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BEAUCOUP TAKES OFF IN A…WELL…BEAUCOUP WAY

According to the Encarta Dictionary the word beaucoup means very many or very much. One visit to Beaucoup Wings N Wings, 3511 Elgin will satisfy the definition of the word.

"We want our restaurant to be a stimulant for our guest," said co-owner Lakesha Reed. "When you walk in we want our food to smell good. We use the art on the wall as a cultural awakening for our guest. There's a computer area. We have television for viewing. The music that fills this space is an ecliptic mixture of all type of genre. We want our guest to have a total experience when they visit us.

Along with Salimah Muhammad the late 20 something year olds have been operating the restaurant located directly from the University of Houston's home baseball field since December. A variety of chicken wings dominate the menu, but Po-Boy sandwiches, Crawfish Bread and New Orleans styled gumbo make easy partners in this restaurant which also features open mic poetry on various evenings.

The support we've received from the Third Ward community has been amazing," said Ms. Muhammad. Added to that mix is the fact the two UH alumni have been able to give nine people jobs.

"Creating jobs for people is important. We couldn't do this without them," said Ms. Muhammad. Such commitment from dependable workers is the reason Ms. Muhammad and Ms. Reed are able to venture off into other areas of business.

Need jewelry, wedding designing, party planning or catered food? The ladies say they will travel. "Our tag line is 'Never too much," said Ms. Reed. Surprisingly, the ladies say they didn't borrow too much money to start Beaucoup.

"We got a few loans," said Ms. Muhammad. Both ladies said family support was very important upon the restaurant's initial December start-up. "At first it was just four of us," said Ms. Reed. "My uncle and a friend were the cooks.

" Ms. Reed and Ms. Muhammad say the fact their restaurant site was established before they bought it in December was helpful also. But there is a reason why the former owners of Wings N Wings sold the restaurant. Next door was a coffee shop which was forced to close its doors after a lack of business support.

What's the secret to Beaucoups' success? "We try and greet our entire guests when they come to the door," said Ms. Muhammad. "Guest service is a major issue here," adds Ms. Reed. "We treat people like we are welcoming them to our home."

For more information about Beaucoup Wings N Wings call 713-751-1705 or visit the restaurants' website at

www.beaucoupcafe.com.

FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE COFFEE HOUSE: Business owner puts family first

A little less than two years ago Robin Twymon told wife Karen he was thinking about giving up his six figure corporate salary to make coffee. "She took one look at me and said 'You are out of your mind.

" Nineteen months after opening Java Cup, 3705 Scott, in October 2005, Mr. Twymon has plans to open another store in Pearland. What's Ms. Twymon's current outlook? "She's very supportive now.

Mr. Twymon says support for Java Cup which sits in a business center located between Texas Southern University and The University of Houston has come mostly from UH students. "Take a look at our set-up and feel our obeisance," said Mr. Twymon referencing Java Cup's brown based coloring while jazz music bellows softly from a stereo. "My initial target customers were African Americans. But for whatever reason we have not received the support I thought we would from TSU and the Third Ward community.

Now, I'll go to Starbucks and I see them there in big numbers." Mr. Twymon notes that his prices are cheaper than Starbucks and that he serves many of the same products as the national chain. Talk to long time Java Cup customer Jennifer Wolff. The UH student says Java Cup has something Starbucks does not have. "It's the only shop in town that uses the Chai Tea which I like (for Ice Chai)," said Ms. Wolff who notes that she enjoys the atmosphere also.

What Mr. Twymon enjoys about Java Cup is not necessarily found in the more than 20 coffee flavors the shop offers. "This gives me the chance to be with my son more," said Mr. Twymon of 11-year old Joshua. "I still work long hours but I can adjust my schedule for him."

Another aspect of Java Cup is its commitment to mentoring youth. In addition to receiving business support from UH, Mr. Twymon says Jack Yates High School students have supported Java Cup with their business dollars. Along with mentoring partner Angela Anderson of A. Anderson Retention and Education Consultants, Mr. Twymon is mentoring six 9th grade Yates students.

"We are helping them develop a 4-year plan that will set them up for college," said Ms. Anderson. "We look at their strengths. And we address their weaknesses. We open their eyes to volunteering in the community." Adrian Thompkins is not volunteering his time at Java Cup. The TSU pharmacy freshman pays some of his bills with the money he makes as a Java Cup employee.

"It's nice working here and the people are nice," said Mr. Thompkins who adds that Mr. Twymon has mentored him in the art of treating customers well and how to run a business. He does take issue with his boss when it comes to fellow TSU students frequenting Java Cup.

"We do have constant support from some TSU students. There are about 10-12 that come here daily," said Mr. Thompkins. Mr. Twymon says he wants Java Cup to be a mainstay of the Third Ward community. The Houston Dynamo soccer team which plays its home games at Robertson stadium across from Java Cup has Bible study at the shop.

On alternative Monday's and Friday's Java Cup sponsors open mic poetry. "If groups have something going on we are more than happy to work with them," said Mr. Twymon.

Java Cup hours of operation are 8am-6pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8am-10pm, Monday and Friday; 8am-noon on Saturday.

For more information call 713-748-JAVA (5282) or visit the website at thejavacupcorp.com

 

ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WELCOMES TNM: Elsie Huang is a woman who has no time for chit chat. Recently, a New Majority reporter paid a visit to discuss The Asian Chamber of Commerce of which she sit's as president..Read

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER CONTINUES GOOD WORKSThe Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Houston, 5601 S. Braeswood, has been a mainstay in Houston over 70 years ...Read

Area Relator sells and lives in Third Ward:
The year is 1974 and 16 year old Gerald "Jimmy" Womack walks into longtime Houston realtor George Coleman's office. The oldest of ten children tells the Third Ward realtor he wants to be a realtor and ask for his help. Read

UNITY BANK: Stronger and better than ever

Try asking Unity National Bank Executive Vice President John Scroggins a question laced with the potential for controversy and you'll get something back many corporate types won't give; a quick honest answer.

Of the more than 1,500 banks in Texas, Houston based Unity is the only African American owned bank in the entire state.

That's ridiculous!

"I concur. That is ridiculous," said Mr. Scroggins. "Now, that does give us a certain advantage. But the African American community (in Texas) has enough wealth, where we should have more than one bank."

That number was almost zero. In 1985, Riverside National Bank was forced to close its doors after bank failure. The name was changed to Unity that year and in 1989 an African-American group bought the bank.

Since then another group led by former Houston Mayor Dr. Lee Brown, who sits as Unity's Chairman of the Board, has acquired ownership.

Today, Unity has cash assets over $55 million dollars. Its 40 plus employees operate at the original 2602 Blodgett site as well as 1661 Texas Parkway in Missouri City. Unity also has a corporate office at 1330 Post Oak Blvd in the Galleria area. And future plans include developing branches in other Texas cities.

"We're much stronger today. And we're making progress on a daily basis. But like a lot of the small business owners we deal with everyday, we have to be careful and focused on how we spend our dollars," said Unity President Charles "Chuck" Cowell.

Senior Vice President Donna Flowers said because Unity is an independent minority owned bank "we're like an entrepreneur business our self."

Precisely the reason said Mr. Scroggins why Unity can better relate to issues facing small businesses compared to some larger banking institutions.

"No bank can do every deal that's put in front of them," said Mr. Scroggins. "But we have a willingness to listen and to educate. And because many of our customers are minority we have a strong sensitivity to that community."

Because of its historical ties to Houston, (the old Riverside was the first African American bank west of the Mississippi River) Mr. Scroggins says Unity will always have a special relationship with its African American customer base.

At the same time, Mr. Scroggins says Unity must continue "to be a profitable business." Both executives see the influx of non-African Americans into the midtown/Third Ward area as a potential plus for Unity. The bank recently developed a customer service department and has had online banking since October 2006.

"These are fairly mainstream products, but this will allow us to do business with anyone," said Mr. Scroggins.

And though the bank is as strong as ever, Mr. Scroggins says that's not necessarily the case when it comes to people choosing banking as a profession.

What is Unity doing about it? Go to Texas Southern or the University of Houston on any given day and you're likely to see Unity execs selling their vocation. What's sort of feedback have they been getting?

"Honestly, the recruitment is not where it should be. Many students don't have the patience to work up the system," said Mr. Scroggins who believes universities should have more curriculums which involve banking.

Maybe more interest in banking can be achieved if the model Unity has installed is followed.

"We are close to fulfilling the mission we started 15 months ago," said Mr. Scroggins.