Farmers Market Every Thursday
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Jazz on the Street – The Foundation for Economic Development
Help us Jazz up Weslaco! Event will be held on the 23rd of February – rescheduled from the 16th because of rain
The purpose of Alfresco Weslaco – Jazz on the Street is to market and promote Weslaco as a community where people want to live and do business in. The plan is to use jazz and art as a foundation for 100% occupancy of the Central Business District.
Today, location decisions for both business and where people want to live is, in large part, driven by the viability of a community. What differentiates one community from another? That is where the arts and culture come into play.Weslaco’s uniqueness is the heart, soul, and image of the community, represented by the Central Business District, ever changing and still full of life.
Jazz and art attract a sophisticated audience with above average income, professionals, and business leaders. Jazz fused with art is a key component for marketing and branding Weslaco.
The objective is to bring people into the heart of the city for an evening of relaxation and a soft sell of the opportunities and advantages that Weslaco offers.
Weslaco is alive, doing well, and open for business. Alfresco Weslaco – Jazz on the Street demonstrates all three. This is economic development.
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ALFRESCO WESLACO POSTPONED TILL THE 23RD!
MEDIA ALERT
The Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco
Contact: Alicia Aguilar
Address: 305 W. Railroad Phone: 956-969-0838
Weslaco, TX 78596 Website: www.weslaconow.comFebruary 15, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alfresco Weslaco Postponed
WESLACO – Alfresco Weslaco – Jazz on the Street will be postponing Thursday evening’s event due to weather conditions. The event will be held on Thursday February 23 on Texas Blvd.
Alfresco Weslaco is an event held outdoors with live music, food and art. Alicia Aguilar with the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco said the National Weather Service predicts an 80% chance of rain with significant rainfall. “It is better to be safe than sorry. Valley weather changes and I’m sure next week will be beautiful. Of course we welcome the rain, the drought affects the economy and we are hopeful this rain helps us get over this hump,” Aguilar said.The purpose of Alfresco Weslaco – Jazz on the Street is to market and promote Weslaco as a community where people want to live and do business in. The plan is to use jazz and art as a foundation for 100% occupancy of the Central Business District.
Today, location decisions for both business and where people want to live is, in large part, driven by the viability of a community. What differentiates one community from another? That is where the arts and culture come into play.
The objective is to bring people into the heart of the city for an evening of relaxation and a soft sell of the opportunities and advantages that Weslaco offers.
Weslaco is alive, doing well, and open for business. Alfresco Weslaco – Jazz on the Street demonstrates all three. Weslaco’s economy is diverse and expanding. -
Charter Flights to begin at Mid Valley Airport
Great FRONT PAGE story in today’s Monitor! February 1, 2012
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TDIndustries Opens Newest Location in Industrial Park
One of Fortune Magazine’s top 100 places to work now has an office in Weslaco’s Industrial Park to serve their clients in the border region.
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Front Door Reopened at Weslaco Landmark Retailer
The day I moved into Weslaco, I discovered a treasure in downtown Weslaco, a hometown hardware store. I thought it was odd that there wasn’t a front door, but I still shopped there.
A staple in downtown since 1919, the hardware store has reopened their front doors on Missouri. Folks, let me tell you, if you haven’t been to Borderland Hardware lately, then you really haven’t been.
I didn’t mind entering from the alley side, I didn’t know any different since the front doors were closed sometime before I came to this community.But WOW! It really makes a difference. It is bright and cheery making it a great shopping experience. You will see some of the same friendly faces, but new people are on the scene now too. Well, not really new faces, David Whitley, whose family was the original owner since 1919, is back on the scene consulting Ted Ellis the new owner through the transition period. Opening the front doors was first on their agenda as so many customers assumed the store closed for good and took their business elsewhere. David and Ted both have the same philosophy on how to run the store; both agreed that the store needed to go back to the Borderland name and be the hometown service oriented hardware store it was from the beginning.
It was so exciting to use the front doors for the first time. When I walked in the front doors the first thing I was greeted with was an incredible housewares section complete with all the up to date kitchen countertop appliances, including my favorite, the Keurig Coffee Maker with a great selection of coffee. Hooray – I have a convenient place to buy my coffee! This is definitely going to be my go to place for gift buying. Ted is expanding housewares to include everything from dishes and utensils to cooking and barbecue gadgets.
I think you will agree when you go visit, the NEW Borderland Hardware Store is back. Maybe I am not qualified to say that since I wasn’t around before, but I really love what I see. I can see why people who knew and loved the store back in the day are now thrilled. The store is already seeing an increase in traffic with the doors open.
With the guidance of one of the best retailers Ace Hardware has seen in many years, Ted is confident that Borderland Hardware will be your hardware store. The Whitley family owned the store since its inception on the corner of Texas Blvd and 3rd Street in what is now Texas Rural Legal Aid. They are very excited to see the front doors open and the store get back to its roots. George Sandoval who has been with Ace since 1980 is back as store manager. He has been part of the transition process and is ecstatic to see the change.I do little do-it-yourself projects and the staff has always helped me every step of the way. If they don’t have a certain product they will send you to the right store to find it. I appreciate that kind of service. So if you haven’t been to Borderland Hardware on Missouri, then you need to stop in and say hi to David, Ted and George and grab a bag of popcorn while you’re at it! I’ll see you there.
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Back to the Basics – From the Farm to the Market
If you haven’t tried picked arugula, carrots, squash, eggs or tomatoes fresh from the farmer’s garden, you are missing out on one of life’s finest pleasures. Choosing fresh, tasty, healthy food is not only great for you; it is fun because you get to connect with the grower. We plan to start a new Weslaco tradition by bringing the highest quality local growers and food artisans to our community. At the next Alfresco Weslaco on November 17, we will debut the new Weslaco Farmers Market.
Downtown Weslaco is the heart of the community – what better place to locate our farmers’ market. I love to support and enjoy local foods. Now I can do that right here. Our new Farmers’ Market is going to provide open-air space where we will be able to meet and visit with friends and neighbors, bringing us together through fresh healthy food. It will provide an opportunity for the community to support Rio Grande Valley growers and producers. The Market will offer a unique variety of farmers, growers, bakeries, prepared food and beverages, packaged foods and local artisans.
I have vivid memories of biting into tomatoes freshly picked from the garden. They always burst with flavors. It is something I cannot replicate with the tomatoes I buy at the grocery store. You can imagine what the flavors of the produce will be like from the local growers! The beauty of it is that the fresh produce you buy in a Farmers Market reaches you within a day of being picked because Farmers’ Market food doesn’t have far to travel to get from the farm to the market and to your table. After all, nutritional value of produce declines as time passes between farm and fork. Buying from local producers allows you to know where your food comes from and how it was raised. So, take the opportunity to learn how your food was grown, talk to the producers, and ask them what chemicals, pesticides, hormones, or genetically modified seed were used in the production of your food.
It isn’t always possible but when we spend our money locally it keeps dollars circulating in our community. I know that when I shop at the Farmers’ Market I am putting dollars directly in the farmers’ hands, rather than paying for shipping and packaging. I want my dollars to support the family farm.
By supporting this effort we are adding another dimension to our community and to our downtown area. Communities that flourish are multi-dimensional. We want the business investors who are looking at expanding or building a new business here in Weslaco to know that their community offers a breadth of things to do locally; culturally, musically, artistically and now something edible.
So, stay tuned, because you need to go to the first of a weekly Farmers’ Market. We plan to be located under the covered awnings in the back of the old Elsa State Bank building in downtown, offering the farmers great shade so they can share their colorful produce with you! So gather your tote bags and be ready to choose the freshest food in town! This is definitely the Weslaco Advantage.
The Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco promotes and encourages the development, attraction, retention and expansion of businesses, industries, commerce, and employment within the community.
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A Little Bit of the Hill Country in Weslaco
A gift shop in downtown Weslaco will surprise you when you walk through the front door. When I step foot in The Bungalow and Company on Texas Blvd at 8th Street, I feel like I’m in one of my favorite shops in Fredericksburg in the Hill Country. It puts a smile on my face and I know I’ll find exactly what I’m looking for – that perfect gift.
Vicki Leal is a fifth generation merchant. She spent summers and after school helping out at her family’s stores. . Her grandfather ran a successful grocery store in La Villa and later opened the first convenience store in Weslaco, The Giddy Up on Airport Road He also owned a convenience store in Harlingen which was the last stop for travelers to pick up necessary items on the way to the Island. As Vicki grew up, she spent every weekend in one of these stores.
Vicki is married and has children of her own; she is a senior at UTPA studying education. However Vicki never forgot her roots and she felt a yearning to return to retail. Her children were in a daycare center that was located in the old house where she located her shop. When the daycare informed the parents they would be closing its doors, Vicki saw it as a sign. With the beautiful building becoming available, it was time to make her move back into retail. She put college on hiatus and set the wheels in motion to open The Bungalow and Company. Her dream was to model the shop after some of her favorite shops in Austin and the Hill Country. “I have family in San Marcos and visit the area four to five times a year. We spent weekends perusing my favorite shops in historic downtowns of nearby communities,” she said. “It was a dream to create the same experience in Weslaco.”
When you walk into Bungalow and Company, you are greeted by large glass jars of potpourri, unique jewelry, and a wide array of sock monkeys. The colorful walls make you feel welcome and invite you to browse the next room. Vicki has an amazing eye for display, using items from her past including her old tricycle, an awesome pink commode and rustic tables. The Bungalow and Company features many Texas made products and Vicki is planning to make that her niche, hoping to expand to a large variety of Texas wines. The shop also carries home accessories, distinctive women’s clothing, purses and belts.
Drive south down Texas Blvd and as you near 8th Street you can’t miss the shop on your right. Vicki’s eye for display extends to the front yard where she proudly displays her now vintage bike, bird houses, plants and flags. Vicki refurbished an old marquee with her artistic flare by painting it in turquoise with black zebra stripes. It looks incredible and fits with the motif of The Bungalow and Company.
Weslaco has unbelievable shops where you can buy the perfect gift. The Bungalow and Company is a great addition to these shops, the heart and soul of our community. In downtown you will find unique shopping experiences; that is the Weslaco Advantage.
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