Conroe - Montgomery Edition | January 2024

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Conroe Montgomery Edition VOLUME 9, ISSUE 10 JAN. 25FEB. 21, 2024

2024 Annual Community Guide

The state of small business

Cowboy Tacos and Burgers owner Victor Ruiz said ination, competition and stang were challenges in 2023. This year, the restaurant has plans for a new, larger trailer and a menu expansion.

LIZZY SPANGLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Businesses in Conroe, Montgomery area adapt amid economic pressures

operations, according to previous reporting. Shannan Reid, executive director of the Mont- gomery Area Chamber of Commerce, said member businesses cited doing more with less support and prot; technology; and labor and employee culture as pain points in a December internal survey.

Ruiz cited ination, competition, and nding and keeping sta as challenges in the past year, but he’s not the only business owner experiencing setbacks. In the Conroe and Montgomery area, businesses such as Voodoo Grille, and Tasting Point Liquors Wines and Food closed in 2023. Others such as Majkszak’s Meat Market changed their storefront

BY EMILY LINCKE & LIZZY SPANGLER

Since opening Cowboy Tacos and Burgers in Conroe in 2017, owner Victor Ruiz said December was one of the slowest Decembers the restaurant has ever had, selling around half of what it used to. “I don’t know why that is,” Ruiz said. “We keep our quality high. We keep our service high.”

CONTINUED ON 24

Also in this issue

Impacts: Monkey’s Tail opens o Frazier Street (Page 6)

Education: Willis ISD calls $218M bond election for May (Page 20)

Annual Community Guide: Conroe-area census data (Page 23)

Community: 16 new coee, tea, dessert shops (Page 26)

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Melissa Enaje Wesley Gardner Cassandra Jenkins Shaheryar Khan Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Dave Manning Jessica Shorten Lizzy Spangler Haley Velasco Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Jatziri Garcia Ellen Jackson Matt Mills Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White

Chrissy Leggett General Manager cleggett@ communityimpact.com

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Jason Culpepper Publisher jculpepper@ communityimpact.com

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Impacts

2 A Game Changer The speakeasy arcade offers a two-story entertainment center with arcade games, a speakeasy-themed bar, a patio, spaces for private event rentals and a coffee bar. The arcade is ideal for families and children from 4 years old and up and includes 40 vintage, contemporary and interactive arcade games. • Opened Jan. 12 • 109 Metcalf St., Conroe • www.agamechangerconroe.com 3 Bloomin’ Brews Coffee The coffee trailer offers customers drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos with a rotating seasonal menu. • Opened Oct. 10 • 5111 FM 1488, Magnolia • Facebook: Bloomin’ Brews Coffee 4 Axis Recovery The business specializes in fundamental recovery tools to help elevate health and wellness. Recovery techniques include deliberate cold exposure; breathwork; and thermal, mobility and pressure-based techniques. • Opened Dec. 2 • 1135 Grand Central Parkway, Ste. 180, Conroe • www.axisrecoveryconroe.com 5 Revolution Power Sports The business sells, customizes and services all-terrain vehicles. • Opened Dec. 4 • 12235 Hwy. 105 E., Conroe • www.rpsride.com 6 Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Officials announced the opening of a new obstetrics and gynecology office at The Woodlands hospital. The new location has four dedicated OB-GYN specialists and offers a variety of women-centered services. • Opened Dec. 20 • 17189 I-45, Ste. 395, The Woodlands • www.houstonmethodist.org

BUFFALO SPRINGS DR.

Willis

Montgomery

1097

105

LONE STAR PKWY.

LAKE CONROE

830

2432

N. FRAZIER ST.

1484

105

149

2854

Conroe

KEENAN CUT OFF RD.

3083

BRYAN LN.

METCALF ST.

PLANTATION DR.

336

3083

FISH CREEK THOROUGHFARE

WILDERNESS WAY

HONEA EGYPT RD.

GRAND CENTRAL PKWY.

1314

149

WEST FORK SAN JACINTO RIVER

1488

242

CONCORD DR.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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7 Dulcino’s Italian Steakhouse The new eatery serves different cuts of steak, including fillets, T-bones, ribeyes and center cuts, as well as some Italian dishes. • Opened in December • 13080 Hwy. 105, Ste. 127, Conroe • 936-703-3193

its website. A construction timeline and opening date were not available as of publication. • Opening TBD • 2912 I-45 N., Space 100, Conroe • www.maurices.com 12 PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans The coffee shop franchise is coming soon to Walden Road, a representative of the company confirmed. The chain offers coffee drinks, espresso selections, tea, and energy drinks, according to its menu, along with food options. A construction timeline and opening date were not available as of publication. • Opening TBD • 17112 Walden Road, Montgomery • www.pjscoffee.com 13 Home Depot The home improvement company has broken ground on its Montgomery store. • Opening fall 2024 • Buffalo Springs Drive and Hwy. 105, Montgomery • www.homedepot.com

Now open

Coming soon

8 Yeti Eddy Shaved Ice & Candy Shoppe The Guynes family will open a new sweets shop offering signature shaved ice creations, milkshakes, freshly baked cookies, and coffee and espresso selections, according to a Dec. 18 news release. Yeti Eddy Shaved Ice & Candy Shoppe will also offer more than 50 varieties of bulk sweet and savory treats available to purchase by the pound. • Opening in January • 1140 N. FM 3083 W., Ste. 200, Conroe • www.yetieddy.com 9 Chick-fil-A A company representative confirmed a new location is coming to Conroe. Chick-fil-A’s menu offers chicken nuggets and sandwiches along with sides such as fries, macaroni and cheese, fruit, salads, and chips. • Opening summer • 612 N. Loop 336 W., Conroe • www.chick-fil-a.com 10 Barnes & Noble The store sells fiction and nonfiction books as well as selections for kids and young adults, games, toys, stationery, music and movies. A Barnes & Noble Cafe is also slated to open inside the store that will offer hot and iced coffee, baked goods, and snacks. • Opening May 1 • 2920 I-45 N., Conroe • https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/3485 11 Maurices Women’s clothing store Maurices has completed a lease agreement for a new location in Conroe, according to a representative of the company. Maurices offers clothing sizes for women ranging from size 0 to 24, according to

16 Monkey’s Tail The bar offers customers drink options, including taps, happy hour specials, frozen drinks and a seasonal rotating menu, according to a news release. Monkey’s Tail also features a food menu that includes burgers, pizza and tacos. This is the second location for Monkey’s Tail, which also has a location in Lindale Park, according to the news release. • Opened Dec. 13 • 2017 N. Frazier St., Ste. A2, Conroe • www.monkeystailhou.com interactive space for children ages 0-3 to play and learn in the library. • 709 W. Montgomery St., Willis • www.facebook.com/meadormcmls 17 Sunny Creek Ranch The nonprofit’s Horses for Heroes Program is receiving a $1,000 grant from the national nonprofit Petco Love, according to a Nov. 27 news release. Sunny Creek Ranch is a veteran-operated nonprofit that engages rescued therapy horses and veterans through professional interventions by licensed mental health professionals. • 7718 Bryan Lane, Montgomery • www.sunnycreekranch.com

In the news

14 Chipotle Mexican Grill The fast-casual restaurant chain specializes in made-to- order bowls, tacos and burritos. According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a project for a new Chipotle restaurant has been registered with the TDLR and is projected to be under construction in Conroe starting Feb. 26 with a projected completion date of June 7. Details are subject to change. • 16966 Concord Drive, Conroe • www.chipotle.com 15 R. F. Meador Branch Library The Willis library was named one of 15 2024 Family Place Libraries Project grant recipients as of a December news release from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The program was established statewide in 2015 to help public libraries address early learning. According to the release, the grant will provide the Willis library with funding for the training and equipment necessary to host workshops and develop an

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Transportation

BY ANNA LOTZ

Willis

Ongoing projects

149

1097

BLUEBERRY HILLS RD.

Montgomery

COUNTY LINE RD.

LAKE CONROE HILLS DR.

LONE STAR PKWY.

830

LEAGUE LINE RD.

LAKE CONROE

1484

2432

105

2854

10TH ST.

1485

KEENAN CUT OFF RD.

1 FM 1488 median addition Project: The project will add a raised median along FM 1488 between Mostyn Drive in Magnolia and I-45 in Conroe. Update: According to previous reporting, the project will be completed from west to east. The Texas Department of Transportation reported the project is 29% completed as of a January media update. • Timeline: July 2023-fourth quarter 2025 • Cost: $10.22 million • Funding sources: federal, state funds

SAN JACINTO RIVER

Conroe

336

3083

FISH CREEK THOROUGHFARE

1486

MOSTYN DR.

149

249 TOLL

1314

1488

242

1774

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

Update: TxDOT reported the project is 33% completed. • Timeline: second quarter 2022-first quarter 2024 • Cost: $16.09 million • Funding sources: federal, state funds 4 FM 1486 repairs Project: The project will include overlay and base repair work on FM 1486 from Hwy. 105 to FM 1774 in the Montgomery area. Update: The project began in October and is 2% completed as of the January media update. • Timeline: October 2023-third quarter 2024 • Cost: $4.57 million • Funding source: state funds 5 FM 2854 improvements Project: The project includes overlaying FM 2854

and adding turn lanes between Hwy. 105 and the San Jacinto River. Update: The project is wrapping up. TxDOT reported the project is 96% completed as of the latest media update available in January. • Timeline: January 2023-first quarter 2024 • Cost: $10.41 million • Funding source: state funds 6 Hwy. 242 widening Project: TxDOT is widening Hwy. 242 between FM 1488 and I-45, and restriping the intersections. Update: The project is 8% completed as of January, according to TxDOT. • Timeline: November 2023-first quarter 2026 • Cost: $28.67 million • Funding sources: federal, state funds

Ongoing projects

2 Hwy. 105 widening Project: The project will reconstruct and widen Hwy. 105 from two to four lanes between 10th Street in Conroe and South Loop 336. Update: According to the January media update from TxDOT, the project is 20% completed. • Timeline: March 2023-third quarter 2027 • Cost: $51.83 million • Funding source: state funds 3 FM 1097 widening Project: The project will widen FM 1097 from two to four lanes with a continuous left-turn lane between Lake Conroe Hills Drive and Blueberry Hills Road.

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Real estate

Number of homes sold

December 2022

December 2023

Residential market data

29 45 46 44 30 32 64 68

28 5

+55.2%

-82.14%

77301

77306

Median home sale prices declined in six of eight ZIP codes in the region year over year in December, but 77356 in the Montgomery area saw a 30% increase to $520,000.

127 93 36 55 48 35

-4.35%

-26.77%

77302

77316

+6.67%

+52.78%

77303

77318

+6.25%

-27.08%

77304

77356

105

149

Median home sales price

2022

2023

2022

2023

77301 77306

77302 77316

77303 77318

77304 77356

77301

77306

-9.3%

-25.6%

$262,000

$174,694

$288,990

$234,990

Homes sold in the Conroe and Montgomery area by price point

77302

77316

-22.59%

-5.58%

$319,270

$350,000

$412,450

$370,665

77303

77318

-28.64%

+6.47%

$249,495

$370,000

$349,640

$347,500

December 2023

$1 million+

77304

77356

-1.41%

+30.35%

$332,419

$520,000

$337,159

$398,941

$750,000-$999,999

$500,000-$749,999

Average days on market

-4.6%

+43.75%

-5.13%

-9.9%

+59.26%

+24.47%

+20%

+45.16%

$250,000-$499,999

225

<$249,999

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77302

77303

77304

77306

77316

77318

77356

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Dining

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

The mistake sandwich ($15) has prime tenderloin steak with cheese, bacon and rosemary chipotle sauce.

The Montgomery Grove oers a twist on its home-cooked menu items, including its naan tacos ($15) , which are made with prime tenderloin steak and naan bread.

PHOTOS BY JOVANNA AGUILARCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The Montgomery Grove adds twist to home cooking After 13 years of owning food trucks in the Con- roe and Montgomery area, husband and wife Mike and Kristen Anderson opened The Montgomery Grove, a brick-and-mortar eatery, last March. The details The Montgomery Grove’s menu oers a variety of options, such as burgers, salads, sandwiches and pizzas as well as monthly specials.

Co-owner Mike Anderson opened the dine-in location of The Montgomery Grove last March.

“Ninety-ve [percent] to 99% of our menu is all homemade. So we just kind of make up creations as we go along with things that we like and build on them,” Mike Anderson said. Some dessert options include the “mother fudger brownie,” banana pudding and “dizzy dirt pudding,” which is chocolate and Oreo pudding. “Our tagline is faith, food, family and fun. We’re working really hard on our food, and we would love it for families to come in here and hang out,” he said.

In 2007, the Andersons opened their rst food truck, Wiches On Wheels. The couple opened a second food truck, Dizzy Pies, in 2018. Mike Anderson said his passion for cooking is generational; his father participated in professional barbecue circuits for 40 years, and his parents and grandparents made home-cooked meals regularly. “I’ve lived in Montgomery a long time, and there’s just not a whole lot of great places to eat around here that are fresh homemade food,” he said.

105

E V A S T .

OLD PLANTERSVILLE RD.

22016 Eva St., Montgomery www.themontgomerygrove.com

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Education Private School Guide

2024

The Grove Community School Type: Montessori Grades served: pre-K-12 Religious orientation : none Extracurricular activities: basketball, volleyball, soccer,

Tuition: $11,400-$19,000 annually • 14211 Horseshoe Bend, Conroe • www.rubiconacademy.com

Private schools around Conroe and Montgomery offer a variety of specialized instruction, from different religious affiliations to various types of curriculum. This is a noncomprehensive list of private schools in and around Conroe and Montgomery ZIP codes. Tuition prices are included for the ongoing 2023-24 school year.

Sacred Heart Catholic School Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K3-8 Religious orientation: Catholic Extracurricular activities: athletics, dance, cheer, robotics team, Girl Scouts, student council Enrollment: 288 Tuition: $8,005-$9,058 annually • 615 McDade St., Conroe • www.shcstx.com

robotics, choir Enrollment: 80 Tuition: $12,750-$17,600 annually • 3305 Red Bird Lane, Conroe • www.thegrovewoodlands.com

Conroe

Calvary Baptist School Type: religious-based Grades served: K4-12 Religious orientation: Baptist Extracurricular activities: athletics, cheerleading, art, music, ministry arts, guitar lessons Enrollment: 270 Tuition: $4,020-$4,250 annually (subject to change) • 3401 N. Frazier St., Conroe • www.calvaryconroeeagles.org Covenant Christian School Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: athletics, cheer, choir, theater, Spanish club, key club Enrollment: 493 Tuition: $7,300-$13,890 annually

Lake Conroe Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: 1 year old-fourth grade (expanding to fifth grade in 2024) Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: music, dance, art, Spanish language Tuition: new rates beginning in 2024 to be announced

Montgomery

Montgomery Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served : K-6 (adding grade 7 in 2024) Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: basketball, soccer, art, music, Spanish Enrollment: 92 Tuition: $8,858-$10,015 annually • 12681 FM 149, Montgomery • www.montgomerychristianacademy.com

• 2080 Longmire Road, Conroe • www.lccawillis.com/mission

Paideia Classical School Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: field trips, international travel, camp outs, family festivals Enrollment: 220 Tuition: $3,750-$5,750 annually • 3201 Loop 336, Conroe • www.pcsedu.co/conroe-campus

• 4503 I-45 N., Conroe • www.ccsconroe.org

The Woodlands

Glenwood Private School Type: independent Grades served: 6 weeks old-second grade Religious orientation: none Extracurricular activities: sports, dance, gymnastics Enrollment: 120 Tuition: $210 weekly • 912 W. Lewis St., Conroe • www.glenwoodprivateschool.com

Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: community service, music, robotics, sports, student council, theater Enrollment: 700 Tuition: $7,520-$12,8000 annually

Rubicon Academy Type: independent Grades served: K-12 Religious orientation: none

Extracurricular activities: music ensemble, Spanish, aerial drone competition, robotics competition, drama, science fair Enrollment: 30

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Conroe

The John Cooper School Type: independent Grades served: pre-K-12 Extracurricular activities: student-led organizations, clubs, leadership groups, athletics, fine arts, technology, entrepreneurship, STEAM, service groups, theater, dance, choir, band, aerial arts, robotics, martial Tuition: $25,460-$31,460 annually • 1 John Cooper Drive, The Woodlands • www.johncooper.org The Woodlands Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: athletics, fine arts/visual and performing arts, sports, spiritual life, community service Enrollment: 819 arts, culinary, chess Enrollment: 1,345

Lifestyle Christian School Type: religious-based Grades served: K-12 Religious orientation: Assembly of God Extracurricular activities: athletics Enrollment: 93

Tuition: $8,600-$9,300 annually • 3993 I-45 N., Conroe • www.lifestylechristian.org

Tuition: $22,250-$34,900 annually • 5800 Academy Way, The Woodlands • www.twca.net

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Powering bright young minds Entergy Texas is committed to investing in the future of the communities where we live, serve and work through our support of education. To help students and teachers have a successful school year, we partnered with the United Way of Greater Houston to provide $165,000 worth of school supplies for all six Montgomery County school districts – Conroe ISD, New Caney ISD, Magnolia ISD, Montgomery ISD, Splendora ISD, and Willis ISD. Thank you to the teachers and staff at our local school districts helping create future leaders. Together, we can connect more people to possibility.

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Education

BY ANNA LOTZ

Montgomery ISD trustees approved new elementary attendance boundaries during a Dec. 19 meeting to prepare for the district’s seventh elementary school, Creekside Elementary, to open in August. New boundaries will take effect for the 2024-25 school year. The new boundaries are intended to populate Creekside Elementary while relieving enrollment growth in existing Keenan and Stewart Creek elementary boundaries, according to a Dec. 19 release. An additional 293 and 409 students are expected to enroll at Keenan and Stewart elementary schools, respectively, in the next five years, per a demographic study by consulting firm Population and Survey Analysts released Aug. 14. MISD updates school zones

2024-25 elementary boundaries

Looking ahead

Creekside Elementary School is under construction near Lake Creek High School off FM 2854 and funded by MISD’s $326.9 million bond package voters approved in May 2022. According to the release, incoming fifth graders and their siblings impacted by the attendance boundary adjustment may remain at their current zoned schools for the 2024- 25 school year but must provide their own transportation to and from school. “The new elementary attendance boundary will allow MISD to most efficiently utilize our teachers, specialists and transportation personnel to serve students at all seven of our elementary campuses next school year,” board President Laurie Turner said in the release.

149

1097

105

2854

Creekside 1

2 3 4 5 6 7

Keenan Lincoln Lone Star Madeley Ranch Montgomery Stewart Creek

SOURCE: MONTGOMERY ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY CASSANDRA JENKINS & VANESSA HOLT

CISD approves two school calendars

What’s next?

A calendar was also approved for 2025-26 with similar dates. Sauceda-Upshaw said both calendars were presented due to similar dates in both calendar years. She said the difference in dates regards the early release dates, which will be Dec. 20 and May 23 for 2024-25 and Dec. 19 and May 22 for 2025-26. “I like presenting two years in a row, that gives parents the time to plan those Disney vacations or trips with families,” board member Theresa Wagaman said. “I think it’s a good idea to do it two years in a row.” Superintendent Curtis Null said the district gets more feedback from families on school calendars than any other topic. However, it can be challenging to engage all district stakeholders, officials said.

day weekends. CISD surveyed parents and employees, and 51.33% voted for Draft A. Hedith Sauceda-Upshaw, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said changes were made to the approved calendar, including moving spring break to March 10-14.

The Conroe ISD board of trustees adopted the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school calendars Jan. 16. The board had discussed two options for the 2024-25 calendar at its Dec. 12 meeting. Both calendars included 172 days of instruction, but the first option contained several four- CISD calendar options Calendar A.2 (approved with some changes)

Calendar differences

Calendar B

Jan. 20: Holiday Feb. 17: Staff development *March 17-21: Spring break April 18: Holiday May 23: Last day of school

Aug. 14: Start date Sept. 2: Holiday Oct. 14-15: Fall break Oct. 16-18: Staff

Feb. 14: Staff development Feb. 17: Holiday *March 10-14: Spring break April 18: Holiday April 21: Staff development May 23: Last day of school

Aug. 14: Start date Sept. 2: Holiday

Oct. 11: Staff development

development Nov. 5: Staff development Dec. 23-Jan. 6: Winter break

Oct. 14: Holiday Nov. 4-5: Staff development Dec. 23-Jan. 6: Winter break Jan. 20: Holiday

SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT * BOTH CALENDARS ORIGINALLY HAD SPRING BREAK FROM MARCH 17-21, BUT THE APPROVED CALENDAR'S SPRING BREAK WAS CHANGED TO MARCH 10-14.

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