BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

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Balcony Club under new management

After a long and exhausting process, Tommy Stanco handed the keys of the Balcony Club over to a new owner, Teddy Davey, in mid-July. Stanco had been the owner of the Balcony Club for 25 years before turning ownership over to Davey. In 25 years, the club has never closed, although it has come close many times. For years, Balcony Club followers have thought, “This is it. This is the end of the Balcony Club,” but every time the club somehow managed to pull itself out of a nosedive. For the past few months, it’s looked like the same old scare story, except this time the Balcony Club reached the point of no return. After digging himself into tens of thousands of dollars in personal debt, Stanco simply couldn’t wrangle up the funds to pay the rent or the outstanding TABC bill, he said. Had he not turned the club over to Davey, Willingham Property Company, which owns the Lakewood Theater, could have locked the doors of the Balcony Club forever. Under Davey, the club will stay open, although at this point the changes the club will make are unknown. Bruce Richardson, who is working with Davey on the deal, says he and Davey need time to “catch their breath” after the transition.

The Lab at Lakewood closes

The Lab at Lakewood closed Aug. 26, says owner Melissa Wright. She says the future is still uncertain, but one thing is for sure — she’s not finished. The Lab at Lakewood moved to Junius Heights from Lake Highlands a couple of years ago. The Lab was a fun way for kids to learn about science and “celebrate their inner geek.” Now, because of “purely financial decisions,” Wright is closing it. A Montessori school is moving into the old space on Junius, and Wright hopes to offer limited camps there during the fall, winter and spring. Also, if anyone would like to offer “temporary, affordable space further north,” Wright says she’s interested. And finally, The Lab is also going mobile. Wright and her team will offer science parties at people’s homes twice a month from September to December.

More business bits

Cantina Laredo closed

Although calls haven’t been returned from the company, it’s probably safe to say that Cantina Laredo in the Lakewood Shopping Center is no more, given the sign in the window that reads, “We will miss you.” On the other end of Lakewood Shopping Center, Zoës Kitchen seems to be eyeing the old Snow Pea location. Read more on lakewood. advocatemag.com.

Angelo’s Italian Restaurant suddenly closes

Angelo’s owner Bernadette Fisher was locked out of her restaurant recently after failure to pay the rent, says landlord Cathy Patterson. Angelo’s has been at Gaston and La Vista for 21 years. According to the landlord Cathy Patterson with Greenway Investing Company, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to Fisher. Patterson says Fisher was locked out due to the “non-payment of rent” for several months. “We knew. She’d had problems (paying rent) for a while,” Patterson said. “If you’re not paying your rent, chances are you’re not going to be there long.” Patterson says Greenway plans to show the space as soon as possible. ”We’re going to show it to everybody who is rant or bar user,” she says.

1 Trader Joe’s on Lower Greenville opened on Aug. 9.

”We’re a restau-

LAKEWOOD.ADVO

2 Jack’s Southern Comfort has closed at its lower Greenville has closed, although it doesn’t know where it’s moving to just yet. Owners Sandy and Scott Jones have their eyes on several possible locations around the area, including Casa Linda Plaza, Greenville, and Lakewood.

3 Looks like construction for the new Chipotle at the northwest corner of Richmond and Abrams will begin any day now. Lately someone has been out prepping the site for the new Chipotle coming soon. 4 The Chevron gas station at Casa Linda Plaza has been torn down to make way for a new tenant yet to be determined. AmREIT real estate is in talks with several retail groups interested in the space, including a restaurant. The new tenant should be announced by the end of this year and be up and running in 2014, AmREIT says.

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