Hip, fun and funky, Rockport-Fulton is attracting a constellation of new businesses, from family-owned small business to multi-million dollar ventures. They have one thing in common: All are discovering a thriving economy and business-friendly climate brimming with opportunities.
“We’ve been coming here a long time and had bought our property before 2017 and Hurricane Harvey. After the storm we saw an opportunity to help rebuild Rockport-Fulton and we didn’t waste a minute getting started,” said Amy Garcia, owner of two new businesses, Juicy’s Airstream Retreat and La Palma Event Center. Juicy’s opened just months after the storm and La Palma in 2018.
Juicy’s is a remarkable cool collection of three vintage Airstreams and a retro-1970s home, all converted into a group rental property that hosts families, corporate retreats and groups up to 20 people.
Garcia helped fill the need for a community meeting and gathering place, too.
“We opened the La Palma Event Center in Rockport,” she said, “and stay booked continually.”
Another entrepreneur and longtime visitor to Rockport opened Italian Cowboy Food and Provisions, an Italian specialty food store in August 2018 and business is booming. The friendly store features hard-to-find artisanal treats, from cheeses to wines, pasta and more.
“We could not have asked for a better or more prosperous start,” said Deidra Ciriello, owner of the Italian Cowboy and Food Provisions. “The community has simply embraced the store and our products. We’re proud to be here.”
On the waterfront in Rockport with immediate access to the Intracoastal Canal, Aransas and Redfish bays, and Gulf of Mexico, the Cove Harbor and Marina Drystack is a new multi-million dollar development and marine mecca.
“We’re building an event center and facility for fishing tournaments, with a 12,000-square-foot service center and showroom for new boats,” said project owner and manager Haythem Dawlett. “Our long-range vision is to create a high-end luxury park so people can bring their RVs and boats. We set aside 42 slips for luxury crafts and yachts and eventually we’ll have capacity for 600 boats. The project is moving along and we’re truly excited to be a part of the community.”
Another new business featuring fun and sun on the water is Coastal Breeze Resort.
“We’ve only been open for a few months, and are feeling very blessed,” said April Wasson, resort manager. “Business is very good and keeps getting better. We’re right off Salt Lake, so our guests enjoy salt water fishing right off of our pier and a pool that overlooks the lake. We have about 80 RV and trailer spaces, but long-range plans call for about 200 altogether.”
Filling a unique niche, Bay Inspired Living is new to Rockport, too, and pleasing patrons with distinctive home furnishings, both casual and comfortable, and notably sophisticated.
“Our furnishings are inspired by the rugged beauty of the coastal landscape,” said co-owners Mary Tidholm and Linda Ayers. “Every piece reflects the joy of living by the water.”
Situated in a lovely showroom on the shoreline of Little Bay, Tidholm said the property for the independently owned boutique was purchased in 2016.
“It was always the plan to come here,” Tidholm said. “We never even thought about another location. We’re right where we want to be and loving it.”Diamond, Platinum
Member Highlights
Key Allegro Real Estate
For more than 50 years, Key Allegro Real Estate has been the company to turn to when it comes to buying or selling property in the tri-county area. Key Allegro Real Estate’s mission is to effectively assist people in realizing their real estate dreams. They focus on marketing properties on the waterfronts, the golf course and all along the Coastal Bend.
Their commitment extends to buyers and seller of luxury homes, vintage cottages, condominiums, home sites, new and planned developments, acreage, investment properties and vacation rentals. Buyers and sellers who place their confidence in the company are assured of small-town friendly service balanced with cosmopolitan-style marketing.
Key Allegro Real Estate brokers and sales associates are consummate professionals who are dedicated to high standards of excellence the investment in the community extends to more than just selling property. They are proud to be participating partners and sponsors of programs provided by cultural, historical and recreational organizations. Their sales staff and associates are actively involved with nonprofit organizations, churches, education and art programs, health issues, the Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Aransas County and many other organizations throughout the area.
Key Allegro Real Estate Company has been involved with Leadership Aransas County since Broker, Carla Rinche, graduated in II in 1998. A number of KARE agents have graduated and gone on to leadership roles in the community. For more information, call Key Allegro Real Estate at (361) 729-3691 or visit www.keyallegro.com.
Richard Dias Construction Co.
Since 1983, Richard Dias Construction, Inc. has been designing and building uniquely attractive and durable structures in the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Rather than utilizing a few “cookie-cutter” designs, Dias Construction works with customers to provide finished product in styles from Mediterranean to Moderns as well as creating totally unique designs reflecting the customer’s individual vision.
Richard Dias Construction Co., Inc. is a full-service construction company based in Rockport. The company prides itself on reputation, attention to detail and architectural class, design and workmanship. The company designs, plans and builds custom-designed structures and remodeling. They strive for the highest level of integrity in their work with both suppliers and customers.
Richard Dias Construction creates outstanding result’s combining design vision with construction skill and business management. They make unique results seem routine.
They are proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the Chamber. Contact Richard Dias at (361) 729-1006 or richard@diasconstruction.com. Visit www.diasconstruction.com for more information.