Business Sector Profile - Folks are surprised when they learn that there are about 1600 businesses in Fort Worth South. The list includes 29 manufacturing firms, 197 retailers, 38 restaurants, 761 medical sector businesses (including 626 doctors), 32 dental offices, 78 non-profits, 29 churches, 20 financial services firms, 96 professional service firms (including 34 law offices), and 97 general commercial businesses.

Vera Lee - In 1932 Vera Lee Tucker recognized a market for funeral garments. She sat down at her sewing machine in her home on Penn Street and began what has become the nationally recognized Vera Lee Garment Company. In the ‘40’s the business moved to a large two-story house at 316 S. Henderson (now Dannon). The business was on the first floor and the owners lived upstairs. By 1964 growth forced a move to new larger accommodations at 1808 Park Place. Kathye and Ron Buckallew, now third generation owners, have 70 employees and assemble each garment individually. Most transactions are done via the internet at www.veralee.com.

All Saints Child Care - All Saints Child Care & Learning Center is completing a $250,000 renovation to their facility. The center was created in 1960 as the first corporate child care center in Tarrant County, and was used as a recruiting tool to attract nurses to All Saints Hospital. In 1994 the center extended its services to the general public. The facility currently has 13 classrooms and four outdoor play areas for150 children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. 40% of the kids are children of All Saints employees.

Other Child Care - The medical district has three full-time child care facilities: All Saints Child Care, East Fort Worth Montessori located in the former St. Joseph’s hospital, and the Child Development Center on the Harris Methodist campus on 5th Avenue. (A replacement facility for Child Development Center is now under construction on the Cook Children’s campus on Southland Avenue. It is designed to accommodate 250 children and will be run by Bright Horizons as a for-profit operation.) Clayton Child Care offers all-day child care at Lily B. Clayton Elementary School during the summer. Fort Worth’s central business district has six full-time and three part-time child care facilities. The weekly cost for child care varies by the age of the child. Montessori programs are generally the more expensive. In the medical district the current range of weekly costs are: infants to 17 months of age - $85 to $133, 18 to 23 months - $75 to $120, 2 to 3 years - $75 to $114, 4 to 5 years - $65 to $108. The highest demand is for the care of infants and toddlers. Extended after-hour care is not available, in large part because parents working second or third shifts prefer to have their sleeping youngsters closer to home with family members or friends.

Oldest Operating Elevator - Supreme Golf’s headquarters, warehouse, and one of their four retail stores in the Metroplex are located in a historic building at 201 S. Calhoun, three bocks east of S. Main and a couple blocks south of Vickery. The three-story building has the oldest operating elevator in Tarrant County. Installed by Otis Elevator in the 1930’s, this freight elevator is in mint condition according to the elevator service man. It has wood (ash) guide rails.

BAC - The former James Guinn Middle School at the southwest corner of Rosedale and Interstate 35 has been remodeled, and is now home to the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center. This is a consolidation of community resources dedicated to the growth of entrepreneurial ventures. The grand opening for the center will be on Tuesday, August 14 at 10 AM. Renovation will soon begin on the gym and shop buildings which will then be occupied by the Fort Worth MedTech Center, a private, non-profit, medical and technology business incubator.

Catholic Charities - Catholic Charities is the largest private network of independent social service agencies in the United States with about 250 employees in Tarrant County and 50 employees in the medical district at two locations. From their offices at 1216 W. Magnolia they offer legal advice and guidance on immigration matters and provide resettlement assistance to refugees. The Employment Services group (338-0774) places refugee clients, who are legally authorized to work in the U.S., with community employers at no cost to either the individual or the business.

Roseland Apartments - The Carillon Group recently renovated the historic 14-unit Markeen Apartments at the corner of Daggett and St. Louis. They’re planning to recapture a second deteriorated historic apartment property located a few blocks south at St. Louis and W. Leuda. The Roseland, with its 14 dwelling units, along with some adjacent buildings, will be remodeled to add 20 new apartments to the area. Completion is anticipated next Spring. The challenge for all of us is to focus community attention on the residential opportunities in the district, an area that many in Fort Worth could not, and would not, even consider in the recent past.

Fiber - W. Vickery Boulevard has attracted the attention of telecommunications businesses. Not surprising considering that along the corridor are the competing fiber optic lines of Southwestern Bell, AT&T, MCI WorldCom, and Level (3) Communication and an outstanding power distribution system.

Fort Worth South, Inc. Board of Directors meeting - The 36 directors of Fort Worth South, Inc. will conduct their quarterly business meeting on Tuesday, July 10, at 4 PM in the Board Room of Cook Children’s Medical Center, 801 Seventh Avenue. The 197 members of the company and other interested parties are invited to attend this one-hour meeting.

Partner’s Breakfast - uData Net will host the Wednesday, July 11 meeting of FWS members and prospective members interested in exploring new business opportunities. The gathering will be between 8 AM and 9 AM at uData Net’s new offices at 120 S. Main Street. Jim Eggleston, FWS Marketing Co-Chair, said in a follow up letter to the 35 attendees of last month’s breakfast, "our intention is that this not be just a time to visit and socialize (although that’s very important), but that we take time to learn about one another’s business and assist each other with growth, referrals, and ideas." uData Net just relocated to the S. Main location from an industrial park on the north side of the city. They sell advanced data collection systems for electric utilities.

Fort Worth South, Inc. Committee Chairs - The following community leaders chair the operating committees at Fort Worth South, Inc.: Executive - James Watts, M.D.; Finance - Larry Robertson, All Saints; Development - David Motheral, Motheral Printing; Marketing - Mary Kathryn Anderson, St. Joseph’s Professional Buildings & Jim Eggleston, ABC Flag; Transportation - John Freese, M.D., Moncrief Diagnostic Center; Public Safety - Grover McMains, Texas White House B&B.

Administrative Assistant - Fort Worth South, Inc. is searching for a full time administrative support person. A description of the position responsibilities is available on our website. Applicants should forward resumes to Don Scott at Fort Worth South, Inc.

Have / Want
Have land for sale - 922 & 924 Travis Avenue, each 5,175 square feet lot for $15,000, zoned multifamily, Kerry Coy, 335-7575
Have 6 lots for sale, 30,900 sf at Fairmount & Oleander, zoned multi-family, future mixed-use, $5 per sf, Tony Dauphinot, 292-9082
Have land for sale, 665 Crawford @ Cannon, vacant lot $7,500, Dan Moore, 332-6300
Have office or retail for rent - First floor of the historic Bicochii Building, 213 S. Jennings, Rick Matus, 377-2807
Have historic office bldg. for lease - 219 S. Main, 3-story, 13,500 sf, avail 1/1/02, former Regian & Wilson, Jim Eggleston, 335-2548
Have church for sale - 7,500 sf bldg with a 5,300 sf sactuary, 7,600 sf land, 2120 Beckham, Dwight Mitchell, 817-921-2212

Members - Welcome to the three newest members of Fort Worth South, Inc. - now 197 members strong. Thank you.