that Simone Byers started. When you see kids at the Olympics on TV, they all start in the gym, in places like this.”
related:TEGA Kids Gym in Lubbock leaps into new facility, plans expansion
Some of this week’s business updates are for Westar Commercial Realty and Jefferson Books. Westar is calling from 4415 71stone St., Suite 12, which has been developing here since 1984, to Southridge Complex, tel: 4418 74th St., Suite 65. Jefferson Books has announced that their books will be $1 until they close in November. 14.
Heading into next week, readers should be looking for more new business stories. Two upcoming stories will be about a healthy restaurant expanding into a second location, and the other will be about a Houston-based business arriving in Central City. Keep an eye out for AJ’s holiday content, which should be coming later next week.
The best bite of the week was Llano Cubano and Lemon Love LBK, which I tried at Food Truck Alley. A cloudy Election Day couldn’t dampen their tastes, giving some hungry reporters just the right amount of energy on Tuesday. I had the regular Cuban and dragon fruit lemonade and will probably order again.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting AJ.
Alana Eakin is a reporter covering business news in Lubbock and surrounding areas. Send her news alerts at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.