Featured, front row, representing Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, the Edinburg City Council, and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, include, from left: City Councilmember Homer Jasso; Juan Luis Mussenden, General Manager, Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg; Peter Higgins, Managing Partner, Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg; Gus García, Executive Director, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (immediately behind Peter Higgins); Mayor Richard García, who also serves as President, Board of Directors, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation; and City Councilmember Richard Molina. These leaders were among the several hundred area residents who participated in the Wednesday, July 19, 2017 ribbon-cutting of the five-star, multi-million dollar restaurant, located at the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley. The restaurant is just off U.S. Expressway 281 in the heart of Edinburg. Bob’s combines a lively atmosphere, fine wines and large cuts of the finest prime steaks, chops and seafood to make Bob’s the best steak house in any town. Known for their prime filets, Bob’s only serves prime beef, hand-selected from the top two percent of all beef, perfectly trimmed and expertly grilled. Bob’s also offers delicious sides and desserts made from scratch, and included with every steak, their famous pickles, choice of potato and signature big glazed carrot. Letty González, President of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, shared community leaders enthusiasm for Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg. “We are excited to welcome our new member to Edinburg,” said González. “Bob’s is a beautiful and unique dining experience that will be unparalleled in our area. This is just an indication of all the great things going on in Edinburg.”
Photograph By RONNIE LARRALDE
Featured, from left: Gus García, Executive Director, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, congratulates Peter Higgins, Managing Partner, Bob’s Steak and Chop House in Edinburg, following the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restaurant, which took place on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. “Edinburg’s restaurants are fantastic, and they serve phenomenal food, great meals, you name it. Now, having an elite restaurant like Bob’s Steak & Chop House changes the image for the entire South Texas region. This is the first nationally-recognized five-star restaurant in Edinburg and deep South Texas,” said García. “Bob’s has a nationally known reputation. By doing well in Edinburg, it will once again prove that our region can support, and deserves, the very best life has to offer.” Higgins heaped praise on deep South Texas. “People have asked me several times recently, ‘Why Edinburg, Texas?’ Well, I’ll tell you why. It is a tremendous growth environment,” Higgins said. “If you look at the city itself with its growth, a new Hidalgo County Courthouse that will be built, several world-class hotels, a nationally-ranked university with a School of Medicine, and the Bert Ogden Arena and H-E-B Park near our site – well, the list goes on and on.”
Featured, from left: Jaime Cazares, District Sales Manager, Ben E. Keith Foods; Debra Stolley; Roger Stolley, NAI Rio Grande Valley (Commercial Real Estate Services Worldwide); Byron Jay Lewis, President and CEO, Edwards Abstract and Title Co., and Peter Higgins, Managing Partner, Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, seated inside the Lenox Lounge in the multi-million dollar five-star restaurant, located at 591 East Trenton Road in Edinburg, at the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley. The Lenox Lounge, part of the approximately 9,000-square-foot facility, is named in honor of William “Bill” W. Lenox, former president of the Bob’s Steak & Chop House national chain of fine dining establishments. Lenox, who died on Friday, January 20, 2016, was the key player in bringing the restaurant to Edinburg. According to his obituary, published in the Dallas Morning News, “Lenox, known for his entrepreneurial success, generous spirit and engaging character, passed away after suffering a heart attack at his home in Vail, Colorado. He was 70.” (http://www.legacy.com/
Photograph By MARCO DAVID SOLIS
••••••
Edinburg EDC: Bob’s Steak & Chop House, a world-class establishment, is the latest addition to Edinburg’s prestige as a destination city
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, the 15th member of the Dallas-based firm that has created a nationwide presence and fame as a premier fine-dining attraction, represents the latest addition to its new hometown’s prestige as a destination city, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced.
Throughout its history, Edinburg has been well-known for having outstanding restaurants for all tastes and budgets, said Gus García, Executive Director for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.
Now, having an elite restaurant like Bob’s Steak & Chop House improves the image for the entire Valley, he contends.
“This is the first nationally-recognized five-star restaurant in Edinburg and deep South Texas,” García observed. “Bob’s has a nationally-known reputation. They’re in Nashville, they’re in New York City, San Francisco, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, just to name a few of the cities. By doing well in Edinburg, it will once again prove that our region can support, and deserves, the very best life has to offer.”
The Edinburg EDC, which helped convince leaders of the nationwide firm to locate in Edinburg, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council.
In addition to Mayor García, the Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised Mayor Richard García as President, Harvey Rodríguez, Jr. as Vice President, Elías Longoria, Jr. as Secretary/Treasurer, and Richard Rupert and Dr. Peter Dabrowski as Members.
Mayor Richard García and Edinburg
Several hundred residents from Edinburg and the Valley – including Mayor García, Councilmember Richard Molina, and Councilmember Homer Jasso, Jr. – on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 participated in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the multi-million dollar Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, located at 591 East Trenton Road, at the site of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.
The complex, which is about 9,000-square feet in size, has many things going for it, including be part of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, which is built on 130 acres of real estate, and its nearness to U.S. Expressway 281, also known as Interstate Highway 69 Central.
“It’s huge,” Gus García said of the restaurant being visible to thousands of shoppers and motorists on a daily basis. “We have a significant amount of people who drive on U.S. Expressway 281 who are able to see Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg as they come through the Valley. They will recognize and realize that there is a fine steak house that is easily recognizable in Texas for providing a world-class dining experience.
“As the saying goes about success in business, its all about location, location, location,” the Edinburg EDC executive director proclaimed.
Mayor García recalled that more than a decade ago, he first met Neil H. Ellis, the president of First Hartford Realty of Connecticut, and Peter Higgins, also with First Hartford Realty.
Higgins, who still remains with Hartford Realty, is Managing Partner for Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg.
“Twelve years ago, I had a breakfast meeting at a national mall convention in one of our big cities, and I sat with a national retail giant named Neal H. Ellis, who was president of First Hartford Realty, which built the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley. Part of that team and friendship that developed over those past 12 years is Peter Higgins,” the mayor told the standing-room audience gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Higgins received deserved credit and thanks from the mayor for helping land the famous restaurant in Edinburg.
“I mentioned giants, and certainly he is a giant in this room – Peter Higgins, who had the idea of bringing Bob’s (Steak & Chop House in Edinburg) to fruition,” Mayor García said. “He worked with (Edinburg EDC Executive Director) Gus García, the City of Edinburg, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.
Sometimes there were so many hills to climb to get where we wanted. But here we are.”
The mayor, whose personal, legal and political responsibilities have taken him throughout the United States, has experienced many of the finest dining establishments in the nation.
“During that time when we were proposing this amazing retail center, with all the planning and hard work involved that led to the creation of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, we would meet with Neal and Peter in many very nice restaurants throughout the country,” Mayor García continued, then emphasized, “But I tell you what – Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg is one of the nicest places we have ever been.”
Councilmember Molina, who was serving as Mayor Pro Tem during the ground breaking on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 of Bob’s Steak & Chop House, said during the event last fall that building friendships and trust are crucial for keeping and recruiting employers.
“You know, it takes a team effort, and it comes down to relationships, the relationships that we have with First Hartford, first and foremost, and (Edinburg EDC Executive Director) Gus García, over the past couple of years, has established a relationship with First Hartford,” Molina added. “Gus, excellent job, buddy. We are proud of you and we are glad to have you on our team.”
Molina said it took many local leaders to lobby the Bob’s Steak & Chop House officials to take a good look at Edinburg.
“This all started with a conversation. It was me, Councilmember (and current Mayor Pro Tem) J.R. Betancourt, Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) and other people, and we were eating at Bob’s Steak and Chop House during a conference in Dallas. We were sharing an idea on how great it would be to bring this place to Edinburg. Just an idea,” Molina said. “But from there, Gus García took over along with our Edinburg EDC Board of Directors. I am very proud that they did. This is going to be here long after we are retired and doing something else. But this will be something that for years and years we will remember that we did something special.”
Several years ago, Higgins quickly understood that the Valley is a wonderful place in which to live, and he now rents a home in Hidalgo County.
“You have to realize I’ve grown to really know and appreciate the Valley. So when I go up and negotiate with people up north, there are brokers who say they know the market in Edinburg and in the Valley, and they really don’t,” Higgins said. “The Edinburg market has trends that continue to grow, not just in border traffic, but just the core of business that we have here. Besides featuring commerce, Edinburg is a cultural center as well. People want to live here year-round.”
He said more announcements will come by the end of the year about additional new restaurants that will be built, either next to Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, or on nearby retail pads at the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.
“We have several restaurants lined up, some will sign leases, some are pending,” he revealed. “We are very excited that the restaurant plaza is coming to fruition, and will become a meeting place, not just for Edinburg, but certainly for the Rio Grande Valley. It will be a destination,” Higgins continued. “To anchor this restaurant plaza, here we are at Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg.”
He expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in making Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg a reality.
“Really, it’s been a pleasure to work with Gus and the mayor and the rest of the City Council as well. They have been very supportive of the project, and I speak for Neal H. Ellis, president of First Hartford Realty.
We are here today, on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, for our official ribbon-cutting, because of the leaders and the people of the City of Edinburg,” Higgins said.
To help convince other existing businesses or potential new businesses to build in Edinburg, he offered more valuable advice.
“People have asked me several times recently, ‘Why Edinburg, Texas?’ Well, I’ll tell you why,” Higgins said. “It is a tremendous growth environment. If you look at the city itself with its growth, a new Hidalgo County Courthouse that will be built, several world-class hotels, a nationally-ranked university with a School of Medicine, and the ($88 million) Bert Ogden Arena and H-E-B Park (with is $16.8+ million soccer stadium) near our site – well, the list goes on and on.”
NOTE: Higgins, along with other Edinburg leaders, provided more detailed perspectives following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Highlights of their remarks, which have been edited for grammar, punctuation, and content, follow.
This first transcription is of the comments made by Mayor Richard García and Edinburg EDC Executive Director Gus García (no relation) to Higgins following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and in front of a standing-room audience inside Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg:
PETER HIGGINS
MANAGING PARTNER
BOB’S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE
EDINBURG
We are delighted to see all of you here for our ribbon-cutting. We are very excited to be in Edinburg and be part of the Valley community. We hope we live up to your expectations. If tonight is any indication of our success, I think we will be okay.
I would like at this time to introduce someone who was very much responsible, obviously, for this project to take place, within the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.
On behalf of First Hartford Realty and myself, I would like to introduce you to Mayor Richard García.
MAYOR RICHARD GARCÍA
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Before I begin, let me ask Gus García to get up here, who has been a big wheel in this project, to make a presentation and give us a couple of words.
(Mayor Richard García and Gus García, Executive Director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, are not related.)
GUS GARCÍA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Thank you, Mayor.
Hello, everyone.
Earlier, I was speaking with the mayor about this project and the economic impact it is going to have on this community.
The Valley has made a very strong move to bringing people up north and throughout the United States to recognize our area for a very robust economy. It is very important for us to reach out and let them know we really want fine things, like Bob’s Steak & Chop House.
When I and my colleagues (in economic development) in the Valley, when we beat the door, sometimes we find ourselves at the same places, trying to bring more and more fine-dining establishments and other quality-of-life projects to our region. Time and time again, I am sure many of you have heard the falsehood that the Valley can’t support these type of establishments. But we have proven time and time again that they can succeed.
Bob’s Steak & Chop House, as you know, is a five-star steakhouse.
(Restaurant ratings identify restaurants according to their quality, using notations such as stars or other symbols, or numbers. Stars are a familiar and popular symbol, with scales of one to three or five stars commonly used. – Wikipedia)
The food is phenomenal. But with Bob’s success in Edinburg as a catalyst project in this community, it says a lot to the business community up north that we are capable of supporting restaurants like this. I thank everyone of you for being here and being a patron, because that is what it is going to take, to send the message, and we can show they, too, can succeed, and all of us can have the quality-of-life establishments in our region.
It is really a catalyst project for Edinburg and all the Valley, because Edinburg is a Rio Grande Valley City, and Bob’s Steak & Chop House is the Rio Grande Valley’s restaurant.
The economic impact of this type of restaurant will have on our community is absolutely enormous.
During the course of recruitment of Bob’s, our mayor and entire Edinburg City Council, along with our Edinburg EDC Board of Directors, were involved. We were competing with other communities, and that was very challenging. At the last minute, Bob’s leadership chose Edinburg.
We have put together a plaque with photographs recording from the beginning to the end of this effort.
MAYOR RICHARD GARCÍA
Bob’s Steak & Chop House is located in the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, and the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley belongs to the Rio Grande Valley.
The $88 million Bert Ogden Arena being built down the street, H-E-B Park and its $16.8+ million soccer stadium are giants that belong to the Rio Grande Valley. And Bob’s is also a giant in the community, and belongs to the Valley.
Twelve years ago, I had a breakfast meeting at a national mall convention in one of our big cities, and I sat with a national retail giant named Neal H. Ellis, who was president of First Hartford Realty, which built the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.
Part of that team and friendship that developed over those past 12 years is Peter Higgins.
During that time when we were proposing this amazing retail center, with all the planning and hard work involved that led to the creation of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, we would meet with Neal and Peter in many very nice restaurants throughout the country. But I tell you what – Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg is one of the nicest places we have ever been.
I mentioned giants, and certainly he is a giant in this room – Peter Higgins, the managing partner of Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, who had the idea of bringing Bob’s to fruition. He worked with (Edinburg EDC Executive Director) Gus García, the City of Edinburg, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.
Sometimes there were so many hills to climb to get where we wanted. But here we are.
There is another giant in Edinburg, and his presence is in this restaurant.
We lost him in January 2017, and he was very instrumental in this project.
If you let him reach down to us from Heaven, I am going to read something he wrote last year, which was read on his behalf by Councilmember Homer Jasso at the (Tuesday, October 18, 2o16) groundbreaking of this restaurant:
“To the City of Edinburg. I want to say how sorry I am that I could not be with you today. I have serious lower back issues that are preventing me from traveling.
“We at Bob’s Steak and Chop House are very excited to have a Bob’s Steak and Chop House going to Edinburg, Texas. We have had several opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley and chose Edinburg because of our faith in Peter Higgins, his team, and the mayor and the city officials of Edinburg. Their optimistic desire for a Bob’s was hard to resist.
“Gus García in particular helped us construct a business framework that satisfied us all. We are confident that Peter Higgins will build a spectacular facility that will represent our brand and the City of Edinburg for years to come, one that we will all be proud of. I personally look forward to many fun dinners at the Edinburg Bob’s, and I am counting the days to the opening.
“Being a sports fan, the proximity to our new sports arena and stadium is an added benefit. Edinburg is on course for a tremendous growth, and we at Bob’s Steak and Chop House are thrilled to be a part of it. We are prepared to do all we can to ensure its success.
“I would like to thank you again for placing your faith in our brand. We will not let you down.
Sincerely,
Bill Lenox”
He is not joining us today, but he did not know how prophetic he was going to be.
God bless Bill.
(According to his obituary, published in the Dallas Morning News, “William ‘Bill’ W. Lenox, known for his entrepreneurial success, generous spirit and engaging character passed away Friday January 20th after suffering a heart attack at his home in Vail, Colorado. He was 70. (http://www.legacy.com/
This second transcription is of the comments made by Peter Higgins, Managing Partner, Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg, and Edinburg EDC Executive Director Gus García during an interview session coordinated by Jennifer Cabrera, Marketing Director for the Edinburg EDC:
QUESTION:
Mr. Higgins, first of all congratulations.
We remember the groundbreaking last fall (Tuesday, October 18, 2016), and what we see here today is impressive. Earlier today, addressing the gathering for today’s (Wednesday, July 19, 2017) ribbon-cutting, you provided a good overview of what we have here. You also indicated this is just the beginning of further expansion in the near future. Would you give same insight about those plans?
PETER HIGGINS
MANAGING PARTNER
BOB’S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE
EDINBURG
Bob’s is located at 591 East Trenton Road in Edinburg, at the site of the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.
The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley, which is built on a site of 130 acres of prime real estate, was developed by First Hartford Realty Corporation, headquartered in Connecticut, which is engaged in the acquisition, development, and management of land and properties.
The master plan for The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley calls for a little more than a million square feet of retail space. Currently, as I mentioned during the groundbreaking for Bob’s last October (18, 2016), we are operating at about 50 percent of capacity for The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley.
Our gross leasable area (GLA) (Which means the amount of floor space available to be rented in a commercial property) is about 475,000 square feet, plus or minus, of shops.
Fortunately, sales are quite good, which is enabling us to gather a lot of interest from national chains and local stores apparel/retail as well, particularly in the entertainment side, the restaurant category.
We have several restaurants lined up, some will sign leases, some are pending.
We are very excited that the restaurant plaza, which I spoke about last fall, is coming to fruition (an idea or plan that is about to become reality), and will become a meeting place, not just for Edinburg, but certainly for the Rio Grande Valley. It will be a destination. To anchor this restaurant plaza, here we are at Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg.
Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg will have around 60 employees. Regarding parking capacity, it is fair to say that we will have ample parking, plus free valet service for those interested.
QUESTION
When will you announce the additions of the next restaurants?
PETER HIGGINS
I say before the end of the year (2017), we will be able to make additional announcements.
QUESTION
How many more restaurants do you anticipate adding to this project?
PETER HIGGINS
Our plans calls for – to be located between the restaurant plaza and on some of our peripheral sites on the property (The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley – five or six additional restaurants.
The planned restaurant plaza will eventually total 40,000 square feet, with Bob’s Steak & Chop House representing about 9,000 square feet.
QUESTION
Do you have an estimate on the investments for all those new restaurants, and how much more in construction will take place, in terms of square footage?
PETER HIGGINS
That varies between the categories, the concept, and the size. But generally speaking, a restaurant – because of the additional mechanical and electrical works required for restaurants – costs in the range of about $250 per square foot.
QUESTION
Where will these planned restaurants be located at The Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley?
PETER HIGGINS
Our restaurant plaza area which will be located adjacent and just north of Bob’s Steak & Chop House.
The restaurant plaza will call for four to five restaurants in the plaza area just north of Bob’s, then we’ll have a few more on the peripheral (nearby) pad sites.
QUESTION
You wear two hats – one for Bob’s Steak & Chop House as its managing partner, and one for the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley. Please tell us the difference in those two positions.
PETER HIGGINS
My full-time job right now is running Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg.
For a restaurant of this caliber, we really got to watch our “P’s and Q’s” (slang for being on their best behavior).
The back door theory is if you don’t watch things, things tend to grow legs. So we need to be very much in tune with the daily operations here at Bob’s.
But I will always have a hand in the overall merchandising and deal-making as we grow the Shops at Rio Grande Valley.
QUESTION
In addition to the restaurants that are coming, any idea when announcements might take place about any other expansions at the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley?
PETER HIGGINS
Again, I would say towards the end of the year as we have a couple of more professional conventions, if you will, between now and the end of the year that we looked at those deals.
QUESTION
What sets Bob’s Steak & Chop House apart from other restaurants that we may have here in Hidalgo County?
PETER HIGGINS
There are plenty of good restaurants, fine restaurants, here in the Valley and in this region.
What we add to it a little bit more of an upscale, feel-good experience.
It’s very in tune to business dinner functions, corporate dining.
We look to aggressively go after the businesses in this market via the medical and pharmaceutical industries, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its School of Medicine, the Bert Ogden Arena and H-E-B Park with its soccer stadium, and Edinburg is a center of government, being the county seat for Hidalgo County.
We know the businesses here, and tonight is good evidence of that.
We are looking to meet our expectations.
QUESTION
On the walls inside this restaurant, there are many sports photographs, even equipment. What is that all about?
PETER HIGGINS
This is part of the culture of Bob’s.
It’s a traditional steak house, there’s no getting around that. I think that’s what the Valley needs.
We really emphasize service, but as far as the themes for Bob’s, they they have a flag room. We happen to be now in what we called the master’s room. There’s a whole lot of sports memorabilia here as you see. I love the picture of (pro golfers) Jack Nicholas and Arnold Palmer there, and (actor) Jackie Gleason, and then we have (pro tennis player) Andre Agassi.
We have a variety of sports represented here, including NCAA Division 1 athletics provided by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which is one of the largest public universities in Texas.
Mayor García mentioned the the two sports complexes with professional teams in basketball (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) and soccer (Rio Grande Valley FC Toros), making this a center of the entertainment quarter.
We all know how popular soccer is in this part of Texas.
H-E-B Park, which features a soccer-specific, 9,700-seat stadium that cost more than $16 million to construct, serves as home for the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the United Soccer League. We all know how popular soccer is in South Texas and in Mexico.
The $88 million, Bert Ogden Arena, the 8,700-seat, 189,000 square-foot enclosed venue, which will be home to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a professional basketball team associated with the D-League of the National Basketball Association. They are set to open in January 2018.
QUESTION
The mayor also mentioned the important roles that (Edinburg EDC executive director) Gus García and the EDC played by helping bring Bob’s Steak & Chop House to Edinburg. Can you provide more information about that?
PETER HIGGINS
There is no question that this deal would not have happened if it were not for the Economic Development Corporation, which is led by Gus García, with and on behalf of the Edinburg EDC Board of Directors, the mayor and the Edinburg City Council.
He joined me in many of the negotiating sessions, not only for the brand and the license, but also for the site. His knowledge of the demographics here, and explaining all the advantages of Edinburg to Bob’s Steak & Chop House.
QUESTION
Had it not been for the Edinburg EDC providing demographics and other statistics, would Bob’s Steak & Chop House seriously considered coming to the Valley?
PETER HIGGINS
You have to realize I’ve grown to really know and appreciate the Valley.
So when I go up and negotiate with people up north, there are brokers who say they know the market in Edinburg and in the Valley, and they really don’t.
The Edinburg market has trends that continue to grow, not just in border traffic, but just the core of business that we have here.
Besides featuring commerce, Edinburg is a cultural center as well. People want to live here year-round. It’s just not winter Texans anymore.
QUESTION
Gus, what does having an elite restaurant like Bob’s Steak & Chop House do for the image of Edinburg?
GUS GARCÍA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EDINBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Edinburg for decades has been well-known for having outstanding restaurants for all tastes and budgets, from coffee shops and family-owned restaurants to national restaurant chains.
Edinburg’s restaurants are fantastic, and they serve phenomenal food, great meals, you name it.
Now, having an elite restaurant like Bob’s Steak & Chop House changes the image for the entire South Texas region. This is the first nationally-recognized five-star restaurant in Edinburg and deep South Texas.
Bob’s has a nationally known reputation. They’re in Nashville, they’re in New York City, San Francisco, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, just to name a few of the cities. I know they’re going into Oklahoma City and St. Louis. Bob’s have numerous restaurants throughout Texas and the U.S.
Their quality of service and food also commands higher prices like the very best restaurants in the nation.
By doing well in Edinburg, it will once again prove that our region can support, and deserves, the very best life has to offer.
QUESTION
And for Bob’s, the shopping center itself, how important is it that shopping center and this restaurant is located right in front of the biggest intersection in Texas?
GUS GARCÍA
It’s huge.
We have a significant amount of people who drive on U.S. Expressway 281, also known as the Interstate Highway 69 corridor, who are able to see Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg as they come through the Valley. They will recognize and realize that there is a fine steak house that is easily recognizable in Texas for providing a world-class dining experience.
That is one of the reasons Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg will be successful, just as the location of U.S. Expressway 281 is one of the reasons that the Shoppes at Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg has been so successful.
H-E-B Park and its fabulous soccer stadium and the Bert Ogden Arena and the retail development that will occur around it are also right by U.S. Expressway 281. As the saying goes about success in business, its all about location, location, location.
QUESTION
There still is a lot of land available north and south U.S. Expressway 281 in Edinburg. Does Bob’s Steak & Chop House increase the chance for more development along this corridor in the future?
GUS GARCÍA
We have had a number of calls coming in. National franchises of all types are curious to know how Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg will perform. This restaurant is really on a lot of investors’ radars, just as Edinburg has been for many years. We are very excited about Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Edinburg.
I want to give much credit to Peter Higgins.
Peter is absolutely relentless when it comes to his efforts on this restaurant.
There was many conversations that Peter and I had, where he was ready to pull his hair out and my hair out, too, because we were trying to get this thing up and running. I want to congratulate him on his efforts. The man is an incredible worker, so I think it goes without saying, Bob’s is here because of him – that’s the bottom line.
PETER HIGGINS
Back at you Gus.
Really, it’s been a pleasure to work with Gus and the mayor and the rest of the City Council as well. They have been very supportive of the project, and I speak for Neal H. Ellis, president of First Hartford Realty.
We are here today, on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, for our official ribbon-cutting, because of the leaders and the people of the City of Edinburg.
People have asked me several times recently, “Why Edinburg, Texas?”
Well, I’ll tell you why.
It is a tremendous growth environment.
If you look at the city itself with its growth, a new Hidalgo County Courthouse that will be built, several world-class hotels, a nationally-ranked university with a School of Medicine, and the Bert Ogden Arena and H-E-B Park near our site – well, the list goes on and on.
••••••
For more information on the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and the City of Edinburg, please log on to http://edinburgedc.com or to http://www.facebook.com/
