Galveston’s business community is growing fast and gearing up for high season. Five new businesses have opened in time for Spring break, which hits its stride on the island mid-month, from March 8-16. 

 Two new restaurants have opened that serve breakfast and lunch, albeit on different ends of the island. Both are owned and operated by long-time Galveston residents, are family-friendly, and celebrate local cuisine. One is just west of downtown Galveston, and the other is in the island’s west-end subdivision of Evia.

 After a hearty meal at either of the new eateries, spend a lazy afternoon browsing the shelves of downtown’s newest bookstore or enroll the kids in one of its story time classes. 

 Wind down your afternoon at a new safe haven for holistic healing through art. Or book a photography session in a fresh and unique creative space. End the day with a visit to Galveston’s newest museum, which celebrates the history of surfing in Texas. 

 Galveston Monthly Magazine is as diverse as the island it covers - there is something for everyone, regardless of what interests you. Whether you’re looking for great food, a unique boutique, or a fun place to pass the time, check GM before planning your day on the island.  

Basin Bistro Opens in Evia
Restaurateur Dennis Byrd has opened a new eatery in the west-end neighborhood of Evia, in the space where Lil’ Buffalo Grille was located. Byrd, the owner of The Spot restaurants, offers a very different atmosphere and menu at Basin Bistro than his other restaurants. 

 “This new restaurant has a coastal feel and is serving healthier eats like our breakfast bowls that are not offered anywhere else,” he said. Basin Bistro is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and the new menu includes acai and Greek yogurt bowls with fresh fruit and chia seed pudding made from coconut milk, fresh berries, almonds, and honey.

 Additional breakfast items include popular toasts like avocado, smoked salmon, banana nut, and berry ricotta. For a heartier morning meal, guests can try berry baked French toast, chicken and waffles, breakfast tacos or enchiladas, omelets, honey butter chicken biscuits, and a customer favorite, Tres leches pancakes.

 Basin Bistro has indoor seating for 40 guests and outdoor, lakeside seating for about the same. The restaurant has a fresh new look with new flooring, décor, and tables. Umbrellas and sun sails cover outdoor tables for a total seating capacity of about 90 guests.

 The lunch menu features unique items not seen in his other endeavors. For example, guests can enjoy crab empanadas, edamame hummus, Korean cauliflower, and truffle fries, a fan favorite, at Basin Bistro. Other lunch items include shrimp ceviche, fish tacos, tuna bowl, flatbreads, and several beautifully executed salads.

 When the original The Spot on Seawall Blvd. opened in the late 1990s, the restaurateur worked as a busboy. Upon graduating from Louisiana State University, the owners, Diane and Marion Duzich, offered Byrd the opportunity to lease the restaurant with the option to buy.

 “This was my very first job in the industry, and I didn’t even know what lease-to-buy meant. I put myself through college by working here and wanted to give ownership a shot,” he said. 

 In 2005, he opened the first bar, followed by three more bars on the property in 2009, 2010, and 2011, to create the “Island Famous” concept on the same Gulf-front property. 

 Byrd purchased then revamped and opened his first hotel, Doubletree by Hilton in 2014 and built his second hotel from the ground up, Holiday Express, in 2019. He opened his second “Spot” in League City at the end of 2023 and the third in Hobby Airport in 2024. 

 Byrd was born and raised on the island and lives in Evia with his wife and three sons. His wife, Michelle, is also a business owner, opening the Beauty Bar in Evia in 2024. 

 He is a generous and giving member of the Galveston community and employs approximately 500 locals in his restaurants and hotels. 

 Basin Bistro is located at 13 Evia Main. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm and Friday through Sunday from 8am to 7pm. For more information, visit www.basinbistro.com. 

 Famale Restaurant Opens on West Market
If you’re a fan of Mexican food, especially tamales, you’ll want to stop in the new Famale Mexican restaurant on Market Street. The new restaurant is run by long-time Galveston resident Nancy Saint-Paul who specializes in tamales created from several family recipes.

 “Our tamale masa fresca is made from Texas-sourced heirloom (non-GMO) corn that we prepare using the traditional nixtamal method. This results in a more flavorful and nutritious tamale than those made with masa harina,” said restaurant consultant Bill Donaldson. 

 

 Tamales are made fresh daily and sold individually, by the dozen, or on a combination plate. They are also on the menu at several area restaurants.

 The surprise breakfast burrito is one of their most popular items. They also sell gorditas, quesadillas, soups, tacos, charro, beans with rice, and Tres leches cake. 

Saint-Paul lives in downtown Galveston, and the restaurant’s staff live locally too. She and her husband owned a stained-glass studio on the island for over a decade before opening Famales in January. 

 The menu is evolving daily, with different specials, including fusion foods like Mexican lasagna. Check social media and menu boards for new features, chef recommendations, and seasonal selections.

 Famale is located in the trendy WEMA District at 2909 Market Street. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 2pm. For more information call 409.739.2727. 

 Then and Now Bookshop Offers Personal Service
Owner Lori Matthews wants to return the “magical bookshop experience” to the Galveston community.

 “I know you can find books online or in the big box stores, but a bookshop offers a personal experience. Browsing the bookshelves, holding a book, reading about the description, or falling in love with the cover art is something you can only find in an actual bookstore,” Matthews said.

 “Customers can speak to the owner, the employees, or even other shoppers in the store about books they might not have heard of before and discover something that sparks an interest they didn’t even know they had.” 

 Matthews is an avid reader and life-long lover of books. She was a preschool teacher and pre-K librarian for 30 years at Moody Methodist School.

 “Literacy and story times were my passions. Still are,” she said. “I love sharing my love of books with people. I love sharing what’s new in the market, what others are reading, and what favorite backlist title they think I should carry in the store.” 

 Matthews ran a pop-up bookstore around the island for a year and a half before opening Then & Now Bookshop on Postoffice Street at the end of 2024. The location is in the center of Galveston’s business district, next to MOD Coffeehouse.

 “We get a lot of [walk-in] visitors like cruise ship travelers and beachgoers who wander in looking for a book to take on their cruise or to read by the pool or beach,” Matthews said. 

 Parents love the shop’s story time events, and they often come in to read to their children or let them play with the puzzles or blocks that are always available. 

“Locals pop in looking for their next read, or if I don’t have what they’re looking for, they will order from us rather than online,” she said. 

 “I would love to take care of any local book clubs looking for their next good read,” she added. 

 Her husband is a native Galvestonian. She moved here in 1991, and they raised their children on the island. One of her daughters is a local esthetician in Galveston, and another owns Kimmy’s Boutique. 

 The bookshop is open at night during Galveston’s monthly ArtWalks that are now held on the second Saturday of each month.

 “There is something truly magical about visiting a bookshop at night,” Matthews said. 

 During monthly ArtWalks, a local author will usually be set up in the shop, signing and discussing their books. In February, story times for toddlers and preschoolers were at 10:30am. Check social media for future class schedules, or call 409.502.2234 for more information. 

 Then & Now Bookshop is located at 2118 Postoffice Street. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. 

 A Haven for Artists and Holistic Healing
Dr. Cassandra Lockhart invites you to her new space on Stewart Road, where you can embark on a journey of creativity and healing. Creative Spaces of Captured Moments' mission is to provide a welcoming and relaxing environment where guests can explore the transformative power of art and various healing modalities. 

“Whether you are seeking unique artwork from our local artists or soothing benefits of our Artist’s Cove, Reiki or crystal healing sessions, massages, sound therapy, and more, we’re here to support your path to wellness and self-discovery,” Lockhart said. 

 Creative Spaces also includes in-studio and location photography packages run by Lockhart’s daughter, Charita King.

 “Our goal is to provide a space that inspires transformative moments, captured in creativity while promoting holistic well-being,” Lockhart said.

 “We have created a sanctuary for individuals to explore their creativity and connect with their inner selves. By blending art, healing, and personal growth, we seek to empower clients to express themselves authentically and foster a community that values creativity as a pathway to well-being.” 

 Creative Spaces of Captured Moments creates a “one-of-a-kind environment” where creativity and spirituality coexist. King is a skilled photographer who can capture these special moments on camera, enhancing the overall experience and providing clients with lasting memories on and off-site. 

 Creative Spaces offers a unique brand of services and merchandise designed to enrich the well-being of its customers.

 “We provide a space where artists can display their work and products,” she said. They also offer Reiki and crystal healing sessions and other modalities to promote relaxation. 

 “Each visit is a transformational experience celebrating artistry and wellness, ensuring you leave with cherished moments and a renewed sense of self,” added Lockhart. 

 Dr. Lockhart is a retired Galveston resident living on the west end. She is originally from St. Louis, MO, and works as a part-time recreation aide for Galveston. She provides art instruction and creative art projects to youth and children at Wright Cuney Recreation Center. 

 With a robust background as an artist and author, Lockhart founded CALockhart LLC in 2020 to showcase her books and artwork. She earned her PhD in metaphysical science, which offers a unique perspective to foster art, creativity, and healing. She is also a certified Reiki master and crystal healer.

 Creative Spaces of Captured Moments is located at 6615 Stewart Road, Suite 108. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 7pm. Photography and therapy sessions are by appointment. For more information or to schedule a session, call 409.290.5764.

 

 Celebrating All Things Surf
Texas Surf Museum opened recently in downtown Galveston and is run by a great team of executive and advisory board members with extensive knowledge of surfing in Texas.

 “Our business mission is to enlighten the world about the unique culture and history of Texas Surfing,” said the president of the executive board, Kelly Daugherty.  

“We also want to encourage our community to experience the fun, accessible, and healthy lifestyle of surfing and related board sports. Further, we want to educate folks about proper conservation practices to protect and preserve the Texas Gulf Coast's beaches, bays, and waterways,” she said.

 Texas Surf Museum’s top priority is providing the public with the opportunity to educate themselves and experience the surfing lifestyle and history unique to the Lone Star State. The museum is a place where surf enthusiasts reflect on the joy of surfing and the curious learn about the sport. 

 “Visitors will learn about the uniqueness of the Texas Gulf Coast surfing scene, past and present” added Daugherty. 

 The museum showcases the history of surfboards, skateboards, and other alternative surf craft. According to Daugherty, almost everything in these exhibits was made in Texas. 

 They also have T-shirts, surf art, and other artifacts on display and a retail space selling Texas Surf Museum-branded merchandise, such as hats, stickers, T-shirts, towels, and vintage shirts.

 They do not offer classes currently. However, they are developing an educational field trip program for elementary and middle school students.

 Everyone on the executive board is a surfer from Texas with various business backgrounds, including hospitality, insurance, retail, technology, and banking. 

Daugherty lives in Austin but also has a house on the island's west end and typically spends 10 days a month in Galveston. Fellow board members Jeff Seinsheimer and Bobo Conde were born on the island and live nearby. Steven Lea lives in Boerne but has a second home in Surfside and is also a board member. 

Galveston is the birthplace of surfing in Texas. In the 1930s, Daugherty said that Leroy Colombo, the legendary Galveston lifeguard who set a record in the Guinness Book of World Records by saving 907 lives, taught a young Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz how to surf on a hollow wooden board. 

 Paskowitz would eventually become a world famous professional surfer who founded a surf camp in California. He and his family have been referred to as the "First Family of Surfing.” 

 The museum is for everyone, both young and old, whether you are an experienced surfer or just curious about the sport of surfing. They have interactive exhibits that showcase the history of surfing in Texas and educate the public on how waves and hurricanes are formed. They also have infographics on proper conservation to protect our beaches, bays, and sea life.

 Surfers and supporters from all over Texas have donated valuable artifacts to the museum, including significant surfboards, trophies, surf art, rare photographs, vintage surf clothing, and more.

 “Your interest, enthusiasm, and generous support will keep the Texas Surf Museum going and growing. Please come visit us soon,” she said. 

 In addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum has a temporary exhibit of rare Henry Fry and Mack Blaker surfboards on display through the end of May. 

Texas Surf Museum is located at 2110 Mechanic Street. Its hours of operation are seasonal. The museum is currently open from Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm, until the end of March when they will increase days and hours open. 

 For more information, visit www.thetexassurfmuseum.org or call 409.409.SURF.