Honoring the success and longevity of local businesses2 | The Daily News | Years of Excellence and Endurance | July 2023July 2023 | Years of Excellence and Endurance | The Daily News | 34 | The Daily News | Years of Excellence and Endurance | July 2023 T he Daily News is pleased to present the ninth annu- al Galveston County Years of Excellence and Endurance. Throughout this publication, you will see familiar faces that run lo- cal businesses within our commu- nity. These people may be your friends, neighbors, family or work associates. You might visit these local establishments on a regular basis, or you might drive by them on the way to work, knowing nothing about them. This publication focuses on their history of their business- es, allowing you to learn about their past and how far they have come since the day they opened their doors to the community. Some of these businesses are new to the area, while others are mom-and-pop stores that go back years before you were born. Many of the companies have been family-run for gener- ations, and they plan to keep it that way for years to come. The owners and employees of these local establishments work day and night to ensure that their customers are happy. They do this not only to keep customers com- ing back, but also because they truly care about the work they do. These businesses are thriving be- cause they not only want custom- ers to have a pleasant experience, but because they care. Check out these businesses’ stories as they take you into the past and show you what’s in store for the future. THE NEWS YOU WANT DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX GALVNEWS.COM/ NEWSLETTERS Celebrate the longevity of these Galveston County businesses Stories written by Liz DavisJuly 2023 | Years of Excellence and Endurance | The Daily News | 5 EATcetera 5 years 408 25th Street, Galveston 409-762-0803 • www.velvetcheftx.com W hat started as a three-month vacation ended as an 18- year permanent move and a new business venture for Lena Pyles and Victoria Newsome. In 2005, they chose to visit Galveston to decompress from their high-stress jobs in hospitali- ty and school security. What originally was to be a vacation home in the Silk Stocking District within three months became their permanent home. DREAM CAREERS AND CHALLENGES Executive Chef Lena Pyles Pyles started cooking when she was 16 and followed her older brother to Dallas to pursue this passion. She moved up to an executive chef position at 25 and garnered accolades as a top Asian-fusion chef in Las Vegas, Atlan- ta, Austin, Dallas and Houston. While she loved the fast-paced environment, the demand of the restaurant business drove her close to burnout, and the tics she had experienced throughout her life worsened. This break in Galveston gave her time to focus on herself, and she was diagnosed with Tourette Syn- drome at 40. This diagnosis enabled her to learn more coping skills for Tourette’s and make a fresh start with a renewed passion for cooking. Head Baker Victoria Newsome While Newsome’s background is in computer programming and focused on school security, allergen-free recipes became part of her lifestyle in 1984 when she became a vegetarian. Without knowing that she suffered from auto- immune conditions, her diet kept her healthy, but the stress of being presi- dent of multiple companies took its toll. Years later, those autoimmune condi- tions became life-threatening, making a diet change a necessity. She discovered substitutes, hacks and methods for mak- ing her favorite meals through research and experimentation. She now uses these talents and her food service expe- rience to create dessert recipes for the restaurant. After all, “everyone deserves to have a delicious birthday cake.” Like many IBCs (Islander By Choice), Pyles and Newsome immediately fell in love with the island’s laid-back life- style. They are firmly rooted in Gal- veston and are now parents to a BOI (Born on the Island) teenager. While no longer a couple, they are still busi- ness and parenting partners. FACING CHALLENGES WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES As luck would have it, one of their favorite spots on the island was EAT- cetera, owned by Andrea Hunting. When Hunting retired in 2017, the duo decided this restaurant was the right fit for a new endeavor; they reopened EATcetera in February 2018. SERVING HERBIVORES, CARNIVORES AND OMNIVORES EATcetera specializes in fresh, seasonal ingredients and is open for lunch/brunch Monday through Satur- day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During ArtWalk, the restaurant opens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner selections. The restaurant offers vegan, vege- tarian and gluten-free options, plus standard fare. Pyles estimates that 50 percent of customers have specialized diets, food sensitivities and allergies. The restaurant is known for its salads, sandwiches, paninis and desserts. EATcet- era desserts are vegan and gluten-free. Ev- ery week, Pyles offers a new soup special and, every month, a new food feature. COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY, YOUTH AND SUSTAINABILITY The restaurant started the EATcet- era Youth Arts program in 2019. This program provides free exhibit space for people 18 years and younger at the restaurant during ArtWalk. Artwork is generally displayed for a month and is available for sale. Proceeds from the sale of these pieces go to the individual artist. EATcetera participates in GISD Edu- cational Foundation’s Eat-Out-for-Edu- cation Day and is a frequent sponsor for Ball High School’s sports programs, providing game-day throws and gift cer- tificates for youth-related organizations. The restaurant has an in-house re- cycling program and uses eco-friendly compostable products for its takeout orders. The restaurant also partners with Rosenberg Library, offering a loaner book program. EATCETERA EXPANDS TO RAILROAD MUSEUM EATcetera opened its second location at the Galveston Railroad Museum, 123 25th St., during Polar Express 2019. The museum asked the restaurant to remain a year-round vendor. The muse- um menu is a subset of the restaurant menu with kid-friendly options like hot dogs, hamburgers and grilled cheese. They also offer gluten-free and vegan substitutes at the museum. This second location is open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the summer season, and restaurant patrons are not required to pay museum admission. Now, EATcetera and the Galveston Railroad Museum host an EATcetera Kid Zone during ArtWalk evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The museum offers free admission and $10 train rides, while EATcetera provides bounce houses and games for children 12 and younger with an accompanying adult. In addition, as part of the Youth Arts Program, art from student groups is displayed in the museum. EVENTS AT EATCETERA The restaurant is expanding its offer- ings to host private events in the eve- nings. The entire restaurant and sidewalk café are available for private events. Schedule a call to discuss options. Pyles, Newsome and their daughter, Presley, are grateful to make their vaca- tion spot a permanent home and to be an active part of this community. Pictured are Executive Chef Lena Pyles, right, Head Baker Victoria Newsome, left, and their daughter, Presley Pyles.6 | The Daily News | Years of Excellence and Endurance | July 2023 I n 1892, Charles R. Brown opened a small insurance agency in the Gill and League Building in down- town Galveston. Fast-forward 131 years and that small agency has become GIA Insurance with two offices, specialized departments for Personal, Business and Employee Benefits coverage and a staff of 40 professionals with the ability to work from almost anywhere. GIA was selected as the only agency in Galveston County to be part of an elite group of 267 independent insur- ance agencies around the United States participating in the 2019 Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) “Best Practices” Study Group. The agency retained its “Best Practices” status each of the past three years. In 2022, GIA was named GIA Insurance 6025 Heards Lane, Galveston • 211 W. Edgewood Drive, Suite 200, Friendswood • 409-740-1251 • 281-442-1892 • www.gia-tx.com one of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in Insurance. As an Independent Insurance Agency, GIA has access to many of the best and most highly respected insurance companies. That allows the agency to give clients options for their coverage. Based on GIA’s experiences during hurricanes Alicia, Allison, Ike, Harvey and Winter Storm Uri, the agency’s Catastrophe Plan assures that staff is safe and available to clients when they are needed the most — at claim time. GIA’s staff, proud of living up to their motto of “Service before and after the storm,” is able to work remotely as easily as being in the office. GIA communicates regularly with clients and the public via Facebook and Twitter, as well as other electronic notifications to clients. Using DocuSign and ePay gives clients convenient op- tions to do business with GIA. 131 yearsJuly 2023 | Years of Excellence and Endurance | The Daily News | 7 Galveston Railroad Museum 40 years 2602 Santa Fe Place, Galveston • 409-765-5700 www.GalvestonRailroadMuseum.org T he Galveston Center for Trans- portation and Commerce, Galveston Railroad Museum, was founded 40 years ago by Galves- ton philanthropist and visionary Mary Moody Northen with support from the Moody Foundation. Her dedication to restoration and love of history saved Galveston’s Union Depot from demo- lition and transformed it into a living history museum for future gen- erations to experience. One of only two remaining art-deco build- ings on the island, the 11-story building grandly sits at the head of the Historic Strand District on 25th and Strand streets. The ground floor, once the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Union Passenger Depot, is home to one of the top five railroad museums in the nation where Galveston’s rich history in transportation is on display. Visitors to the Galveston Railroad Muse- um enter through the completely restored train depot to admire the grand marble floors, light fixtures, columns, wood benches, news stand and ticket office. Greeting visitors in the train depot are The Ghosts of Travelers Past. The prom- inent white sculptures, commissioned by the museum in 1981, were created by renowned artists Elliot and Ivan Schwartz, of EIS Studios, New York. Serving as story tellers, the statues’ conversations may be overheard in the vintage telephone booths by lifting a handset. At an ever-bustling 1932 train depot, travelers from all walks of life, bound for their own destinations, con- gregated here to board their respective trains. If some appear familiar, it may be so, as live models were used to de- pict the travelers. Visitors will see the faces of the artists, their family and ac- quaintances among the statues, whose models posed for up to five hours with the use of wires to help support them and straws to breathe through. Right outside the door, the five-acre railyard becomes an interactive expe- rience where boarding trains is en- couraged to better appreciate 19th and 20th century technology. Climb into the engineer seat to imagine the power of steam-driven engines, toot the horn or take a ride on a caboose! The rolling stock railcars, the museum’s exhibits, are what make this a unique experience where you can step inside a traveling post office and imagine the mail being delivered to your town, walk through a dining car, various sleeping and passen- ger cars and feel the magic of rail travel. RIDE A TRAIN Harborside Express Train Rides run each weekend, weather permitting, and rides may be reserved for groups. The Galveston Railroad Museum hosts more than 200,000 visitors annu- ally. and continues to grow and expand programs and exhibits. From student field trips, special needs sensory tours, to continuing education and certifica- tion through the University of Tennes- see, the museum is used for classes, workshops, dinners, family reunions, weddings and kids’ birthday parties. Annual events hosted by the organi- zation are RailFest, Model Train Rally on April 27–28, Steampunk Festival on April 6, Rail Baron’s Ball, Orient Express: Paris to Vienna on Oct. 7 and the holiday extravaganza, The Polar Ex- press Train Ride from Nov. 10 to Dec. 22. Polar Express tickets go on sale to members only beginning Aug. 1 and the general public Aug. 21. New exhibits include “Dining in Style — Railroad Porcelain China and Silver Collection” and “Traveling the World on a City at Sea: The Story of the Battle- ship Texas,” complemented by film and presentations in the mini-auditorium. Soon to open are two large scale model train exhibits located in the Theater Building and the Arthur R. Carmody Library. The Carmody Library, built in a repurposed Amtrak luggage car, is a fully mobile restored railcar that, when completed, will be available to scholars, researchers and museum members by appointment and, on occa- sion, may travel to other cities on good- will tours. When necessary, the railcar can be used for emergency evacuation of rare documents and artifacts. Watch for the grand opening coming soon. SLEEP ON A TRAIN The Galveston Railroad Museum’s Rail Hotel offers the ultimate experience in luxury overnight accommodation. Choose from one of two luxury cars, Bonnie Brooke or Silver Foot, for a unique indulgence. Each car can sleep up to 10 people and are complete with internet and Wi-Fi, gallery kitchenette, large sitting and dining area, porter service and complimentary parking. Vir- tual tours of each car are online. www. GalvestonRailroadMuseum.org The museum is growing and invites you along for the ride. If you have not visited in a while, the museum cordially invites you to see what is new. Consider joining as a member to enjoy the many benefits of membership. 8 | The Daily News | Years of Excellence and Endurance | July 2023 S ixty-three years later and Gal- veston Limousine is still here. This little company has survived a lot including hurricanes Ike in 2008, Katrina in 2005 and Harvey in 2017 to name a few. Then came the craziest hurricane of all: COVID-19. Many of its fellow transportation companies were not able to weather that one. The company believes the grace of God and its dedicated and loyal employees and customers are responsible for its survival through the tough times. The business had em- ployees willing to work when others weren’t. They stepped up to the plate and helped the company make it. The business also had loyal clients willing to continue traveling on a regular basis through the past two years. When service started in 1960, Galves- ton Limousine was the first of its kind, with a mission to get people to and from the airports for a great rate while maintaining the highest levels of safety and service. Initially a division of Texas Bus Lines, Galveston Limousine has the distinction of being the oldest limousine and transporta- tion service in Texas. Through customer loyalty and determina- tion to provide reliable trans- portation, this family-owned and operated business has innovated and adapted to the ever-changing marketplace. The company continues to grow but has reverted to it origin as primarily a bus company. In the last few years, Galveston Limousine has expanded service into Houston and surrounding areas by distinguishing itself as one of the few companies with exceptional drivers. A reputation for dependabili- ty has made Galveston Limousine the premiere choice for many local com- panies, schools and churches. It has maintained long-standing relationships with businesses in the oil, gas and aerospace industries. Now that the business has learned to live with COVID and has been locked down for three years, people are ready to get out and go. All the schools and col- leges are back to traveling. Church conferences and camps are back on schedule. Galveston Limousine is taking many groups cross country to Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, West Virginia, Missouri and, of course, all over Texas. Join the business for a journey with one of Galveston Limousine’s wonder- ful drivers at the helm of a vehicle that seats up to 56 people. Amenities, in- cluding reclining seats, 110 outlets and easily accessed restrooms, make trips more comfortable for riders of any age. Charter a bus for school trips, church camps, sporting events, corporate gatherings, family retreats, weddings or anything else you can dream up. Galveston Limousine’s private car services offer a higher level of service with a variety of vehicle choices. Opt for a sedan, SUV, Mercedes Sprinter van, mini coach or motorcoach. Galveston Limousine offers elegant transportation for all events. The business continues to offer shared shuttle service to both airports. Service runs multiple times a day to and from Galveston Island. This clean and affordable shared transporta- tion offers customers the ease of travel without the hassle and worry of airport parking. You can book a trip to or from Bush Intercontinental or Hobby airports online at galvestonlimo.com. 5225 Ave. U, Galveston • 409-744-5466 www.galvestonlimo.com Galveston Limousine Service 63 yearsJuly 2023 | Years of Excellence and Endurance | The Daily News | 9 WHAT WE PROVIDE: 426 WINNIE ST., GALVESTON, TEXAS 77550 A s the proverbial “new kid on the block,” Norris D. Burkley Professional Services is already making its mark in Galveston County and beyond. Founded by Norris D. Burkley II in June 2022, the business has been provid- ing tailored products and services to the families it serves with exceptional care and attentiveness. Since its inception, Norris D. Burkley Professional Services has been quickly becoming the go-to for unprecedented assistance during a time when people need it most. Burkley began his business career as a student at the Commonwealth Insti- tute of Funeral Service. After complet- ing his studies there, he received his Funeral Director and Embalmer License in October 2012. In June 2013, he also received his Associate of Applied Sci- ences degree, which would help him Norris D. Burkley Professional Services 1 year 426 Winnie St., Galveston • 409-373-9118 www.norrisdburkley.com toward his goal of becoming an owner and operator of his own funeral home. Under the leadership and guidance of the Rev. E. R. Johnson, Burkley worked and learned the ins and outs of the funeral home business, such as embalming, ser- vicing families at their time of loss and so much more. It was through this experience that prepared Burkley to bring his dream to fruition in the spring of 2022 to much fanfare. “I’ll forever be indebted to John- son, who was not only my mentor, but more importantly, a true friend,” Burkley said. “I was able to take all that he had taught me, as well as a lot of prayer and direction from wise counsel, which has allowed me and my staff to be able to serve with excellence.” Johnson mentored Burkley until his un- timely death in 2021. However, Dr. Barry J.W. “The Shepherd” Franklin, Dr. Troy B. Smith and The John Humphrey, all giants in the fu- neral home arenas, took Burkley under their wings and the rest is history. “I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for the guidance and direction that these men and others have given me,” Burkley said. “I’ve gained so much knowledge and a better under- standing on operating a business and the many ups and downs that are asso- ciated with it, too.” In addition to providing burials, entombments, inurnments, cremations and funerals, Norris D. Burkley Pro- fessional Services also offers oppor- tunities to design your own services through pre-planned options, as well as veteran services for those who’ve served our country. Things such as planning for flowers, obituaries, programs, videos, various keepsakes and so much more are available in-person at its office, 426 Winnie St. in Galveston, via its website at norrisdburkley.com or by calling 409-373-9118. Burkley’s staff of about 20 associ- ates provide a plethora of knowledge and service that allows the business to honor its mission of “Celebrating a life, one family at a time, tailored to your needs” in a professional way that is unmatched. “I’m proud to say that I have the best staff in this industry,” Burkley said. “Our mission statement isn’t just words. We live by them and consider it an honor and privilege to serve.”Next >