Have you heard of this pizza place called Papa Murphy's? Me neither. My wife and son were out running some errands when they came across this place in the HEB shopping center at 1604 and Culebra. The theme is Take 'N' Bake Pizza.
So I walk in the door after work this evening and the house smells incredibly wonderful like maybe my wife had a huge lasagna in the oven or something. Turns out, they had just pulled out this Papa Murphy's pizza that was loaded with about a pound of cheese, sausage, pepperoni and I don't know what else, but I couldn't even wait to ask who, what, when or where, I just grabbed a piece and guided it toward my gullet. I swear, the piece weighed about a pound!
In the oven was another pie, some version of cheese bread and it was equally awesome.
So the deal is, these people don't have an oven. You go in and order the type of crust, whatever toppings etc, they build the thing and give you heating instructions, then you take it home and cook it in your own oven. 
They also have salads and cookies too.
I'm stuffed to the point of needing a nap, but you should give it a try.
Definitely worthy of mulitple Tasty Treats.
You may recall back in mid-July, I offered free advice to developers on two locations where they could make some big bucks. Well, I have an update on one of the locations.
At the corner of Timber Path and Grissom where you have Stacy's Sports Bar on one side and Speedway Sports Bar on the other, I have learned that a church of some sort has purchased the large end part of the building that used to be Coyote's. My suggestion was a Peter Piper Pizza, but I guess a church will do. A lady standing out front did tell me the name of the church, something to do with flowing river or something like that, but I couldn't catch it and she was on a cell call so I didn't want to bother her.
I think this church will make a great addition to the strip center, but I hope that a year from now, they don't forget that they purchased property in between two heavily used bars and in front of a graffiti filled skate park. I wish them luck in their mission.
I still don't have a lock on the other location. I had suggested a Starbucks in front of HEB at the corner of Tezel/Grissom/Culebra, but whatever it is going to be, has not posted a sign or permits. I drove by this morning with the intention of asking a worker, but there was no workers, just a fresh slab.
If you know what the business is, tell me about it - my wife is dying to know!
UPDATE: Reader Rick e-mailed me to advise that he stopped and asked workers who were laying the slab shown here, and they say it is going to be a Chase Bank. Sorry Starbucks fans. Nobody ever takes my advice!
UPDATE2: Reader Gus reports that he was told that the guys laying the slab were putting in a Wells Fargo Bank! Do you suppose the construction workers are trying to mess with us all? At this rate, it just may end up being a Starbucks!
Every so often, I like to offer up a bit of free advice to developers who may be looking for an investment. What I'm about to tell you is free for you to use, and I ask for nothing in return, though you may wish to give me credit, but again, I don't require it.
There are two places along Grissom Road that could be hugely successful money making locations if they would be put to the right use. One of these locations seems to have something being done to it, so my advice may be too late. That is the empty space in front of the HEB at Tezel/Grissom/Culebra.
The second space was the original HEB from about 20 years ago located at the corner of Timber Path and Grissom. The place has been used as a dance club but long ago lost its attractiveness when it went out of business as Coyotes. Follow-up efforts to use the huge space as different types of clubs didn't work out because the place is too big to run (A/C wise) without having it packed with patrons. Unfortunately, even if the place is packed by smaller standards, (say 75 to 100 people) it seems empty because the space is so big - when a place seems empty, nobody wants to return because they think they are the only saps who find the place attractive, and therefore, must be nerds. This is why the two new bars that have opened on either side of it (Staceys on one side and Speedway on the other) seem to be very successful. They are small enough to be packed all the time.
My two suggestions: Starbucks in front of HEB and Peter Piper Pizza where the old Coyotes was.
You could put Starbucks on all four corners of any intersection and they would all be successful. That is a no brainier. But the closest Starbucks to this area is on Bandera, with another on 151 and another on Potranco. Are you kidding me?
The Peter Piper Pizza took even less thought. A while back, we attended a kid's party at the PPP on Bandera. They serve beer, they serve pizza and they have kids games. How could you go wrong? Now, think about it in this area. You have all the residents from the entire Great Northwest and other surrounding residential areas nearby. And for the parents who want to drop off their kids at a party but are shy about having the other families see them get liquored up - simply go into Stacey's Sports bar right next door or The Speedway on the other side.
Sheer brilliance!
There you have it folks. Free advice. I'm also available for free advice to city planners, mall store consultation and other general advice.
Have you heard of this pizza place called Papa Murphy's? Me neither. My wife and son were out running some errands when they came across this place in the HEB shopping center at 1604 and Culebra. The theme is Take 'N' Bake Pizza.
They also have salads and cookies too.
