This week’s View of the Neighborhood is a report on the modernization of Port Aransas. By modernization, I am referring to the new construction going on about town. Yes as sad as it is, our little town is getting new buildings.
The first photo is a brand new Dollar General Store that opened this week
I tried to get an art shot but as you can see it is still a Dollar General store.
Turning to something really positive. Our Art Center is getting a new building. Here is an artist rendition of the finished building.
This photo shows the progress to date.
So you know the improvement here is a shot of the current Art Center building
Now on to new tourist facilities. This is a photo of new short-term rental units going up.
This shot lets you see that the units are a courtyard with a pool in the middle.
Here is a new retail center going up. There will also be short-term rentals on the second floor.
A report on progress would be incomplete without a couple of chains. Here is the famous Texas fast food chain Whataburger.
And (Ta Da) a brand new Domino’s.
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Wow, it is nice to see new business and those little cottages are adorable. I absolutely love the color of the art center.
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Thank you, Vicki. sorry about the spam folder.
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WP is after me lol
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Since you comment came in here I think you are good to go. 😀
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Excellent! 🙂 Thank you!
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🙂
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It’s good to see development going on, John – shows an optimistic view of the local economy.
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I think so, Keith. Thanks.
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It does show confidence in the economy and I hope that they fill those units they look quite attractive as does the art centre. As to the Dollar General.. they obviously did not waste many dollars in its design but perhaps that is a good thing to reflect their prices inside.. Great photos John. x
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I think Dollar General has two basic store models; ugly and uglier. Thanks, Sally. Hugs
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Aransas seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, John. Good looking new buildings. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. Growing is right. 😀
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Never knew Dollar General stores came that big.
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There it is for sure.
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Aransas is busting out all over, isn’t it?!! Are you happy about this? I know I was sad to see my quaint town turn into a city. I used to know most everyone, but now – it’s difficult to find a familiar face.
You might want to tell Charles that Dollar General carries very little merchandise for just $1. That’s probably the reason for a larger store. Dollar Tree is the one that still has every thing for $1.
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Thank you GP for the explanation. I’m not so happy about a store like Dollar General. We usually travel off the island if we need that kind of merchandise. I suppose I will check it out sometime but seems strange. The locals are not so happy but the fast food and other places are for the tourists. While taking the picture an out of town car came buy and one of the passengers yelled, “Oh good a Dollar General.” I think that tells the story.
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Thanks for the tour, John. Sorry about the general slip into blah. The big boxes and little boxes really seem to understand they they are boxes. Still, when the tide carries away you ice chest, you gotta go somewhere.
Are you able to give a quick comparison of Whataburger and any other burger joint chains (five guys, Jakes, In ‘n Out)? Just in case I ever have to choose.
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Burgers for breakfast, Dan? 😀
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I have to go read his comment. 😀
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If they’re that good, maybe 🙂
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Best breakfast is a turkey burger topped with egg and cheddar served after midnight with garlic fries and onion rings
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Wow. That sounds pretty good. The Mrs would love garlic fries. I prefer onion rings.
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Is good.
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Whataburger specializes in your burger anyway you want it. They have condiments like peppers,(hot, banana, etc) raw or fried onions, special sauces. They also make a killer patty melt. Their fries are super and they have three kinds of catsup. I would say, better than Five Guys but hard to beat In ‘n Out. Never had a Jakes. 😀
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Hmmm, that’s a tough call, but if I’m ever in Texas again. Jake’s is in between Five Guys and In ‘n Out, but their fries are unpredictable.
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See, I have to have predictable fries.
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Understood. So does the Mrs.
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🙂
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I hope the quaintness isn’t lost with the development. At least the bungalows are sweet – and seem to fit the surroundings. 🙂
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Yes they are. Looks like party central to me.
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Horsefeathers! It really must be the eye of the beholder, because there’s no way Dollar General accidentally made a building that ugly… At least the shopping carts are yellow. The Art Center, however, is lovely. I know everyone is happy to see the improvement there. The little rentals seem like they’re going to be cute. Hopefully they attract a high caliber tourist.
(No news from the vet on Crystal’s blood test…)
Thanks for the Sunday tour, John. Mega hugs.
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I read your post on Facebook and still have you and Crystal in my prayers. Wishing you a peaceful Sunday, Teagan. Hugs.
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❤ 🙂
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XX
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Good morning, John! As a frequent guest to Port A I wish – like you – it wouldn’t change its character. I could really do with most of the new development. But unfortunately this is happening everywhere nowadays. We have the same problem here in Fredericksburg.
Have a great Sunday,
Pit
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I found this in spam.
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Now what? Can I now not send comments via MS IE any more? That would be a most unwelcome new development.
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Hm, here it is, my “question comment”. I must have hit the wrong key for my “real comment”.Will write it again.
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Yes. Thank you.
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Good morning, John! I agree with you: as a frequent guest to Port A I don’t want to see this once-charming seaside town change its character. I for one could do without most of those recent developments. But unfortunately that’s happening in so many lovely places just now. Fredericksburg is, sad to say, no exception. The influx and of “wine tourists” is not a good thing – not a good thing at all.
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Pit
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I understand. We used to visit Fredericksburg and thought it a quaint place with fabulous peaches and wonderful Museum of the Pacific
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It’s still a great place to visit, and also to live, but it’s not quaint any more.
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🙂
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The new art center is going to be very nice and seems to keep in line with the island’s character, but the others? I’m not so sure that the Dollar General adds anything to your island paradise.
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That is what I’m thinking. Thanks, Michelle.
🙂
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Hmmm… I’m in 2 minds about takeaway and pub chains. Living in a tourist hotspot it’s sometimes hard for ‘incomers’ to find their fave fast food because most of the inland towns and villages and even the smaller coastal resorts don’t have them, so it’s hard to know where to go for your favourite holiday food?
But – we do have yummy local delicacies like pasties, and the fish and seafood cafes down here are wonderful so there’s room for all sorts I suppose – I hope Mustang Island has those too still! 😀
As for dollar stores – a necessary evil in these times. And it’s handy to have a good central source of cheap beach toys for the little kiddies to use and abuse! 😎
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We do have a lot of very nice places to eat. The fish is fresh and a real treat.
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I know we call it progress but it is always a little sad to see big box stores/restaurants showing up in quaint little places.
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I agree. We still have our “spots” though
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It seems to happen everywhere. Eventually “marts” move in and put the local businesses under.
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The local hardware just went up for sale after ACE moved in. Of course, those folks were so arrogant that you hated to shop there.
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That’s the first step, and it’s usually the jerky ones that go first.
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Yup
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Loved the Whataburger and that coffee shop just up the street. Great place to spend a cold, rainy, winter day.
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Coffee Waves is still waiting for you. They have a speciality coffee drink called “the train.” Must be 1000 calories.
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We have Dollarama stores up here – wonder if they are the Canadian incarnation of Dollar General?
Great post, John!
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How I miss Whataburger!! We don’t have them here, but we’ve got plenty of Dollar Generals and Dominos! Nice to see the progress being made, though I expect some folks are saddened when it overtakes the scenery, right?!
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So far everything seems to fit in. The main drag in town has a “chain” look so I guess no scenery is hurt in the process.
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I suppose you have to take the good with the bad when it comes to development. I’m not a fan of Dollar General as their name is deceiving if you’re used to shopping at The Dollar Tree, where everything is a dollar. Now I’m hungry for a burger! Thanks for sharing your photos, John. I always enjoy touring your town. Happy Sunday!
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Thank you, Jill. Happy Sunday to you as well.
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I’m sure tourist rentals is big business on the island. But, wow! To get your own dollar store! That’s progress. 🙂
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Our population goes from 3,000 in the winter to 50,000 in the summer so yes, a lot of big business.
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Every town in South Texas seems to have a Dollar General store so I guess it had to come to Port A. I remember when it was a really quaint place but then that was long ago. There are many positive things about Port A so people will have to adapt, I suppose.
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Thanks Jo. I guess we will.
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The Art Center and cottages look great – have no comment about Dollar General – and don’t have Whataburger in these parts, but if they’re better than Five Guys, I’d definitely be interested.
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I have had both and it is my opinion. Can’t beat the catsup.
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What huge stores, although the Dollar one looks like a huge warehouse, John. I’m amazed by just how clean Port Aransas is. No sign of any litter anywhere in those photos, not even by the fast food places. Good for Port Aransas. Some of our towns could sure take a lesson or two from that.
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We have a group dedicated to keeping the community clean. Residents are meticulous. Tourists not so much. Thanks, Hugh.
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Wait . . . Dollar General has big box stores?
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I guess. This is the only one I’ve seen.
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