Six Businesses Investing in Downtown Lubbock

Market Lubbock, Inc. announced six local businesses that participated in the organization’s downtown grant program with a collective private investment of $884,280 in downtown. The businesses which were announced during the press conference include: Auld Brewing Company, Take 5 Oil Change, Sally Blair Ceramics, McDougal Capital, OfficeWise and Therese Barrett Fine Art Photography.

• Raymond and Andrea Auld are restoring a property at 515 Broadway to open Auld Brewing Company in downtown Lubbock.The updates being made to the building include adding a rear space concrete pad, replacing overhead doors and windows, installation of utilities and new bathrooms, sealing of concrete floors and new walls. All the renovations in total are $214,808 in private investment.
• Take 5 Oil Change is a new resident to downtown with its site at 812 Ave. Q. The total private investment was $552,553 which included the construction of a brand new building.
• Known for her nationally-acclaimed ceramic work, Sally Blair made updates including lighting, paint and window adjustments to her new studio at 1320 19th St. with a total investment of $70,010 in downtown.

“I chose to invest in downtown because of its thriving creative community,” said Sally Blair, owner of Sally Blair Ceramics. “The downtown grant program through Market Lubbock, Inc. has melted some real financial stress away from my young design studio. My new space is a one-minute bike ride to Charles Adams Studio Project, LHUCA, and several new breweries and coffee shops. It is thrilling to be a part of all the exciting things happening in downtown Lubbock.”

• McDougal Capital is making updates to its location at 1001 Main St. improving sidewalks with aprivate investment of $20,160 to go along with a million dollar investment to the interior of the building in 2018.
• OfficeWise added a new sign to their location at 1301 13th St. investing $6,249 in its property.
• Local photographer and business owner Therese Barrett made investments in her newly located photography studio at 1812 Texas Ave. that included removing the store front and replacing it with a wood frame, adding safety glass and double glass doors as well as tiling the existing flooring. The total private investment made was $20,500.

“The heart of every city is its downtown,” said Therese Barrett, photographerand owner of Therese Barrett Fine Art Photography. “I’m thrilled to join the other small business owners who are committed to revitalizing downtown Lubbock. LEDA and Market Lubbock, Inc. are providing a jump-start to getting my business fully operational. I’m excited for downtown to be my new backdrop for capturing moments and creating memories.”

If you are interested in learning more about Market Lubbock’s downtown grant program, please contact Jorge Quirino, manager of downtown and special projects for Market Lubbock, at 800.687.5330 or 806.749.4500.

“There are a lot of attractive factors in Lubbock. And, I think they are going to bring other companies to Lubbock. Other technology companies. Lubbock has so much to offer.”

Brian Cook
FAST Inc.