One Year anniversary of Portland Texas Blog-Portland, you've come a long way baby!

It is the one year anniversary of this blog. Portland has come a long way since November 2005, adding over 10 new businesses and or other construction projects. The blog has had some success in obtaining feedback from the community. As with many weblogs it is sometimes hard to get your only family to read them! Despite having some negatives events such as being burglarized I still believe in Portland and love this small town community. Generally Portland citizens take a lot of pride in their community and has the one of the best school districts in and of the surrounding counties. If anything this blog will continue to serve as a photo documentary of the growth of Portland, Texas. My only regret is that I did not take pre-Walmart photos taken. If anyone has any of these please let me know I would love to post them.

Think this might something interesting like a store or competition to Chili's for casual dining? Naw it's another medical imagining joint. Nice porta potty eh?
Photo by Giant

North Shore Medical Imaging Portland Texas- no more long drive to Corpuscle Christi just to get a snapshop of your inards for the doc! HooRay!

Photo by Giant

New IBC bank in Portland Texas-OK this is ridiculous. There are two banks within viewing distance of each other (near Walmart) and a bank inside Walmart as well. Give me a break!

Photo by Giant

A yet unamed building most likely medical service in nature. I had someone post that this is a landscaping business. Nice to have some variety in new businesses. Thank you for your information!
Photo by Giant

Oh boy another bank that's sooooo much better than an IHOP-not!
New Prosperity Bank in Portland Texas
Photo by Giant

Looks like someone's desk has already been moved over from the old city hall!
Photo by Giant

After many many months it looks like the external portion of city hall is complete. It looks great!
Photo by Giant

Robbery in Portland

FYI. Within the last month there has been at least one home burglarized. I can not comment on what I know about this as it is part of an ongoing police investigation. A word of advice however, it is important to know who your neighbors are to both ask for their help in monitoring suspicious behavior and or to assess their trustworthiness.

Correction-Radiology Associates Portland, Texas

Just issuing a correction...The new Radiology Associates is located next to the Uncle Sam's service station. I'm not sure what the other building on Cedar street is going to be. If anyone knows please post. I appreciate it!

A Bank instead of an I-HOP in Portland Texas

Well sports fans the latest rumor is that instead a wonderful, much sough after I-HOP we are most likely getting another...you guessed it... bank! Whoopee! Don't the folks over at North Shore have enough room to store their millions in the banks we already have!

Rumors of I-Hop restaurant in Portland, Texas

I heard it from the rumor mill that there may be an I-Hop coming to Portland. This would be the construction next to Walmart (right hand side if you are headed north on the 181 feeder)

North Shore Medical Imaging in Portland Texas

North Shore Medical Imaging in Portland is hiring right here in our booming "mini metropolis" of Portland Texas! See Caller add...
http://display.caller.com/ROP/ads.aspx?advid=444473&adid=3239376

Academy Sports and Outdoors in Portland Texas

From the rumor mill....I received an anonymous post that the property next to Walmart has been purchased by Academy Sports and Outdoors. There -is- ongoing construction in the area.
Thanks for the info anonymous!

Remember fellow bloggers that this site is pro business, but if you have a legitimate gripe feel free to post-I will also post opposing views as I did with Bad Brads BBQ.

I do not however post comments of a personal derogatory nature (I received some negative comments about the city manger several weeks ago-he seems to be doing a heck of job to me!)

Ink World Part II

Update on Ink World. They are still incompetent pinheads but they did refund my money.

Ink World Portland Texas

I would like hear how other's folks experiences have gone with the new Ink World at the HEB (in Portland Texas). So far I have not been impressed. They do not have their own ink refilling machine as of yet so there is a wait. The clerk promised it would be ready the next day after 5 PM.

I showed up at 7PM the next day-after leisurely closing his magazine / comic book- the booth attendant informed that...Oops there was no delivery from Corpus made today- please come back tomorrow. Finally, -the next day- IW called and let me know my cartridge was ready to be picked up.

I picked up my cartridge and took it home, opened the nicely boxed and sealed cartridge, only to realize that they had given me the wrong cartridge type. I was fairly perturbed at this point. I made the trek back to HEB and found no one at the Ink World booth. The clerk had left a hand scrawled sign posted that read -went home due to weather, leave cartridges with name and numbers- Which against my better judgment- I did.

When and if I get a replacement cartridge I was post the result! The refill only cost me ten bucks but I think I've spent $5 in gas so far!

Hu-Dat Portland Texas-Great Food and Service

I am happy to report that the Hu-Dat (in Portland Texas) did not disappoint . Dispite a long line my family and I where able to order and be seated within a reasonable amount of time (10 minutes). The service was friendly and the food was piping hot and tasty. Offering both Chinese and Taiwanese the menu selection is fairly diverse. If you live in Portland or just passing through I highly recommend it!

Army / Navy Credit Union Portland Texas

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I think I misreported the moving of the Navy Federal Credit Union. The new Credit union shown here is an Army / Navy Credit Union. "My bad"
Photo by Giant

Starbucks Portland Texas

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I finally tried the new Starbucks after 2 months. All the staff where super friendly and perhaps a bit lonely as the Starbucks sign is not easily veiwable from the highway. They complained that often they are not busy and would like more customers.
Here's a Starbucks fan photo site...
http://www.starbuckseverywhere.net/LatestPhotos.htm

Photo by Giant

NorthShore Plaza Portland Texas Fully Leased

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In addition to the first tenants in the NorthShore plaza the fully leased faciltiy has a Subway, Farmer's Insurance, a Teacher's Credit Union, and tanning Salon. Need a job? "Just a Cut" is hiring!
Photo by Giant

New Construction near Portland Texas Uncle Sam's Service Station

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Looks like the Uncle Sam station is being re-openned but what is the area behind it?
Photo by Giant

Radiology Associates Portland Texas Branch

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You may have noticed new construction on Cedar Drive the last couple of weeks. This will be a new branch of Radiology associates. Beats driving to Corpus!
Please check out the Caller article and the PRA website:
website:

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_theme=cccb&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=CCCB&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%20110A6DCE781329E0%20)


http://www.xraydocs.com/Portland_Imaging.html




Photo by Giant

NorthShore IBC branch Portland Texas

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NorthShore residents must have so much money that they need a bank within walking distance!
Photo by Giant

Hu-Dat Portland Texas

I've eaten at the Ingleside location and the cusine was mighty fine! I can't wait to give the Portland location a try. We still need a few more mid to upscale dining choices- slim pickin right now.
http://www.hudatoriental.com/
Photo by Giant

Best Western Hotel in Portland Texas

Mystery solved...the new hotel in Portland is Best Western!
Photo by Giant

NorthShore Medical Imaging Portland Texas

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Looks like Radiology Associates has some competition in the North Shore Area. Are we going to become an adjunct medical city to Corpus Christi?
Photo by Giant

Bad Brads BBQ-true to it's name-it's Bad

While this site is not a dining critic blog I will report the occasional positive or negative experience. I recently gave the BBQ restaurant Bad Brads another chance after having an initial mediocre meal. Unfortunately I have to report that this time was worse than the first. We ordered take out again and this time I specifically requested BBQ sauce to aid the dry as a popcorn fart briquette that I have the time before. It seems however that their BBQ sauce unlike their well established competitor’s homemade sauce is a thick molasses "goop" that tastes and resembles a store bought brand.

In addition, the "Cowboy beans" tasted like the cook had dropped the Chili powder shaker can and all into the bean batch- I had painful gas for several hours afterwards -I know... too much information!

Finally for three deluxe meals it was $37, including awful, awful, cobbler, the cost was far more expensive than it’s well establish competitor in Gregory. Macs you’re still worth the long, pain in the butt, could get caught at the rail road tracks, side street, zig zag drive through Gregory! Keep up the good work, your BBQ is the best in south Texas. Maybe Bad Brad's fare is what BBQ is suppose to taste like in Oklahoma? God I love Texas!

Portland Growth Still Going Strong

Portland continues to experience rapid growth. It appears the outer shell of the new hotel (chain unknown still) is complete likewise is the new IBC bank. The Navy Federal Credit Union construction -I pass each day on the way to work- is coming along but is just a steel frame at this point. There is new mystery construction on Cedar road (the road that was extended to Buddy G). Giant and I are going to make a best effort to go out this weekend to take new pictures.

Due to changing jobs and a busy personal life I have not been able to post new content for a while. As always, this blog needs contributions from the community (this was beginning to happen). I recently received a post from someone who no longer lives in Portland. They where pleased to have a place to surf to that had fairly fresh online news.

New StarBucks!

Portland is going upscale! The old KFC is being remodeled to be a Starbucks! Please visit this link for more info...
http://corpuschristi.yourhub.com/Story.aspx?contentid=62944

Northshore Cinema 8 Redux

On our second visit to the Northshore Cinema 8 we where impressed. No glitches this time! Now if they will pave the parking lot and add a marquee it will be just like the big city!

Hotel Construction

Still no word on what hotel chain this is...

Election Fever

Signs where posted all around Portland for the elections of new judges.

181 Overpass heading toward Gregory
Photo by Giant

Closer view of overpass on right side of 181 heading toward Taft
Photo by Giant

181 construction Gregory
Photo by Giant

Distant view of 181 construction
Photo by Giant

See below for recent contruction pictures of the 181 over pass project for LaQuinta Terminal...

Bad Brads BBQ-Our experience

Disclaimer-Everyone has an opinion about food and our experience may not be reflective of yours. We ordered takeout from Brad's last week. I thought the BBQ was fair (Brisket and Sausage), but other members of my family described it as very dry (they forgot to give us any BBQ sauce). I believe Brad's is a small Oklahoma chain, so this could be a regional difference of what constitutes good BBQ. On a scale of 1-10, Bill Miller's chain being a 1 and the Max's BBQ in Gregory being a 10, Brads was a 6. Brad's is only 5 minutes from my house-I will still be taking the 10 minute drive to Max BBQ for now.

New construction started for the new IBC bank near North Shore entrance.


IBC Bank (click for larger image)
Photo by Giant

Cedar road extension progress
Photo by Giant

Navy Federal Credit Union progress
Photo by Giant

Shopping center updated picture
Photo by Giant

Slowest Burger in the West Portland Texas

I try to stay away from critiquing businesses but in the case of the Portland Dairy Queen I am going to make an exception . I have given them multiple opportunities to redeem themselves but the service is routinely slow and the attitude of staff poor. I realize people working at fast food joints do not get paid much and I take that in account but this DQ achieves what the other local ffrs do not-they are consistently bad. The owner of this establishment needs to "clean house". Despite all this...the food is great!

IBC Bank

IBC is opening a new bank close to Walmart. Must be there's just not enough to room to store all the new businesses money!

Bad Brads is open!

Bad Brads is open! Its been so busy every time I've tried to eat there I've given up for the time being. Please post your experience.

Welcome to growth!
Photo by Giant effects by Portland blogger.

City Hall
Photo by Giant

Bad Brads-I can almost smell the brisket now?
Photo by Giant

Bad Brads (rear side)
Photo by Giant

Site for NFCU-Looks like Hildale 1955 in "Back to the Future"!
Photo by Giant

Cedar street
Photo by Giant

Cedar Street Extension
Photo by Giant

New Mystery Hotel

News and Commentary

This blog was recently added to the Keys to the City area on citiesonline.com. I appreciate the listing! I am trying to get the word out. I need contributors!

Myself and our chief photographer-"Giant" will be out and about this coming weekend to take pictures of construction progress.

News: It looks like Bad Brads BBQ is getting very close to opening. Also seems that the cinema parking lot is finally going to get paved. One downside to all the new businesses is that some of the smaller mom and pop stores have closed their doors. Of these is the Ice Cream Parlor over by Subway and another local ice cream store (a chain) La Patera closed (next to Blockbuster)

Commentary: A Day in the Life of a Small Town

Sometimes old sayings still ring true…such as “Behind every cloud there’s a silver lining”
Recently a local retailer accidentally swapped credit cards with me and another customer. The other customer didn’t look at the card. They stuffed it into their wallet and drove away. Unsure of what to do, I called the Portland Police Department. Our local "men and women in blue" where courteous and genuinely concerned throughout the ordeal. They contacted the other card holder, got our card back and even offered to come to our house to drop it off! It's reassuring to know that at least in our small town they still protect and serve-even when it turns out not to be a crime. Thanks guys!!!

Happy New Year Portland!

Growth continues at a rapid pace and the future looks bright for 2006. While attending a local community activity it was stated that some citizens are concerned about the impact of the eventual base closing (Ingleside). I suppose we will have to wait and see. This blogger and family are continuing to enjoy Portland and did 90% of our Christmas shopping in Portland (and online).

I am working at getting this blog listed at other Texas community sites and blog search engines. The Portland Chamber politely declined a reciprocal link on their site due to some unprofessional behavior of a previous Blog / website. Nice folks over at chamber- I respect their decision. To be a successful conduit for community news I need to get the word out. I need others to contribute and provide information. (special thanks to my co-workers for some recent updates!)

This picture taken 1/2/06 show an in-progress extension of Cedar street. The street will now end at Buddy Gamen next to the new movie theater.

Photo by Giant (click for larger image)

Cedar street

Mystery Hotel

This structure (a hotel) is coming along nicely. I have not found any information as to what hotel chain this is going to be. As always feel free to post if you have any info.

Mystery Hotel-Photo by Giant (click for larger image)