By james art 
Hello AJ readers!
With around 31 business announcements made in October – 11 of them coming this week – to call it busy would be an understatement. Let’s dive into the highlights.
This week’s early shock came from Malouf’s, 8201 Quaker Ave., Suite 130. The business has begun the process of closing its Lubbock store, but will continue in the DFW area.
“The high-end luxury business, post-Covid, has become more of a challenge in smaller markets,” said Tripp Gleghorn, store manager. “It’s a sad decision all around. We have a close-knit family here. At the end of the day, when you’re trying to run a business, you have to make a tough decision.”
Maloof’s announcement was one of several closures of the week. Logan’s Roadhouse, 6241 Slide Road, closed after the company did a market analysis. Woody’s Pizza, Grill & Pub, 3135 34th St., decided to close Friday night due to increased operating costs, becoming the fourth pizzeria to close of the year. Hub City Ritas, 216 N. University Ave., Suite 300, also had its last day Nov. 1. Bodine’s Cocktail Lounge, 1717 Crickets, closed Nov. 2.
Taco Cabana has announced that it is seeking multi-unit franchisees in several mid-sized Texas cities, including Lubbock. The timeline between finding a franchisee and opening the first location is about 18 months, depending on real estate, so if a Lubbock franchisee is found quickly, the Hub City could see a new restaurant in 2026.
All of these announcements, along with others made in October, were detailed in the monthly business review. The survey had 31 businesses, six of which were closed and 12 open.
The Rolling Cones ice cream truck also updated that it hopes to open its storefront in the former Tom & Bingo’s, 34th St., early next year. The same goes for the upcoming Asian restaurant, Kokomo, which will open at 5217 82nd St. #106. I spoke with one of the sisters who own the Mochi Donut, Taiwanese Bean, Korean Corn Dog business and how it feels to be about to open your third restaurant after so many years.
Next week, expect to see information on at least one new business. The plans aren’t ready yet, but we’re entering a busy news season, so I’m sure more will come.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting AJ.