Galveston’s got a bustling shopping and restaurant district and GM is pleased to be able to keep its readers up to date on what’s new and cool around the island. Whether you are looking for a sassy boutique or a bite to eat, be sure to check What’s New before planning your day.

Mom’s Farm to Table
This one-stop shop is part country store, part grocery and the only local farm-to-table market in Galveston. Owner Chasity Gibson offers customers organic vegetables, nuts, fresh baked goods, and specialty foodstuffs that are Texas grown and locally produced. Gibson also offers products from local chefs and grocers, such as sconces, kolaches, and prepared meals by Mary Bass’ La Cocina; jams, jellies, pickles, pickled vegetables, and home-canned tomatoes by Trish Wooten’s All That Jam; spices, marinades, and pasta from Maceo Spice and Import Company, freshly baked artisanal bread from Houston’s Magnol French Bakery, and much, much more.

The grocery, Gibson said, is named after the many moms in her life that have passionately worked to put quality meats and produce on their tables. “From my great grandmother Frances, to my grandmothers Pam and Jane, to my own mom Nancy, there was always an emphasis put on eating fresh food,” she said.

The east end Galveston resident speaks passionately about her new business: “We are a neighborhood grocery store, building community around locally sourced and organic produce and homemade products. It is my mission to impact our local economy and my vision to educate people on the importance of how their food is made and where it comes from,” she said.

“I hope to inspire others, to start a sort of food revolution, and create new distribution channels for our local farmers and ranchers.”

Jamaica Beach resident and All That Jam owner Trish Wooten is excited to be part of Mom’s. “The opening of Moms Farm to Table is absolutely wonderful for Galveston. Having the ability to regularly obtain locally sourced, real food is such a gift. Chasity has created a very special spot for folks to grab some great food, sit with a cup of delicious coffee and visit with friends. The shop is reminiscent of the historic neighborhood grocery,” Wooten said.

 

Gibson comes from a long line of Texas ranchers and farmers and was raised on fresh vegetables grown on family land and quality, ranch-raised meats. After a decade of working in the tech industry, she was ready to go back to her family roots.

Why Galveston? Why Now? “Because Galveston has always been a second home to me and my daughter requested we move to the island a couple of years ago. We’ve been happy islanders ever since. The East End has a unique, small-town community feel; everyone knows each other. It’s perfect for a business like Mom’s that is built on community and sustainable values.”

Future plans include a Saturday night supper club in August -- an RSVP only, limited-seating meal, in a social format.

“We’ll have island chefs prepare beautiful meals from local, seasonal ingredients, all served around a large table of friends. Galveston is home to quite a few incredibly talented chefs and I’m looking forward to featuring and working with as many as I can, providing them a creative platform in an intimate setting.”

Mom’s Farm to Table market is located at 1127 Postoffice Street at the corner of 12th Street. For more information, call 409.220.3921 or visit www.momsfarmtotable.com.

iStay Vacations, LLC
This boutique property management company for vacation rentals is owned and operated by business and life partners April Morris and Rodney Kieke. With more than 25 years of experience in the Texas real estate and corporate housing industries, iStay Vacations, LLC was the perfect fit for these two island residents.

Morris was born in Houston, where her dad was a chemist for Uncle Ben's Rice and has lived in Breckenridge and San Antonio, Texas as well as Santa Monica, California where she worked for a property management company. After opening up three start-ups for other companies, Morris opened her own corporate housing company, which was very successful for 14 years.

Kieke is a native Texan and A&M alum who had a celebrated career in the facilities management/business services industry and served as a city manager and economic development manager in counties in Texas.

The couple’s distinct backgrounds make them highly qualified to run a rental property management firm.

“My entire career has been helping people who are traveling to new areas and are unfamiliar with new surroundings. I pride myself on helping guests feel comfortable, at ease, and taken care of. For many years, I catered to the corporate traveler, and specialized in relocation. I understand that guests deserve to feel at home,” Morris said.

Recently, they moved the boutique management company to their dream location in Galveston; paying special attention to the intricacies and nuances of property management, guest satisfaction, and home health.

“There was no better time to follow my dreams and utilize my skills and abilities to help home owners experience a professional, hands-on property manager. We offer open communication and a unique, personal style of service and management,” Morris said.

iStay Vacations, LLC manages more than a dozen properties throughout the island and are looking to build up to 25. “Our goal is not to be the biggest,” Morris said, “but to provide a hands-on, elevated experience for our guests and owners.” iStay has maintained a 5-star rating since they opened.

The Hendley Market Lofts is a client. Patricia Smothers, owner of Hendley Market and the loft properties, said: “We have been very pleased since we switched the management of the Hendley Market Lofts vacation rentals to iStay. The attention to detail, overall care, communication, and responsiveness have consistently been excellent. iStay has made a real difference in our overall success.”

Future plans for Morris and Kieke will include services of a newly formed company, Gulf Coast Home Watch, making them an all-encompassing, full-service property management solution.

“We offer piece of mind to homeowners, that are not local by being their eyes, ears, and their boots on the ground. We work hand in hand with owners to ensure their home is at its optimal health level, regardless of it being a second home or a vacation rental,” Morris said.

For more information, call iStay Vacations, LLC at 409.444.3800 or visit www.istayvacations.com.

Chilango’s Brothers Taco Shop
Brothers, business partners, and island residents Isaias and Efrain Herrera moved to Galveston to realize their dream of opening a restaurant featuring authentic, scratch-made food from Mexico City, with the freshest local ingredients.

“We fell in love with Galveston and traveled here often,” said Isaias. “It was always a dream of mine to cook authentic food from my home city and introduce it to people. Things recently fell into place and I felt like it was my moment in time to do this and we also felt there was a need in Galveston for the specialty dishes from Mexico City.”

Isaias grew up in a family of 12, in extreme poverty, and is very grateful for the opportunities that the United States has afforded him and his family. “Galveston, in particular, has been very good to us and we are looking to open additional taquerias in the future,” he said.

Breads, sopas, and salsas are all scratch-made, in house. Customers can choose from several sauces: the green sauce made from tomatillos and chile de ‘arbol peppers; the red sauce made from tomatoes and a variety of dried peppers; and the roasted salsa made from roasted tomatillos and peppers. Tell your server the level of heat you want, and they will be happy to accommodate you.

Chilango’s Brothers Taco Shop is a family-owned and run restaurant where everyone lends a helping hand. Spouses, siblings, and children work side-by-side to make this a successful business venture.

The restaurant is located at 708 Holiday Drive on the east end of Galveston. For more information, call 406.497.4426 or visit their website at www.chilangosbrotherstacoshop.com.

Are you opening a new business or creating a new branch for an established Galveston business? Send your details to info@galvestonmonthly.com.