Wild Honey Creamery, which Macy Bannert and Sarah Ward started this past July, is making plans to move into the building at 108 E. Tyler St. formerly occupied by Hick & Frog bistro.
Bannett, a beekeeper who uses honey as an ingredient in the creamery’s ice cream flavors, said the COVID-19 pandemic has not affected plans to open the ice cream parlor because she and Ward have not set a specific date.
“We are still working on getting our shop together,” she said. “We are not planning on being open at this time anyway.”
Bannert and Ward, an optometrist, started Wild Honey Creamery by bringing their ice cream flavors in a cart to special events, such as Downtown Live on Fridays in Longview.
She said she and Ward continue to deliver ice cream in half-gallon containers to individual customers in the Longview area.
Jazzercize moving
Angela Miller, who purchased the Longview Jazzercize franchise in January from Shalain Smith, is moving the business to 414 W. Loop 281, Suite 13, from 2111 Courthouse Drive.
Miller said she closed the business March 16 because of the statewide, government-ordered shutdown of gyms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she hoped to open in the new location in April, or after the ban is lifted.
She said she will offer 14 classes a week, with classes drawing anywhere from 15 to 25 people.
“It’s dance aerobics, and we do strength training as well,” she said.
Barber’s ‘new’ name
Manogya Thaiba, owner of A to Z Mart at 600 N. Eastman Road, has reopened the former Friendly Barber Shop next door at 602 N. Eastman Road and renamed it New Friendly Barber Shop.
“I totally redid it,” said Thaiba, who has owned the convenience store since 2014.
He said he has recruited three barbers and hired an additional barber.
“Right now, we have five spots” for barbers, he said. He plans to hire more barbers by adding two chairs for them to serve customers.
“We do all kinds of haircuts, all styles,” Thaiba said. Barbers cut hair for children and adults.
Thaiba said his ambition is to provide the best customer service.
New Friendly Barber Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and by appointment only on Sundays and Mondays.
However, it will be closed through April 9 because of an order Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt issued Wednesday to close a variety of businesses, except those deemed “essential,” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Apartments change hands
Dothan Investments Club LLC of Allen recently bought Rockdale Apartments at 606 Rockdale St. and renamed it Dothan Apartments at Rockdale, former owner Steve Oram said.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Zach Kamau is listed in public records as the principal for Dothan Investments. He was unavailable for comment.
Kamau applied for a commercial certificate of occupancy for the 42-unit apartment complex March 19, according to documents filed with the Longview Development Services Department.
Oram, owner of RBG Construction Management and a retired Longview city firefighter, said he built the apartment complex to provide more rentals in west Longview and with the intent to sell it. The apartment units contain three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
“We built it and stabilized it full of renters, and sold it,” Oram said.
He said he began construction in September 2017 and finished the apartment complex in July 2018.
Marco’s Pizza opens
A Marco’s Pizza franchise opened recently at 1753 W. Loop 281, behind Walgreens.
Because Marco’s offers takeout, it is remaining open despite a COVID-19-related ban on restaurant dine-in service.
Marco’s is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Visit Marcos.com and click “locations” for more information and to place orders.