DENTON
October 2017
Business
CHRONICLE
www.dentonbusinesschronicle.com
New hotel and convention center already exceeding expectations
Ahead of the game By Jenna Duncan
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n each hotel room door of the 11th floor of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center, there’s a checklist to keep track of what has been installed.
While the televisions aren’t mounted and the headboards lean against the walls without mattresses, everything will be in place soon. And officials hope that in six weeks the first guests of the hotel will be able to spend the night in any of the 318 rooms. Denton’s first hotel and convention center will host its first event the first week of December, said Todd Muilenburg, director of sales for the hotel. To date, it has booked roughly $2.7 million worth of business, with events as far out as 2024. The goal is to have $4 million in conventions annually, said Jeff Pritts, the hotel’s general manager. “It will take us three to four years to get there,” Pritts said. “When we reach that goal, every person that
comes to this market, we have them for a day, then they’re going to be downtown, they’re going to be in Rayzor Ranch. They’re going to be spending their money in Denton. It will be a huge economic impact. Once we’re full staffed, probably by summer, we’ll be 10th-largest private employer in Denton.” The project has been 10 years in the making, with different developers, brands and pieces of property discussed. Kim Phillips, vice president of the Denton Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she remembers rumblings about wanting a convention center when she started on the job 15 years ago. Numerous state associations are
ABOVE — The Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center, scheduled to host its first event the first week of December, features modern ceiling and lighting designs. Officials hope to book $4 million in conventions annually. Jeff Woo
LEFT — This artist’s rendering shows the waterfall planned for the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. Courtesy art
HOTEL | CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Drone photos help home sellers stand out By Holden Lewis | NerdWallet
By Jenna Duncan | Staff Writer Hanabi Ramen & Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant with locations in Fort Worth and Carrollton, is expected to open in Denton by the end of the year. The specialty ramen shop will take over 501 W. Hickory St., the
space that formerly held New York Pizza & Pasta and Smiling Moose Deli. Denton has a new chiropractic office: Axis Chiropractic at 1809 Hinkle Drive, Suite 100. Led by DUNCAN | CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Drone photography is taking off as a tool for selling and renting homes. More than ever, real estate professionals rely on the unmanned flying machines to set their listings apart from the competition. Up until now, drone photos and videos frequently showed up on listings for mansions and properties in spectacular locations. But soon they’ll be showing up in listings for middle-class homes, too. Given today’s fierce real estate markets, some experts say drones are just the thing to rise above the competition.
Giving a property more buzz
“Any time you want to differentiate your property from the competition, DRONES | CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee
Christopher Brown, co-owner of Next New Homes Group, uses his multi-rotor helicopter drone to take video of a home in Sacramento, Calif. If you’re especially proud of your home’s architecture, your expansive property or your surrounding neighborhood, you can’t list your home without the help of a drone.
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Enterprising Voices
Momentum investing reigns — for now “I decided to close my fund and return capital to investors. ... Reporting sustained underperformance was making me miserable.” — Whitney Tilson, famed value fund manager, in September
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ast month this column briefly referenced that today’s tech boom companies, in comparison with traditional “value plays,” are more expensive than they were during the peak of the dot-com boom. This is a pretty bold claim and warrants further discussion. Bank of America’s investment management arm, Merrill Lynch, publishes a periodic review of U.S. growth stocks versus the universe of value stocks in the marketplace. Growth stocks tend to be characterized by companies with strong revenue growth, even if profits are thin or nonexistent. In today’s market, investors have bid these companies up to nosebleed levels. Value stocks can be characterized by a number of factors, but often include companies trading at a large discount to the value of the assets in the business or low prices in relation to the cash profits of the business. Historically, over long stretches of time, value strongly outperforms growth. But during brief measures of time, this may not be the case. In the years leading up to
Jonathon FITE | COMMENTARY
the dot-com bust, growth stocks were loved and value stocks were thrown into the dust bin. After the collapse of the dot-com bubble in 2000, value stocks strongly outperformed up until the financial crisis in 2008, more than making up for their lagging period of the late 1990s. Coming out of the recession, growth stocks took the reins and have helped power the markets to new heights over the last few years. A number of factors have contributed to this march higher. The skewing of investor fund flows into passive indexes, where growth companies have large weightings, creates a feedback loop that drives the stock prices of those companies higher. The suppression of interest rates also gives companies like Tesla and Netflix — which earn little money, or even lose money each quarter — access to cheap capital. Finally, it just feels good to own what everyone loves.
Over the last nine years, value funds have had periods of strong outperformance, including late 2009, 2013 and 2016. These coincided with periods of dollar weakness, inflationary concerns and fears of higher interest rates — which typically favor value strategies and penalize highflying stocks. While many value funds had great a 2016, several have lagged in 2017 as momentum stocks have raced higher. Whitney Tilson’s Kase Capital Management (featured in our quotation above) is not alone. In the last several months, other well-known hedge funds have closed including the $7 billion hedge fund Eton Park Capital Management, billionaire Richard Perry’s hedge fund firm and the Hugh Hendry flagship fund. “I died in active combat,” Hendry told Bloomberg at the time. “The last three months were harrowing.” The key to remember is that the pendulum between value and momentum strategies often swings over stretches of time. After the strong performance of value funds in 2016, my business partner and I completed a study to see how value funds typically fared in the three- to four-year period after the pendulum swung back toward value. We found value strategies fare very well over the subsequent period, but the outperformance does not happen in a
Richard Drew/AP
Traders Mark Muller, left, and Greg Mulligan work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Growth stocks have helped power markets to new heights over the last few years. straight line. Within that three- to fouryear span, momentum may reign for a few quarters at a time. But the realities of financial gravity — the universal forces that pull high prices back to the ground again — eventually weigh down the high fliers. When that happens, the allure of owning bargains and those with real cash flows returns to prominence. For value fund managers
like Tilson, or investors who have entrusted their wealth to these managers, the question becomes: Can you withstand the inevitable pain that comes along with these fluctuations over time? Those who cannot often wind up selling at the lows of the cycle. Those who can, or even dollar-cost average into the bargains during the span of the cycle, find they truly outperform in the long run.
New Denton chamber business Calender of Events summit set for early November
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ur Thrive Denton Business Summit is scheduled for Nov. 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Sessions will focus on local existing tech opportunities and resources, and learning about benefits and opportunities to tap into the talent generators and educators of tomorrow’s workforce. Employers will hear about effective cross-generational communication strategies and techniques for attracting and retaining baby boomers, Generation Xers and millenials. Major sponsors of Thrive Denton include Peterbilt Motors, Texas Woman’s University and the city of Denton. A full schedule of panels and sponsorship information are available at http://thrive denton.com. Registration is available on the website, and it costs $95 to attend. Chamber members get $20 off registration. ■ Jeff Moseley, former Denton County judge and head of the Governor’s Office of Eco-
Chuck CARPENTER | COMMENTARY
nomic Development & Tourism, will be the featured speaker during the Denton Chamber of Commerce’s membership luncheon Friday, Dec. 8, at the University of North Texas’ Gateway Center. Judge Moseley was recently named chief executive officer of the Texas Association of Business, which is based in Austin. TAB is structurally similar to a local chamber but primarily functions as an advocate of state-level business issues. He also has headed the Greater Houston Partnership, a combined chamber of commerce and economic devel-
opment organization, and served on the Texas Department of Transportation Commission. The April membership luncheon served as the graduation of the 32nd class of Leadership Denton. Ashley Wilson of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spoke on the process and potential for comprehensive federal tax reform in June. We helped host a briefing from our Denton County legislative delegation at the September luncheon. Medical City Denton will serve as the membership luncheon sponsor. Members will receive a brief update on current and future chamber initiatives, economic development projects and progress on the new convention center. Call the Denton chamber at 940-382-9693 for more details and registration for these and other events. CHUCK CARPENTER is president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at dcoc@ denton-chamber.org.
Open/Closed DUNCAN | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Bryant Mays, the office is now open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, with a lunch break from 1 to 2 p.m. It’s also open Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. Speaking of Axis ... Axis Realty Group is now up and running in its new downtown office at 212 S. Elm St. The property management and commercial real estate company used to have an office at the First United Bank building on Centre Place Drive. GreenPal, a phone application and website that connects people with on-demand lawn care services, is now live in Denton. Instead of calling around when you’re too lazy to mow, through the app you can pick the date, time and company to cut your lawn. High-end laser and skin care spa Laser Loft is now open at 505 S. Locust St. The business, based in Colorado, specializes in laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and fa-
APIs and IPAs, hosted by TechMill, meets every other Tuesday at Harvest House, 331 E. Hickory St., for a techcentered hangout. Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Denton Chamber of Commerce will host a business networking luncheon at SpringHill Suites by Marriott, 1434 Centre Place Drive. Lunch can be purchased for $13 at the venue. Friday, Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m.
Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly networking luncheons the third Wednesday of the month at Prairie House Restaurant. Admission is always $12 and includes a meal. Wednesday, Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 11:30 a.m.
Bootstrap Denton, an annual event where startups, tech organizations and individuals in the community showcase their projects, will be held at East Side Denton, 117 E. Oak St. Registration is free and available online. Thursday, Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m.
Denton Black Chamber of Commerce meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Denton Housing Authority, 1225 Wilson St.
Denton Chamber of Commerce will host the Thrive Denton Business Summit at Hilton Garden Inn Denton, 3110 Colorado Blvd. The all-day summit will feature seven working sessions to learn about things like the state of technology, wellness initiatives and ways to improve workflow. The event costs $75 for chamber members and $95 for general registration. For more information or to register, visit http://thrivedenton.com. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 8 a.m.
Denton Young Professionals hosts coffee and breakfast every third Wednesday of the month at The Chestnut Tree, 107 W. Hickory St. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 7:15 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m.
Denton Chamber of Commerce will host a membership mixer and the Delora Goin Chili Cookoff at Classic Pre-Owned of Denton, 4991 S. Interstate 35E. At the mixer, Classic will be collecting unwrapped toys and gifts for children for its Christmas charity drive. Thursday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m.
The Denton League of United Latin American Citizens No. 4366 meets the third Saturday of every month at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Ave. Saturday, Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m.
Denton Planning and Zoning Commission meets at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St., every other Wednesday. Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.
JONATHON FITE is a managing partner of KMF Investments, a Texas-based hedge fund. He is an adjunct professor with the College of Business at the University of North Texas. This column is provided for general interest only and should not be construed as a solicitation or personal investment advice. Comments may be sent to email@KMFInvestments. com.
Electronics recycling takes place at The Cupboard Natural Foods and Cafe, 200 W. Congress St., the second Saturday of each month. Drop off any computer-related electronics for recycling. Visit www.computercrusher.com for a list of acceptable items and more information. Saturday, Nov. 11, 8 a.m.
Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce holds weekly coffee meetings at rotating businesses on Wednesdays. Upcoming locations will be listed at www.lakecities chamber.com/events. Little D Open Coffee Club, hosted by TechMill, meets every other Tuesday at West Oak Coffee Bar, 114 W. Oak St., to discuss technology and startups. Tuesday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, 8 a.m.
LittleD.rb, a mentoring and code group for people who are learning or using the program Ruby, meets on the first Thursday of the month at Stoke, 608 E. Hickory St., Suite 128. Thursday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Open Hack Denton, a casual meetup for people to build code together, is hosted monthly on the first Tuesday of the month at Harvest House. Tuesday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Sanger Chamber of Commerce holds a networking leads luncheon the fourth Wednesday of every month. RSVP at http://sangertexas. com. This month’s luncheon will be held at the chamber office, 300 Bolivar St. Wednesday, Oct. 25, noon
Who to contact DRC file photo
Smiling Moose Deli used to occupy 501 W. Hickory St. at Carroll Boulevard. Hanabi Ramen & Izakaya is expected to open in the space by the end of the year. cials. Right now, treatments are offered by appointment only. We’ve known it was coming, but the dirt is moving to build Alamo Drafthouse at Rayzor Ranch Town Center. Now that construction is
underway, we can expect to see the movie theater open by fall 2018. The residents of Cross Roads now have another major retailer: Tractor Supply Co. is open at 6001 S. U.S. Highway 377.
Scott K. Parks Managing Editor 940-566-6879 | sparks@dentonrc.com Jenna Duncan Business Editor 940-566-6889 | jduncan@dentonrc.com Sandra Hammond Advertising Director 940-566-6820 | shammond@dentonrc.com Shawn Reneau Retail Advertising 940-566-6843 | sreneau@dentonrc.com
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Enterprising Voices
Free speech at work much like Great Pumpkin T
he NFL protests and President Donald Trump’s reaction to them raise interesting issues about political speech and expression in the workplace. In response to the president’s comments, many commentators seem to brush off the idea that someone can be fired for exercising their right to free speech. But are they right? No doubt we are entitled to free speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, but does that mean we are free to express our political views whenever or wherever we want, specifically where we work? In Texas, the short answer is, probably not. The vast majority of Texans work for private employers. Generally, the Constitution protects Americans from government action. Private employers are rarely government actors. In one of his many dissenting opinions, Justice Antonin Scalia expressed this idea well when he wrote: “This is a free country. Every American has the right to express an opinion on issues of public significance. In the private sector, of course, the exercise of that right may entail unpleasant consequences. Absent some contractual or statutory provision limiting its prerogatives, a private-sector
Biz on the Wire
Autonomous cars set for NYC test
DETROIT — Autonomous vehicles are already navigating the verdant hills of Pittsburgh and cruising the pitched avenues of San Francisco. They may soon be tested by the chaos of downtown Manhattan, where pedestrians, taxis, buses and bikes embark daily on an eternal quest to avoid impact. Cruise Automation, a selfdriving software company owned by General Motors, aims to begin testing in New York early next year. It’ll have an engineer behind the wheel to monitor performance. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt says the densely populated city of more than 8 million people will give the company more unusual situations to test software and accelerate the work on the technology. Testing in New York is allowed under legislation included in the 2018 state budget.
Facebook buys app for compliments
NEW YORK — Facebook has bought TBH, a teenfocused app that lets people give anonymous compliments to each other through polls and messages. Facebook on Tuesday confirmed the purchase, announced on TBH’s blog, but did not say how much it paid. TBH, internet slang short for “to be honest,” says more than 5 million people have downloaded its app since it launched Aug. 3. TBH will continue to exist as a standalone app. Facebook also owns Instagram and WhatsApp. The latest acquisition is consistent with its strategy of buying or copying rivals, especially those popular with young people.
Sam BURKE | COMMENTARY
employer may discipline or fire employees for speaking their minds.” Like the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution provides a free speech guarantee. And, like the U.S. Constitution, courts have said that the protections of that free speech guarantee extend only to government actors. The Texas Supreme Court has written that “the guarantees of the Texas Bill of Rights generally apply only against the government. ... Similar protections do not exist for action by private individuals.” What does this mean for the average Texas employee? Can you engage in political protest during work events? If your employer does not want you to engage in political speech, no, you cannot. Texas is an at-will employment state. That means, unless you have a written agreement to the contrary, a private employer is free to terminate
Getty Images/Thinkstock
An employer may not refuse to allow an employee to miss work on Election Day to vote. An employer cannot retaliate against an employee who has voted a certain way or refused to reveal how he voted. public and private employers is that the First Amendment applies to “government actors.” While the private-versuspublic-employer distinction is usually easy to make, for private employers that contract with government entities, care should be taken to understand if their employment decisions can take on the character of government action and that the contracts entered into with the government entity do not extend free speech protections enjoyed by public employees to the private employer’s employees.
Interestingly, while most all political speech in the workplace is not protected, the Texas Elections Code does protect the ultimate expression of political speech — the right to participate in certain political activities and, most importantly, the right to vote. The following specific protections apply to the right to vote in Texas. ■ An employer may not refuse to allow an employee to miss work to attend a political convention or subject the employee to a penalty for attending.
■ An employer may not refuse to allow an employee to miss work on Election Day to vote. However, if the polling times include two consecutive hours outside of the employee’s working hours, this provision does not apply. ■ An employer cannot retaliate against an employee who has (1) voted a certain way or (2) refused to reveal how he or she voted. The employer cannot threaten or subject an employee to loss of wages, reduce their wages, or reduce any other benefit of employment. Perhaps ironically, most Texans do not have the right to wear their political views on their sleeves at work, but they do enjoy the right to keep their politics to themselves. At least in Texas, the commentators who casually conclude that political speech in the workplace is protected should remember the wisdom of the Peanuts character Linus: “There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people [at work] ... religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin.” SAMUEL B. BURKE is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in civil trial law. He can be reached at sburke@denton law.com or www.dentonlaw. com.
Social responsibility benefits firms, communities
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n the face of natural disasters and other large-scale crises in the United States, it has become routine for major corporations to donate products, services and/or funds to help get a community back on its feet. The most recent example of this in Texas is the assistance given by corporations throughout the nation when Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston region. Apple made a $2 million donation to the Red Cross and made it possible for the public to donate through its online stores. PetSmart contributed $1 million to help Houston SPCA, the SPCA of Texas, Rescue Bank, Houston PetSet and others who are working to rescue, relocate and care for pets that were impacted by the storm. Toyota pledged $3 million in assistance. Chevron contributed $1 million to the Red Cross and is matching donations made by its employees and retirees. Peterbilt Motors Co., headquartered right here in Denton, sent two of its 18-wheelers filled with supplies to Houston to aid relief efforts. While these contributions have the potential to change lives in situations of crisis, the
Shannon MANTARO | COMMENTARY
contributions that small businesses make in their communities on a regular basis also can be impactful. There are many ways a small business can contribute to the community in which it’s located. One of the most tangible ways is through local volunteerism. While it can be challenging for a small business owner to take the time to be away from her business, the rewards of contributing are numerous and can significantly benefit both the business and the community. If, for example, a business owner serves on a nonprofit board, she may learn new skills that can be employed in her own operation, meet new people that she might not have an opportunity to meet otherwise (and some could
DRC file photo
The Peterbilt Pride & Class Parade around the Square raised money for the United Way of Denton County. There are many ways a business can contribute to the community in which it’s located. even become new customers), strengthen marketing and brand reputation of the business, and she might realize a sense of personal fulfillment. If the business empowers its employees to volunteer, morale could be strengthened as well. The nonprofit benefits by being able to capitalize on the expertise of the business owner and its employees, as well as by potential financial, in-kind or volunteer support. Other ways in which a business can contribute to its community include: ■ Sponsoring youth activities (e.g. teams, science fairs, music events);
■ Cross-marketing with other businesses to encourage “buy local” economy stimulation; ■ Buying products and services from other local businesses; ■ Donating a portion of proceeds to charity; ■ Participating in building or sponsoring a house through Habitat for Humanity; ■ Instituting local recycling or environmental sustainability programs; ■ Developing a local grant or scholarship program; and ■ Offering your services pro bono or donating goods to a charity.
When a business effectively balances its professional interests with the needs of the community, it not only promotes a stronger bottom line but also builds community support and contributes to a healthier, more prosperous community. In the end, both the business and the community are better for it. SHANNON MANTARO is the director of Texas Woman’s University’s Center for Women in Business and can be reached at smantaro@twu.edu. For more information, visit https://twu. edu/center-women-business.
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BERLIN — German air safety officials have asked bankrupt carrier Air Berlin to explain why one of its pilots aborted his landing at Duesseldorf at the last moment to make a low pass around the control tower Monday after returning from Miami. The airline ceases operating at the end of October.
— The Associated Press
you for almost any reason or no reason at all. The exceptions to this rule for mediumsize to large employers arise not out of the U.S. Constitution but out of statutory protections such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and similar enactments contained in the Texas Labor Code. Title VII and the mirroring Texas Labor Code provisions do not apply to small employers, i.e., those that employ 15 employees or less. Generally, these statutes protect employees from discrimination based on sex, religion or national origin. Employees cannot be discriminated against because of who they are or where they come from; they can be discriminated against for what they say. In contrast to private employees, government employees do have some protections when they engage in political speech in the workplace. If a government employee is terminated for exercising their right to free speech regarding political matters, that decision must survive a balancing test that weighs the employee’s interest in commenting on matters of public concern against the employer’s interest in workplace efficiency and harmony. Of course, the key distinguishing factor of between
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Cover Story
Courtesy art
This artist’s rendering shows the staircase that is a major feature of the lobby of the new Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. HOTEL | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
booking their annual gatherings here because the city had never been an option for them before, she said. “Right now, Denton is the new kid on the block,� Phillips said. “Denton has never had a venue like this in its history, so we’re ripe to be able to bring in a lot of convention business in the next few years, because nobody’s ever been here for these kinds of conventions. It’s an all-new thing, and people are excited about it.� Her office has secured about $1.6 million in convention business for the center, she said. While it’s working on statewide organizations, the sales team at the hotel is working on leads for more national and international groups.
So, what are they selling?
The 70,000-square-foot convention center has three ballroom spaces, each with a Denton theme: the University Ballroom, the Equestrian Ballroom and the Golden Triangle Ballroom. Each space is outfitted with a more modern design than traditional ballrooms. There’s exposed ductwork, with wooden panels holding up round chandeliers. The University Ballroom is the largest, fitting 1,850 people at a time. The two smaller rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. The Golden Triangle room opens up to an outdoor yard and event space. The lawn will be synthetic grass and has bracing to put up large tents. It will have a
giant chess set and other “Certain types of clients have LEED designation as a games. Plus, there’s a large requirement, and they only resort-style pool, splash pad meet in these facilities because and another pool that can be part of their mission is supglassed in to make it an inporting sustainable initiatives,� door pool when the weather she said. “That gives us a leg calls for it, Muilenburg said. Initial plans called for just up when we’re in a competone pool and a hot tub, but itive bidding situation, which company officials decided to is the case a lot of the time.� add more water features and The convention center replace the hot tub with a space segues into the back of splash pad to the hotel’s add more funccommon space. tionality. That Visitors who IN THE KNOW means the hotel enter the hotel The Embassy Suites by has resort amewill see a large Hilton Denton Convention nities and feastaircase, lots of Center will host its first tures like bigger seating and a job fair this week. hotels in the big chandelier Where: Texas Woman’s Dallas-Fort made of brass University Student Union, Worth region, trumpets above 304 Administration Drive, Room 207 Muilenburg the check-in said. desk. Yes, trumWhen: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We want to pets. Friday, Oct. 20, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. take business Next to the 21 away from the check-in desk Omnis and will be a small For: full- and part-time housekeepers, dishMarriotts and grab-and-go washers, laundry service bring them to area, complete workers and food servers Denton,� he with a StarFor additional informasaid. bucks. Initially tion, email embassy The entire it was going to denton@gmail.com. facility will be just be a place LEED Gold for visitors to certified, and is outfitted with grab necessities, but it’s turned 1,000 solar panels and plenty into a place to showcase local of natural light effects. products like Audacity Brew The LEED designation, or House beers and have fresh Leadership in Energy and salads and sandwiches. Environmental Design, is a “We really want to showbuilding program of the U.S. case Denton right here,� MuiGreen Building Council that lenburg said. “There will be verifies the building was built thousands and thousands of in a sustainable way. Many people who have never seen companies and international Denton before because there’s businesses are looking at never been a convention cenpartnering only with properter here. A lot of time people ties with the designation, come to these conventions Phillips said. and they stay in their hotel —
Jeff Woo
A chandelier made of trumpets hangs above the check-in desk at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. but if we can catch them right here and show them what’s out there, like go hit the Square, all these unique restaurants, that’s our goal.� Another way to showcase Denton will be shuttle services to different spots around town, he said. An exact route of shuttle stops hasn’t been determined, but Muilenburg envisions shuttles will stop at the downtown Square, maybe Golden Triangle Mall and the University of North Texas. The bar and breakfast area are larger than those at other Embassy Suites, complete with plenty of restaurant-style seating. This is on purpose: The bar will be open later than the daily evening reception, which offers complimentary drinks. And, the included breakfast is one of the most popular aspects of staying at Embassy Suites, but can be a source of frustration for managers, Pritts said. “You will do 1,000 to 2,000
breakfasts, so how do you get them through in three hours? Extra space,� he said. “Here, the flow just goes easily. There’s two buffets that are exactly the same, two cooktops and an extra coffee station.� In addition to the dining options at the hotel, a Houlihan’s restaurant is part of the space. The restaurant includes a private dining room that can fit 20 guests and a large outdoor patio. The restaurant should open at the same time as the hotel and convention center, Muilenburg said. That opening is up to the executives at Hilton. The suite-style rooms are close to being completed as well. At Embassy Suites properties, most units are two-room suites — a living room area with a sofa, and a sleeping area with a king-size bed or two queens. Pricing is a bit lower for the first months the hotel is open, with rooms starting at $129. The most expensive room
is the 1,100-square-foot Presidential Suite, at $599 per night. This property also has studio suites, a more traditional hotel room that starts at 400 square feet, Muilenburg said. These studio suites are on corners of the building with floor-toceiling windows, still equipped with the classic pull-out sofa. “These are actually my favorite rooms in the hotel,� Muilenburg said. “They’re a little smaller, but they’re unlike any Embassy Suites room I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been with the Hilton brand for more than 10 years.� Even without the adjoining convention center, the property is at a level the city has never had before, Phillips said. “We will have the No. 1 Embassy Suites — it’s not your mama’s Embassy Suites. This is a brand-new look; this is one notch above,� she said. “It’s a level of property that Denton has never had. It adds a layer to what Denton has to offer.�
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SBA offers free counselors, services T
he U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to helping all small businesses succeed. SBA offers a wealth of programs aimed at providing knowledge to entrepreneurs on key things such as how to write a business plan and scaling a business. We provide these free services through our network of resource partners, which are the Small Business Development Centers and SCORE. Both organizations offer counseling services to help guide and mentor you in starting and growing a business. Eight out of 10 small business owners fail within their
businesses understand what it takes to become successful.
Small Business Development Centers
Ahmad GOREE | COMMENTARY
first 18 months simply because they don’t get the professional guidance and advice on what it takes to operate a success business. Additionally, private consulting services can cost hundreds of dollars an hour. That is why SBA offers these services at no cost to help
Small Business Development Centers provide assistance to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the United States and its territories. SBDC business advisors help entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace. Each SBDC is hosted by leading universities and state economic development agencies, and funded in part
through a partnership with SBA. A current and prospective small business can receive a variety of free business consulting and low-cost training services including: business plan development, manufacturing assistance, financial packaging and lending assistance, exporting and importing support, disaster recovery assistance, procurement and contracting aid, market research help, 8(a) program support and health care guidance. With dozens of host networks branching out with hundreds of service delivery points throughout the U.S., District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, SBDC assistance is available virtually anywhere. The Denton SBDC is at the Denton Chamber of Commerce, 414 W Parkway St., and can be reached at 817380-1849.
ing entrepreneurs and business owners. The Denton-area SCORE office is located at Denton’s North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St. To schedule an appointment to speak with a mentor, call 940-349-8757.
SCORE
AHMAD GOREE is chief of the Marketing and Outreach Division and public information officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Dallas-Fort Worth District, which covers 72 counties and serves over 860,000 small businesses and an estimated 9 million residents. He can be reached at 817-684-5500 or ahmad. goree@sba.gov.
SCORE is a nonprofit association of thousands of volunteer business counselors throughout the U.S. and its territories. It is supported by the SBA to provide services to individuals interested in starting or growing a business. SCORE mentors are trained to serve as counselors, advisers and mentors to aspir-
To get Amazon headquarters, Denton just has to be itself O
n Sept. 7, Amazon announced to the world that it is seeking a location for its second corporate headquarters, dubbed HQ2. In size and scale, it will be a re-creation of the company’s Seattle headquarters, with Amazon estimating that HQ2 will bring a $5 billion investment and 50,000 highpaying jobs over a 15-year, phased rollout. The site location process is just beginning: Proposals are due to the company Oct. 19 and the reveal of the winning city isn’t expected until 2018. Amazon’s announcement touched off intense speculation about what region and which city would land HQ2, and it set elected officials and economic developers across the country scrambling to show the company how their communities stand out from the pack. Cities have employed gimmicks ranging from displaying giant replicas of Amazon shipping boxes around town and sending Amazon a 21-foot saguaro cactus to videos of mayors conversing with “Alexa.” Often, these kinds of promotions are aimed not just at the company but at competitor communities. Denton is just as excited as any other city to throw its hat into the ring for HQ2, but we’re taking a different approach. Since one of Amazon’s guiding principles is “customer obsession rather than competitor focus,” we didn’t spend time or money on public ploys. We poured our efforts into getting to know Amazon — its corporate culture, decision drivers and key preferences in selecting a site for HQ2. Denton clearly meets Amazon’s core requirements outlined in the request for proposals: ■ Within 30 miles of a population center ■ Within 45 minutes’ drive of an international airport ■ Not more than one to
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two miles from a major highway ■ Direct access to mass transit (train, bus, subway) ■ “Greenfield” site of more than 100 acres, options for infill redevelopment or a combination of these Meeting core requirements is the bare minimum when responding to any request for
proposals, much less an RFP for a transformational project like HQ2. What Amazon is looking for is a cultural match: A community that prioritizes education, promotes sustainability, values creativity and supports business growth. Denton’s culture is what draws people to our community and keeps them here. Denton residents are young — the median age is 28 — and highly educated, with 35 percent of our residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Sustainability is a priority for Denton, and we have a “3-STAR” certification from STAR Communities, the nation’s leading framework and certification program for local sustainability. Denton Munici-
Seth Wenig/AP
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, right, speaks about submitting a Newark bid for Amazon’s second headquarters as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie looks on Monday in Newark, N.J. Cities are pulling out all the stops to lure Amazon. pal Electric is a national leader in renewables, providing 40 percent renewable energy to
each and every customer at no additional cost, with plans to increase that to at least 70
percent by 2019. We have a growing startup and tech culture and are recognized around the world for our vibrant independent music and arts scene. As part of Texas’ largest metropolitan area, Denton’s strategic location on the Interstate 35 corridor offers unparalleled access to both talent and markets, which are critical elements for successful business growth. While other cities have to resort to gimmicks, Denton just has to be itself.
L. CAROLINE BOOTH is the director of economic development for the city of Denton. She can be reached at 940-349-7751 or caroline. booth@cityofdenton.com.
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Unemployment Update National numbers By Christopher S. Rugaber | AP WASHINGTON — Fewer people sought unemployment benefits in the most recent week of data available, as the impact of recent hurricanes on the U.S. economy fades. Applications for U.S. unemployment aid fell 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 243,000. Applications fell in Texas and Florida, where Hurricanes Harvey and Irma inflicted heavy damage in late August and September. The number of people receiving benefits nationwide fell 32,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.89 million, the lowest level since late December 1973. Applications had spiked to 298,000 after Harvey hit Texas in late August but have mostly fallen since then. The hurricanes forced thousands of businesses to shut down and cost the U.S. economy 33,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department said. But outside of the hurricane-impacted areas, the job market looks solid. The unemployment rate fell in September to 4.2 percent, a 16-year low, from 4.4 percent in August, as many unemployed workers in parts of the country unaffected by the hurricanes found jobs.
Business Spotlight DRONES | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
drone is a dramatic eye-catching first impression that’s going to get people to look at your property first, as opposed to your competitors,” says Brian Balduf, CEO and cofounder of VHT Studios, a visual marketing firm. Drone photography “keeps people visually stimulated,” says Nilyne Saintvil, regional director of marketing and leasing for Fieldstone Properties, which manages apartments across New Jersey. “We put it on our website and it keeps them engaged and it keeps them wanting to see more about your property. I honestly think that it helps sell properties or rent properties quicker because it’s like a real-life you being there.”
When sellers should demand a drone
If you’re especially proud of your home’s architecture, your expansive property or your surrounding neighborhood, Balduf says you can’t list your home without the help of a drone: “If your home backs up to a golf course or a river or a lake, or a wetlands, open fields, a park, you want to play that up, and drone is ideal for that.” Balduf says home buyers are beginning to expect to see drone photos in beach communities as well as in scenic mountain areas in places like Colorado and Utah, where “it’s not so much about the house itself; it’s where the house sits.” Why, he asks, wouldn’t you want to show off how close your home is to the beach? If your home or property is unusual or unique, drones can provide a visual advantage that ground-level photos cannot. Balduf says a remote pilot was able to shoot video in Washington state where the drone flew along the coast and then up a cliff to where the house sits. In Florida, Bryan Gonzalez shot a promotional video for a horse farm in which the drone followed thoroughbreds running on a practice track. (The drone flew high enough not to scare the horses.)
Other uses for drones
Gonzalez is the owner and founder of Drones Unlimited, which specializes in aerial photography, in Ocala, Florida. At least two or three times a month, out-of-state prospective buyers hire him to shoot photos and videos of properties they’re interested in. It’s a way for them “to see a piece of property without getting on a plane and going there.” He sends them the footage with-
out meeting them in person. One time, Gonzalez was hired by a client who was in town but didn’t want to tour an 80-acre property on a humid, 90-degree day. “So instead of us walking that amount of acreage, we were actually flying the drone, and the client was looking at a live feed on a TV,” Gonzalez says. Gonzalez also has been hired by home inspectors who wanted to assess damage to a roof four stories high and by an owner of mobile home parks who wanted photos for damage assessments after Hurricane Irma.
How much drone photography costs
Homeowners might be surprised at how reasonable drone services can be. Balduf says drone photos are a little more expensive than
traditional, on-the-ground photos. For most clients, drone photos cost between $200 and $500, he says. “Every job is case by case, so we have to quote them all out individually,” Gonzalez says. He might charge as little as $100 for a quick flight yielding 10 photos, to more than $1,000 to shoot a rambling horse farm (Ocala is in central Florida’s horse country).
And here’s something you may not have considered: Don’t cut your grass the day before your home’s photo shoot. “There needs to be a severalday buffer after they cut the grass,” Gonzalez says. Other-
wise, the drone will pick up the brown lawn clippings “and it’s going to look horrible.” Any house can benefit from drone photos, Gonzalez says. “The drone photos show the location, and it speaks for
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Prepare for a drone session
Preparing for a drone photography session is no different from preparing the inside of your home for traditional listing photos. Cleaning and decluttering is always the first step. A dirty roof will look distracting. Pool toys, backyard clutter and cars in the driveway should be moved or put away. Try to identify problems that are visible only from the air.
itself. There’s no reason to write up a crazy, detailed description that nobody’s going to read. “The photos do all the talking for you, instead of you having to explain yourself.”
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7
Vital Statistics SALES TAX
The following sales permits were issued by the state comptroller’s office for September. The list includes the owner, name of business and address within ZIP codes 75068, 76201, 76205, 76207, 76208, 76209, 76210, 76226, 76227, 76249, 76258 and 76266. 75068 Titus Enterprises, Inc., Little Elm Crafthouse, 850 W. El Dorado Parkway, Suite 700, Little Elm Kimberly Sauls, Pretty Brown Sistah, 2001 Hickory Drive, Little Elm Scrubs Home Cleaning, LLC, Scrubs Home Cleaning, 670 Majestic Oaks Drive, Oak Point Audacious Apparel LLC, Audacious Apparel, 1405 Waterford Drive, Little Elm Eden Jardin Centre LLC, Eden Jardin Boutique Party Rentals, 2600 Costa Mesa Drive, Little Elm Katie Ramirez, Half Designers Boutique, 2721 Misty Harbor Drive, Little Elm P&L Scents LLC, P&L Scents, 1405 Waterford Drive, Little Elm R Wireless of TX Inc., R Wireless of TX Inc., 2180 FM423, Little Elm Ronald E. Williams, East Coast Directors, 2050 FM423, Apt. 501, Little Elm GCJohn’s Marketing LLC, Flavor For Real, 405 Windridge Drive, Little Elm Maggie Lynn, Mags Tees, 2317 Evening Song Drive, Little Elm Olga Beatriz Campbell, Olga Campbell, 111 Lakeside Lane, Little Elm Atika Khan, Amara’s Creations, 14525 Logan Springs Drive, Little Elm Happy Homes Concierge LLC, Happy Homes Concierge, 14524 Little Anne Drive, Little Elm JoJos Clean Bees LLC, JoJos Clean Bees, 1925 Joe Pool Drive, Little Elm Atika Khan, Orion Creations, 2709 Sequoia Drive, Little Elm JL Chandler Enterprises LLC, Red’s Laundry, 1000 E. El Doraado Parkway, Little Elm
Blanca Edis Castleberry, Rivera Sparkling Cleaning, 1428 Sun Breeze Drive, Little Elm Jose Gabriel Gonzalez Solis, Taquito Y Mas, 829 Creekside Drive, Little Elm Camille L. Cochran, the Cocooners, 14224 Sparrow Hill Drive, Little Elm 76201 Edy Lemus, Edy’s Auto Sales, 720 S. Locust St., Denton Flower Garden LLC, Flower Garden, 118 W. Congress St., Denton Jacklyn Dakota Lawrence, Forest Fibers, 2201 Stella St., Apt. 9, Denton L.A. Business Corp., L.A. Used Tires Shop, 315 N. Locust St., Denton Rigoberto Maldonado, R/M Auto Upholstry, 505 Fort Worth Drive, Denton Randolph Foods LLC, Randolph Foods, 420 S. Carroll Blvd., Suite 102, Denton Garrett Graves, Stoneglass Marketing, 719 Wainwright St., Denton Lauren E. Vanderpool, Book Scout, 811 Anderson St., Denton Ki N Ji, LLC, Lee Cleaners, 1618 W. University Drive, Denton The Art and Science of Animal Training, The Art and Science of Animal Training, 1017 Alice St., Denton WildFlower Art Studio LLC, WildFlower Art Studio, 715 N. Locust St. 76205 Edy Lemus, Fresh Morning Donuts, 703 Londonderry Lane, Denton Christian James Rambonnet, Abstract Garage, 1912 Bernard St., Denton
ASSUMED NAMES
The following names (followed by DBA and address) were posted in September at the Denton County Clerk’s office.
NAME — DBA/ADDRESS
NAME — DBA/ADDRESS
Kelly Albus, Avenue Y Consulting, 2712 Emerson Lane Luis Fernandez, Discount Tires Plus Wheels, 4250 E. University Drive BioLife Plasma Services, Shire BioLife, 3455 Quail Creek Drive Daniel Barwick, Tile N All, 6279 Desert Holly Way Byron Beall, B5 Investments, 2005 Del Mar Court Darby Binder, HireMetrics, 2317 Briar Forest Drive Stephanie Bird, Stemar Press, 6300 St. James Place Derek Blake, 4D Trucking, 8104 Canoe Ridge Lane Paul Bridges, Bridges Aviation, 2105 Acorn Bend Cheryl Brown, Miracle Soul Spice Company/Miracle Soul, 403 N. Loop 288 #7210 Randy and Anna Burch, Burchies, 1801 Jason Drive #111 Benjamin Burnside, Cameron Hurley and Dustin Newsom, BCD Construction, 2701 Wind River Lane Terrace Lee Buzzard Jr., Strategic Mental Insight Coaching/SMI Coaching, P.O. Box 51501 Jose Cadena, Cadena’s Cleaning Services, 1128 Bent Oaks Drive Casey Clark, Marco’s Pizza of Denton, 3220 Teasley Lane Samual Davis, Denton County Christmas Lights, 45 Oak Forrest Circle Junior DeFreitas, North Texas Allergy and Sinus, 3324 Colorado Blvd., Suite 103 Jorge Sanchez and Orlando Delgado, Prestige Construction LLC., 1104 Oak Tree Drive Matthew Farmer and Jacob Derryberry, Farmer For Texas, 1809 Redwood Place
Aerron Dowdy, Grit & Grind Promotions, 1308 Teasley Lane, Suite 220 Jerret Edman, Denton Towing, 621 S. Mayhill Road Trista Edwards, Marvel + Moon, 1113 Sandpiper Drive Jorge Rebollar and Maria Carmen Elizarraras, King of Kings Pool Service, 8205 Montecito Drive Braid Hustein and Cory Emerson, Clearly Complete Property Maintenance, 3949 Waterford Way Ruperto Gutierrez, North Texas Frame and Drywall Co., 5505 Fishtrap Road #3 Henry Lee Evans Jr., Fleetwood Ranch, 1106 Ridgecrest Circle Emily Fryksater, Effusion Photography, 1809 Redwood Place United Yellow Rabbit Printing, Ahmet Tmava United Printing, 3100 Pinehurst Court Ernest Garcia Jr., Quality Construction, 9504 Pinewood Road Pablo Enrique Roberto, MPR Day Hab and Residential Services, 3912 E. McKinney St. Migue Hernandez Garza, Taqueria Miguelitos, 3750 Pockrus Page, Trailer 33 Scott Glubke, Big Time Granite and Quartz, 506 N. Mayhill Road Rodney Haire, Quality Control Roofing and Construction, 1003 Dallas Drive Kaywin Harris, D&S Vending, 2020 North Lake Trail Eric Hill, Quakertown In and Out, 3004 Bob O Link Steven A. Horn, Websentia Web Services, 1301 Deer Trail Patricia Hunnycutt, PattyCakes SweetTreats, 624 W. University Drive #137
BUILDING PERMITS
The following building permits were issued by the Denton Planning and Development department in September. Commercial alterations and commercial permits reflect the owner or tenant and the address of the business. Residential permits include the address of the home. CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPATION St. Paul Lutheran Church, 703 N. Elm St. The Dark Path Haunt, 2695 Old Alton Road Pita Pit/7 Degrees Below, 105 Ave. A First Guaranty Bank, 2209 W. University Drive COMMERCIAL ALTERATION Anew Dental, 3100 Unicorn Lake Blvd., Suite 130 Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 1911 W. University Drive Direct Orthopedic Care, 3100 Unicorn Lake Blvd., Suite 120 Denton Assistance Center, 306 N. Loop 288 Hawaiian Nail Bar, 1601 Brinker Road, Suite 101 Independent Bank, 400 N. Carroll Blvd. Brain Balance of Denton, 2735 W. University Drive, Suite 1075 Parks of Denton Apartments, 1610 E. McKinney St. Embassy Suite Denton Convention Center, 3100 Town Center Trail Loop Apartments, 604 Cardinal Drive, Building 604
Amoni Nail & Beauty, 2201 S. Interstate 35E Kroger Fuel Station, 500 W. University Drive COMMERCIAL DBA Architects, 2505 Scripture St. Scott Talbot, 2000 Emery St. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 3220 Town Center Trail DATCU Credit Union, 2216 Emery St. AHY LC, 1409 E. McKinney St. AHY LC, 1317 E. McKinney St. Starbucks Coffee Company, 4910 Teasley Lane RESIDENTIAL Aaron Dilley, 265 N. Trinity Road Carmen Custom Homes, 3213 Fairway Drive DR Horton 321 Red Fox Lane 325 Red Fox Lane
Carroll McMath Middle School PTA, Carroll McMath Middle School PTA, 1900 Jason Drive, Denton T&W Tire, LLC, T&W Tire, 1816 Shady Oaks Drive, Denton Raylee Whitney Trawick, Arty Party, 816 Chapel Drive, Denton CN Custom Cabinets and More, LLC, CN Custom Cabinets and More, 1014 E. Prairie St., Denton Denton County Friends of the Family, Denton County Friends of the Family, 920 Dallas Drive, Denton Nguyen Capital Holdings, LLC, Nguyen Capital Holdings, 2220 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 345, Denton Portaboards Enterprises, LLC, Portaboards Enterprises, 312 Dallas Drive, Suite 101, Denton Global Horizons LLC, Global Horizons, 28 Rolling Hills Circle, Denton Hickory & Rail Ventures LLC, Hickory & Rail Ventures, 608 E. Hickory St., Suite 128, Denton 76207 Olivia A. Lynn, RNO Enterprises, 4221 Fiste, Denton Jason T. Radcliff, NTPC Repair, 3120 N. Bell Ave., Denton Jason T. Radcliff, NTPC Tech Solutions, 3120 N. Bell Ave., Denton
76209 L.A. Business Corp., L.A. Used Tires Shop, 3011 E. University Drive Lizards Ink Tattoo LLC, Lizard’s Shaved Ice, 2517 Fall Leaf Court, Denton Lizards Ink Tattoo LLC, Lizards Ink Tattoo, 1111 E. McKinney St. Suite 101 Pride Basics, LLC, Pride Basics, 708 Roberts St., Denton Crossroads Cocktails & Karaoke LLC, Crossroads Cocktails & Karaoke, 1125 E. University Drive, Denton 76210 Katheryne Cobble, Cobblestone Cleaning, 2300 Palamino Court, Denton Sean A. McDowell, The Code, 9100 Teasley Lane, Denton Accubreeze Accounting Consultants LLC, Accubreeze Accounting Consultants, 1509 Vista Verde St., Denton Lisa Settles and Karen Jackson, K&L Food Service, 2021 Club View Circle, Corinth Panda Express Inc., Panda Express 2793, 8111 S. Interstate 35E, Corinth Danielle Bailey, Designs Old & New, 1707 Pine Hills Lane, Corinth Emily Hart Davis, Emily Davis Photography, 45 Oak Forrest Circle, Denton Tada Inc., Gear On, 1905 Pavillion Lane, Denton Ronny Crownover Middle School PTA, Ronny Crownover Middle School PTA, 1901 Creekside Drive, Corinth Salon Rene, Salon Rene, 3691 FM2181, Suite B, Corinth Vastu Construction LLC, Vastu Construction, 912 Wintercreek Drive, Denton 5 Dudes Golf LLC, 5 Dudes Golf, 1407 Ballycastle Lane, Corinth Blue Gee LLC, Blue Gee, 9062 Teasley Lane, Denton
76208 Modish Motors LLC, Modish Motors, 5101 E. University Drive, Suite 612, Denton C & S Sales LLC, Mountain Star Buildings - Denton, 5101 E. University Drive, Suite 61, Denton Halsey Engineering & Mfg., LLC, Halsey Engineering & Mfg, 209 N. Mayhill Road Joni L. Vaughn, JLR Productions, 5901 Loveland Drive, Denton Emily Elizabeth Ashmore, Pride & Pedigree, 414 Lakeshore Road, Shady Shores Busted Nut Cycles LLC, Busted Nut Cycles, 1406 N. Corinth St., Suite 411, Corinth Clarity Enterprises Inc., Clarity Enterprises, 2832 Geesling Road #150, Denton Francisco Cuenca, Lissy’s Snacks, 4200 E. University Drive, Denton
76226 Charred LLC, Charred, 8955 U.S. Highway 377 Suite 104, Argyle Meraki Maison LLC, Meraki Maison, 1911 E. Jeter Road, Bartonville Water Bionics LLC, Water Bionics, 2420 Britt Drive, Argyle
NAME — DBA/ADDRESS
NAME — DBA/ADDRESS
Michael Ingham, LaborMax Staffing, 124 Eagle Drive Suite 300 Chris Juarez, Lone Star Trucking, 4937 Stuart Road, Lot #348 Emily Kiser, Eleventh Hour Clothing Company, 2114 N. Elm St. Edy Lemus, Edy’s Auto Sales, 720 S. Locust St. Tawana Lewis, The Sparkling Effect Cleaning Services, P.O. Box 50794 Harry M. Lothridge, Texas Model Trains, 1 Highview Circle Curtis B. Lucky, Liberty Tax Serivce, 216 W. University Drive Rigoberto Maldonado, R&M Auto Upholstry, 505 Fort Worth Dr., Suite 108 Mason McCann, Superior Septic, 111 E. University Drive #105 Shari McChristial, Lone Star Collie and Sheltie Rescue of Texas, 9601 Ravenwood Drive Sean McDowell, The Code, 9100 Teasley Lane 12C Christopher McIntire, Botanica Infinitum, 1806 Westminster St. Apt. 4 Joseph Miller and Katherine Saveal, Grace Investments, 8400 Bishop Pine Road Christine Moncrief, All American Fencing and Handyman Services, 1404 Noble Marcos and Alba Muniz, The Muniz Group Construction, 3316 N. Bell Ave. Victor Pacheco, Daniel Logistics, 1813 White Dove Lane Jesus Pina, J.P. Construction, 5301 E. McKinney St., #301 Hector Porras, City of Techs, 6704 Alderbrook Drive Amanda Potter, PolaCon, 612 W. Mulberry St. James Quayson, Supply Visions, 2200 W. Hickory St., Apt. 9 Lisa Mari Racina, Denton Dance Conservatory LLC, 2601 Cofee Drive
Jason Radcliff, NTPC Repair, 3120 N. Bell Ave. Nellie Rios and Julio Valencia, Spring Cleaning Everyday, 2744 Watercross Drive Justin Kwistasket Ross, Lazy JR Ranch, 251 Cunningham Road Jorge Salas, J. Salas Construction, 4181 Silver Dome Road Lot 109 Reynaldo A. Sandoval, AAA Trans, 6601 Grissom Road, Lot 122 Brian Sheppard, Brian’s RV Repair, 909 Thomas St. Stephanie Shipp, Golden Edition Publishing, 108 N. Locust St., Suite 300 Zachary Simpson, Simpson’s Home Solutions, 6816 Hayling Way Richard Smeltzer, Denton Autoglass Service, 2515 Denison St. Sierra Taylor, Reckless Prodigy Clothing Co., 2730 Bolivar St. John Scott Thompson, NTX PDR, 7200 Chittamwood Court Stephen Udenenwu, Azupa.A.Ki, 1451 Centre Place Drive Apt. 161 Richard Underwood, Crossroads Cocktails & Karaoke, 1416 Paco Trail Lauren and Lee Vanderpool, Book Scout, 811 Anderson St. Jose Garay Villeda, Greg Garay’s Landscaping, 4545 Mingo Road Kameron Voller, VH Investments LLC, 3513 Lake Country Wash in the Box Holdings LLC, The Wash Factory, 525 S. Loop 288 Suite 105 Cynthia Weatherly, Gremlin’s Playroom, 4937 Stuart Road #181 Amy Wilson, Simply Steel Designs, 2909 Saddlie Drive Scott Wilson, Trinity Enterprises, 1313 Val Verde Court John N. Withers, John N. Withers DDS, 3201 Teasley Lane Suite 101
329 Red Fox Lane 316 Doe Creek Trail 4308 Poppy Valley Lane 324 Sky Meadow Lane
Robson Ranch 8109 American Way 11716 Cinnamon Drive 11800 Cinnamon Drive 11804 Cinnamon Drive 11816 Cinnamon Drive 8105 Dunlin Drive 12120 Gadwall Drive 12213 Grosbeak Drive 12225 Grosbeak Drive 10104 Lindenwood Trail 8112 Sanderling Drive 11805 Willet Way 12016 Willet Way
Dunhill Homes DFW, 3721 Harbour Mist Trail First Texas Homes 7609 Echo Hill Lane 3000 Lakeview Blvd. 3112 Lakeview Blvd. History Maker Homes 5417 Sea Cove Lane 5420 Sea Cove Lane
Sandlin Homes 9012 Conroe Drive 9112 Conroe Drive
Gehan Homes 6404 Roaring Creek 6604 Roaring Creek Innovation Builders, 9300 MeadowPark Drive Kennedy Custom Home, 508 E. El Paseo St. Pulte Homes 6204 Meandering Creek Drive 6512 Meandering Creek Dive 6405 Roaring Creek 6712 Roaring Creek
Wyndham Custom Homes 3612 Ann Arbor Lane 3708 Ann Arbor Lane 613 MeadowEdge Lane 3516 MeadowTrail Lane 3704 MeadowTrail Lane
Karen Garnett, Been Junkin’, 754 Manor Drive, Argyle Glenda L. Ponce De Leon, Poncerosa Designs, 9021 Cypress Creek Road Bolin Energy Trading LLC, Bolin Energy Trading, 819 Indian Trail, Argyle CH Tractor Leasing LLC, CH Tractor Leasing, 10501 Fincher Road, Argyle Justin Davis, CTG Firearms, 720 E. FM407, Argyle Chad S. Martin, Down Home Products, 685 Bradford St., Lantana GDPS Enterprises LLC, I Am Brand Tees, 1517 5th St., Argyle Michelle Skeen, JM Skeen Interiors, 610 Sunset Court, Argyle W&D Equipment Rentals, LLC, W&D Equipment Rentals, 2 Baines Court, Argyle Jennifer Marie Thatcher, Jenn Thatcher Art, 324 Boonesville Bend, Argyle Michelle McCracken Wetteland, MW Ent., 352 Old Justin Road, Argyle 76227 Braswell High School Band Booster Club, Braswell High Band Booster Club, 26750 E. University Drive, Little Elm Braswell High School PTSA, Braswell High School PTSA, 26750 E. University Drive, Little Elm Tiana Hunter, Pur Uzual, 27040 E. U.S. Highway 380, Apt. 10311, Aubrey Jill M. Morse, Shared Thoughts, 9137 Benevolent Court, Providence Village K-Mac Enterprises Inc., Taco Bell #723, 913 S. U.S. Highway 377, Aubrey Velocity Physical Therapy, Velocity Physical Therapy Cross Roads, 8800 U.S. Highway 380, Suite 100, Cross Roads Shawna Frank, Crossfit SLake, 1875 FM1385, Aubrey Cup of Shade LLC, Cup of Shade, 760 Field Crossing, Little Elm Tina Cervantes, Tina Marie Creations, 1200 Long Leaf Drive, Savannah Adhurim Gllavera, Luigi’s Pizza & Pasta, 928 S. U.S. Highway 377 Suite 210, Aubrey
Rana Jet LLC, Rana Jet, 7409 Shady Oak Drive, Aubrey Laura E. Scott, Shop Southern Daisy, 1044 Marietta Lane, Savannah Braswell Cross Country Booster Club, Braswell Cross Country Booster Club, 26750 E. University Drive Jeffrey Wayne Preddy, Lonestar Mobile RV Repair, 26878 E. U.S. Highway 380, Little Elm RedBox Automated Retail LLC, Redbox Automated Retail, 2401 U.S. Highway 380, Cross Roads Ronald and Nicole Gregory, Ron’s Lawns, 625 N. Main St., Aubrey Teresa L. Woodruff, Teresa Woodruff Cakes, 2127 Brewer Road, Aubrey Ashley Jordan, The Curl Bar, 27040 E. U.S. Highway 380 Apt. 6206, Aubrey Megan Nicole Pulis, Zesli, 1616 Goodwin Drive, Providence Village 76249 Daniel Wayne Davis, 2D Farm, 308 Southview Court, Krum Shelby Travis Smith, Back Porch Printing, 5131 Crystal Lake Ave., Krum Drop Shade Houston LLC, Drop Shade, 313 Eagle Drive, Krum 1173 Storage Ltd. Co., 1173 Storage, Ltd. Co., 16450 W. U.S. Highway 380, Krum 76258 RG Trailers LLC, RG Trailers, 1300 S. U.S. Highway 377, Pilot Point Rosabel Benavides, Sabor De Mexico, 100 S. U.S. Highway 377, Pilot Point 76266 Cedar Leisure Designs LLC, Cedar Leisure Designs, 1602 Brook Glen Drive, Sanger Gro Pro Horticulture Services Inc., Gro Pro Horticulture Services Inc., 8474 Rector Road, Sanger Ricky Bishop, Jonie and the Girls Roasted Corn, 11888 FM2153, Sanger Emiley Anne Loiselle, Zacs Racs, 10200 Gregory Road, Sanger
MIXED BEVERAGE TAX
The following mixed beverage tax information was issued by the state comptroller’s office for August. The list includes the name of the business, address and reported tax. Andy’s Bar and Grill, 122 N. Locust St., $3,450.90 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill, 707 S. Interstate 35E, $2,498.89 Aramark Educational Services, 303 Administration Drive, $64.65 B.P.O.E. Denton, 228 E. Oak St., $889.76 Barley & Board, 100 W. Oak St. Ste. 160, $5,761.46 Best Western Area Crown Chase, 2450 Brinker Road, $375.60 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, 3250 S. Interstate 35E, $4,210.61 Bone Daddy’s House of Smoke, 3258 S. Interstate 35E, $2,422.92 Boomerjack Wings, 407 W. University Drive, $1,424.21 Brunswick Zone, 2200 San Jacinto Blvd., $750.60 Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 1400 S. Loop 288 Suite 110, $2,727.16 Cabana Beverages, Inc., 2330 W. University Drive $194.09 Cabana Beverages, Inc., 2220 S. Loop 288, $165.28 Carinos Italian, 1516 Centre Place Drive $512.88 Chili’s Grill & Bar, 2825 W. University Drive, $2,452.20 Chili’s Grill & Bar, 2406 S. Interstate 35E, $1,279.76 Chiloso Mexican Bistro, 2215 S. Loop 288 Suite 312, $117.98 Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1224 W. Hickory St., $13.80 Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2735 W. University Drive Suite 105, $22.24 Chuy’s Denton, 3300 Wind River Lane, $4,918.80 Cool Bean’s, 1210 W. Hickory St. $3,257.40 Courtyard By Marriott, 2800 Colorado Blvd., $244.01 Crossroads Bar, 1803 N. Elm St., $1,495.50 Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St., $1,995.05 Dusty’s Bar & Grill, 119 S. Elm St., $4,607.79 East Side Denton, 117 E. Oak St., $14,863.74 El Fenix, 2229 S. Interstate 35E, $613.72 Fry Street Public House, 125 Ave. A, $5,854.59 Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 115 Industrial St., $959.70 Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 2412 S. Interstate 35E $1,062.01 Hannah’s Off The Square, 111 W. Mulberry St. $2,911.61 Harvest House, 331 E. Hickory St., $5,908.32 Hickory Street Lounge, 212 E. Hickory St., $2,348.48 Hilton Garden Inn, 3110 Colorado Blvd., $605.07 Hooligans, 104 N. Locust St., $4,664.54 Hooters, 985 N. Interstate 35E, $3,890.02 Horny Toad Cafe & Bar, 5812 N. Interstate 35, $1,184.02 II Charlies Bar & Grill, 809 Sunset St., $4,040.83 JR Pockets Club, 1127 Fort Worth Drive, $1,927.18 Jack’s Tavern, 508 S. Elm St. Suite 101, $2,095.49 Keiichi, 500 N. Elm St., $382.23 Komodo Loco, 109 Oakland St., $1,091.09 La Milpa Mexican Restaurant, 820 S. Interstate 35E, $605.54 Lakeside Craft Co., 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd., $1,613.22 Library Bar, 109 Ave. A, $628.66 Lone Star Attitude Burger Co., 113 W. Hickory St., $7,510.16 Lucky Lou’s, 1207 W. Hickory St., $7,931.99 Luigi’s Pizza Italian Restaurant, 2000 W. University Drive, $354.36 Mable Peabody’s Beauty Parlor, 1125 E. University Drive Suite 107, $1,048.75 Mellow Mushroom, 217 E. Hickory St., $1,236.88 Meritt Ranch Beverages Limited, 3501 Ganzer Road, $72.09
Metzler’s Food and Beverage, 1251 S. Bonnie Brae St., $113.56 Mi Taza Latin Tex-mex Cafe, 5017 Teasley Lane Suite 101, $741.42 Movie Tavern Denton, 4916 W. University Drive, $2,813.73 Mulberry Street Cantina, 110 W. Mulberry St., $3,033.02 Oak Street Drafthouse, 308 E. Oak St., $4,861.52 Olive Garden, 2809 S. Interstate 35E, $1,547.76 On The Border, 2829 S. Interstate 35E, $2,442.01 Outback Steakhouse, 300 S. Interstate 35E, $1,659.38 Pei Wei Fresh Kitchen, 1931 S. Loop 288 Suite 130, $29.21 Phil Miller Post #2205 VFW, 909 Sunset St., $1,347.63 Queenie’s Steakhouse, 113 E. Hickory St., $1,720.89 Red Lobster, 2801 S. Interstate 35E, $1,233.20 Riprock’s, 1211 W. Hickory St., $3,693.64 Rockin Rodeo, 1009 Ave. C, $4,693.01 Rooster’s Roadhouse, 113 Industrial St., $2,384.79 Rosa’s Cafe & Tortilla Factory, 1275 S. Loop 288, $164.68 RT’s Neighborhood Bar, 1100 Dallas Drive Suite 124, $7,067.29 Rusty Taco Denton, 210 E. Hickory St., $1,419.79 Shots And Crafts, 103 Ave. A, $1,659.18 Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, 115 S. Elm St., $1,201.84 Tex Tapas, 109 Industrial St., $1,111.39 Texas Roadhouse, 2817 S. Interstate 35E, $3,281.72 The Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub, 101 W. Hickory St., $2,512.36 The Aztec Club, 720 W. University Drive, $1,720.29 The Backyard on Bell, 410 N. Bell Ave., $1,939.31 The Clubhouse at Robson Ranch, 9428 Ed Robson Circle, $408.70 The Fry Street Tavern, 121 Ave. A, $4,378.38 The Garage, 113 Ave. A, $3,749.99 The Green House, 600 N. Locust St., $1,360.50 The Loophole, 119 W. Hickory St., $2,935.80 Tom’s Daiquiri Place, 1212 W. Mulberry St., $1,412.69 University Lanes, 1212 E. University Drive, $605.54 Villa Grande Mexican Restaurant, 2530 W. University Drive Suite 114, $1,678.55 Vitty’s Sports Bar, 1776 Teasley Lane Suite 102, $2,607.84 Vizcarra, 114 W. Congress St., $75.57 Wildhorse Grill, 9440 Ed Robson Circle, $2,871.62 940s Kitchen & Cocktails, 219 W. Oak St., $2,102.46
hosted a chamber mixer. Halloween was the theme, and they held a costume contest that was won by Emily Wright of Homewood Suites by Hilton. There was great food from Bone Daddy’s House of
Smoke, beverages from Miller and music from the Terry Strange Band. Please visit our website at www.lakecitieschamber.com to learn more about these and exciting upcoming events.
DRC file photo
Area Chamber Spotlight Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce
Momentum is strong at the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce. We celebrated several ribbon-cuttings the last month, including Bentley Station in Lake Dallas and the Flying Locksmiths in Lewisville. We meet every Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. for coffee and would love to have you attend. Our Wednesday morning coffees last month were hosted by the town of Hickory Creek, Corinth Classical Academy, the Flying Locksmiths and Yvonne Estes. Mayor Lynn Clark invited the Lake Cities fire and police personnel and held a “See You
BACK PAIN?
Denton Chiropractic Center Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting at Bentley Station. at the Station” event. Everyone met around the flagpole and prayed over our first responders. Clark said this will be an annual event for them.
Our September luncheon was held Sept. 19 at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth. Our speaker was Jamie Wilson, superintendent of the Denton
school district, and the district provided entertainment. Our sponsor was Toyota of Denton. On Oct. 12, PointBank and Alicia Mathney of Mary Kay
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OCTOBER 2017
8
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BC
Denton Record-Chronicle
CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT #DentonMeansBusiness UPCOMING EVENTS RIBBON CUTTINGS
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
NEW MEMBERS The Reecer Law Firm, P.C.
Keystone Independent
400 W. Oak Street, #205, Denton www.reecerlaw.com
7805 Hinkley Oak Drive, Denton www.keystoneindependent.com
bGreenR
Mineral Title Research LLC
608 E. Hickory Street, #128, Denton www.bGreenR.com
Pat Fallon for Texas Senate P.O. Box 51875, Denton www.FallonForTexas.com
Daniel W. Fuller, DDS Justin C. Reed, DDS
3323 Unicorn Lake Boulevard, #131, Denton www.dwfdental.com
3704 Pheasant Hollow, Denton www.MineralTitleResearch.com
SERVPRO of Denton
111 E. University, #105, Denton www.servprodenton.com
Caring For Women
2805 S. Mayhill Road, Denton www.cfwdfw.com
Interested in Membership? Call 940.382.9693
414 W. Parkway Denton, TX 76201 940.382.9693 Denton-chamber.org
In Denton!
America’s Drive-In Daily ur Happy Ho m p 4 2pm -
Crown Chase Inn & Suites
Denton • Crossroads • Paloma Creek Aubrey • Pilot Point • Sanger • Krum
2450 Brinker Road (940) 387-1000 bwdenton.com
www.sonicdrivein.com/denton
Welcome to The Premier Life.®
DENTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OFFICERS
Jim Fykes..........................................................Chair of the Board Erik Clark................................................ Chair-Elect of the Board Glenn Carlton..................... Immediate Past Chair of the Board Mark Burroughs..................................... Vice Chair of the Board
Monica Glenn......................................... Vice Chair of the Board Amanda Oringderff ............................... Vice Chair of the Board Rick Wick................................................. Vice Chair of the Board Carrell Ann Simmons .....................................................Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Lee Allison • Layne Brewer • Roy Culberson • Russ Ellis • Joey Hawkins • Gary Henderson • Michelle Houston Jill Jester • Tom McCoy • Hector Mendoza • Amy O’Keefe • Ellen Painter • Lee Ramsey • Pat Sherman
EX OFFICIO DIRECTORS
Hugh Coleman ...................................................................................................Denton County Commissioner, Pct. 1 Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D. .............................................................Chancellor & President, Texas Woman’s University Kerry Goree.......................................................................................................Denton Black Chamber of Commerce Mary Horn .....................................................................................................................................Denton County Judge Bob Moses ............................................................................................................Chair, Convention & Visitors Bureau Larry Parker..............................................................................................Economic Development Partnership Board Marty Rivers..............................................................................................Economic Development Partnership Board Neal Smatresk, Ph.D............................................................................................ President, University of North Texas Charles Stafford ..............................................................................................................Denton ISD Board of Trustees Chris Watts....................................................................................................................................Mayor, City of Denton