Hello AJ readers!
There were some interesting updates in food business news, with three local business-related groups receiving recognition from the Small Business Administration. Let's see what happened.
Salata Salad Kitchen and Firehouse Subs will join the 72-acre Covenant Park development. This will likely be the first Salata to open in late summer and will be Lubbock's fourth fire station sub.
more: Lubbock Covenant Park announces two upcoming restaurants
While we await location confirmation from Chicken Salad Chick, Canyon West welcomed the Chicken Salad franchise to the center via a social media announcement. It is scheduled to open at the end of this summer.
more: Chicken Salad Chick opens at Lubbock Shopping Center
A day after Chicken Salad Chick was announced, Nairn Management Group announced that Sushi Nami would also be joining Canyon West. The Japanese fusion restaurant will open at 5015 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 100.
Another announcement came from the Lubbock Entertainment Performing Arts Association. The group has announced a new food and beverage partnership with SAVOR, which serves approximately 350 venues worldwide. SAVOR has some big plans for the venue, including scholarships and the eventual opening of Rave On, which closed on March 31st.
more: New food and beverage vendor announces plans for Lubbock's Buddy Holly Hall, Rave On
The SBA West Texas District Office has announced the 2024 National Small Business Week (NSBW) award winners.
Marilee and Vaughn Bray of The Soda Shack won the Lubbock Area Small Business of the Year Award.
George and Paige Nester of Creek House Honey Farm (5005 4th Ave.) in Canyon received the West Texas Region Small Business of the Year award. Braden Clark and Donna Dorman Madison of Square Mile Community Development received the Amarillo Area Community Award.
more: Bees, flight schools and soda make the list for SBA's 2024 West Texas Awards
We also invited you to the first LBK Foodies Restaurant Takeover on Wednesday at F and F Japanese Grill (6616 Milwaukee Ave. #400). With this acquisition, members of the group get a meal consisting of a seaweed and squid salad combo, gyoza, crispy shrimp, a choice of mushroom or jalapeño poppers, a drink, and a two-meat hibachi combo. Ta.
The design of the restaurant is cozy, but the food was even cozier. I love a good noodle dish and the noodles in the hibachi combo were delicious. The steak was juicy and not too tough. To be honest, I had never eaten squid before, so I was a little nervous about the salad. Apparently I missed it. I highly recommend this new restaurant to anyone looking for a filling and delicious meal this weekend.
For non-business news, the Around the Hub column will be on hiatus next week. I'll be back on April 14th.
As always, thanks for reading and supporting AJ.
This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock business news includes Salata, Rave On and SBA awards
