Readers Choice: Top Five Business Stories of 2019

SAN ANGELO, TX – Many businesses opened and closed in San Angelo and West Texas in 2019 and while San Angelo Live! reported on hundreds of them, our readers decided which ones garnered the most attention. 

As 2019 comes to a close, the business landscape in West Texas has changed significantly. 

Over one million people read business stories on San Angelo Live! and the following were the most read: 

1. Zentner's Daughter Steak House Closing. 

On Dec. 11, we reported that after 45 years in business, Betty Zentner said she was closing her restaurant for good.  Zentner's Daughter was the last of several restaurants the Zentner family owned and operated in West Texas for 100 years.  A new owner is slated to take over the location on Knickerbocker Rd. across from San Angelo stadium in 2020.  

2.  The Boat Couldn't Weather the Storm.

The Boat Oyster Bar opened in San Angelo last year in November 2018 and they have officially called it quits. 

"We're done done." said one of the workers inside dismantling and packing up items inside of the restaurant. 

This was the second "boat" location in Texas and this one was highly anticipated in San Angelo with its Cajun menu and boat shaped building. 

3.  Apache Corporation Lays Off 15 Percent of Workforce.

While this is an article about a business in Midland, it was the third most read business article on San Angelo Live!  This is a great example of our expanding audience and one of the reasons we continue to report news from around West Texas.  The layoffs came after Apache planned to cut its 2020 capital spending by $250 million. By saving an extra $150 million a year, the company would have to cut jobs. 

There is no word yet on how many jobs will be effected overall but there will be an overall reduction of around 10 to 15 percent. 

Last quarter, Apache announced a loss of $170 million but says it was due to deteriorating natural gas liquids in Alpine High reserves and a drop in gas prices. 

4.  Heff's Burgers Gone for Good.

Nearly 6 months after Heffernan assured LIVE the restaurant would open in June of this year, Heff’s Burgers is no closer to being opened. The building permit for the location has expired and it does not appear that another one has been filed. A sign in the new building's window indicates the CMS Properties out of Lubbock manages the property now. A call to the real estate company confirmed the structure is available for lease.

5.  Long Time College Hills Store Closed.

The convenience store on the corner of Millbrook and College Hills across from the dog park closed in Jan. 2019.  While the closing of the long time business wasn't the biggest news of 2019, the article was the fifth most popular business related story on San Angelo Live!

The convenience store on the corner of College Hills Blvd. and Millbrook Dr. across the street from the dog park has closed after at least 40 years of continuous business.

The 7-Eleven closed back in November and workers cleared out most of the equipment. 

The building is owned by Skinny's LLC out of Abilene according to tax records. 

The location has since reopened as B's Corner Store.