Jamari: “We didn’t experience the 2020 that most everyone else did. It was a very exciting year for us. COVID was going strong, but that didn’t stop us from getting married and opening up this business. In a way, it seemed only fitting to open a space to provide nutritional items and nutritional advice during a health pandemic. As first-time business owners together, it’s been a roller coaster. There’s no typical day. There’s always something to do, as far as creating new items, marketing, and following trends that we’re seeing on social media or in the business world. It’s definitely been an eye-opening experience.”

Morgan: “We knew that health is something people really care about. So we just kind of plunged in and went for it. We’re trying to bring new things to Baytown that are healthy, but also taste good. And we’re trying to help build up this area as well.”

Jamari: “We serve on the ACE District board. We want to be impacters in the city and stakeholders in what happens down here. We want to be part of the effort to bring this area of Baytown back to life. What better place to start a business than in your hometown? We’re in a position now to give back to a community that was supportive and good to us when we were growing up.”

Morgan and Jamari Gilbert own Baytown Nutrition at 123 W. Defee (Suite 11). Their newest team member is 5-month-old daughter, Kye, who hangs out with them at work.

Morgan: “She’s pretty chill.” Jamari: “Yeah, she’s rarely fussy or crying, which helps us. We don’t need a babysitter or daycare. We just keep her here. She’s always with us. She’s growing up with us.”

Jamari was a football standout at Lee High School and University of the Incarnate Word, before playing one season for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. He hasn’t given up the dream of playing pro ball, with plans to attend a scouting combine for the XFL in July.

The post Young couple tackle new business appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“We’ve been homeless, and we’ve gone without. There were so many times that our food budget for every two weeks was $50. So we know what it’s like. We’ve always helped people through outreach, but we knew we could do more. We just didn’t know what that would look like.

“Opening the diner has been a beautiful thing. Someone may walk in crying and say, ‘Is it true? Can I really eat here for free?’ And we’re like, ‘Absolutely.’ It’s because of all the caring people who have paid in advance for others’ meals. Each time, we put a heart up there on the wall. So when someone comes in and needs a blessing, they won’t have to go hungry. We don’t want anyone to feel shame. It’s not until after they’ve eaten and gone that we take down the heart.

“It’s not just for people on the streets. It’s for anybody who’s hungry. For this one family, the woman’s husband works but there’s just not enough. She said, ‘I want to volunteer. I don’t want this for free. I’m not looking for a handout. I’m looking for a hand up.’

The other day, a man came in and said he was hungry. He had $5 in change. I said, ‘You keep it, and order whatever you want.’ He grabbed the money out of his backpack and said, ‘I want y’all to have this as a tip.’ I said, ‘No, sir, keep that. Because you might need it later.’ He wouldn’t let me give it back.

“This whole experience is humbling. It’s so much bigger than Paul and me. Every day my phone blows up with people wanting to be part of this. And we have the most amazing staff. They truly cook and serve with love in their hearts. Every morning before we open, we pray. We want people to know that it’s the lord’s diner, it’s not ours.

“We ask people on the streets to let others know. We don’t want anyone to go hungry. There are so many who come in and are beyond grateful that they get a chance to eat. It’s wonderful to be part of something so amazing.”

— Teresa McCartney Hoffart

(Note: Paul passed away on June 22, 2023, and Teresa died on Dec. 18, 2024.)

The post Baytown Pay It Forward Diner feeds the hungry appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m Mexican American. My parents are from Mexico, and I was the first one born here. I’ve always been working to help out the family. It’s mostly been in sales. But in my last position, I realized that I was not completely happy working for somebody else.

“On the side, I started doing some pet sitting. I love animals and I love to hustle. I’m always going to make money somehow. I just wanted my pet sitting business to become my hustle. So I decided to go for it.

“I began doing it full-time last July. I take care of people’s furbabies at my home. I check on them at the owners’ homes. And I do dog walking, too. I’ve also taken care of other animals, like little turtles and parakeets.

“It started slow, mainly because of COVID. People didn’t want anybody in their homes. They weren’t traveling much anyway, so they didn’t need my services. It got a little discouraging there for a while.

“Then a few months ago, things started picking up. People were ready to get back out there and go on vacation. So right now it’s going really well, and I love what I’m doing. I enjoy being my own boss, having that freedom to kind of make my own schedule. And I’m getting to be around animals all day, which is great.

“I just have this big old heart. I have a lot of compassion, even for the smallest of animals. I told my fiancé that if I could have all the dogs in the world, I would. But with the house we’re in right now, that’s probably not the best idea.”

— Natalie Salazar

Learn more about Natalie’s business, PawsFirst, @pawsfirstinbaytown on Facebook and Instagram.

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“My mom loved coffee. Starting when I was 7 or 8, I would make her a cup every morning. Back then, we had Folgers instant. I’d heat up the water in the microwave and mix it in.

“Growing up, we always had coffee brewing. Coffee reminds me of family getting together, relaxing, enjoying desserts, and visiting during the holidays. Because of all that, I’ve always wanted a coffee shop. And I wanted us to bring that sense of home and family to it. 

“My mom got sick when I was a senior in high school. She was a smoker. It was lung cancer. It happened so quickly, within 6 or 7 months. She passed away when I was 18. It was really hard. When we opened this shop, I wanted to do something to keep her memory alive.

“Along with coffee, my mom loved redbirds. To her, they represented Christmas, and a time of happiness and joy. We named this place after our two daughters, Julianna and Haylee. But the little bird over the coffee cup in our sign is in honor of my mom. It’s like a mama bird watching over her babies.

“She loved to bake. Holidays were very special to her. She made every holiday so special for everyone else to enjoy. We want to share that spirit, that feeling, with our customers.”

— Sally Rofrano (with her husband, David)

The couple own J & H Coffee House / Sno-Cone Express in Baytown.

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The post Her mother’s memory lives on in coffee shop appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“Living with my grandmother back in Louisiana, I would always be in the kitchen while she was cooking. So I guess it just came natural to me.

“I remember being 7 years old, standing on a chair, trying to fix some gravy from scratch. I could eat rice and gravy every day, so I figured I needed to learn. As the years went on, I got in there with her and learned how to make all sorts of things.

“I’ve never found cooking to be a chore. I’ve always enjoyed it. And I just love to see people eat my cooking. When the holidays roll around, all the family looks to me to cook. Like for Thanksgiving, I’m usually making 15 sweet potato pies, 10 pecan pies, dressing, ham, and all the rest. 

“Opening this restaurant is literally a dream come true. It’s something me and my sister had talked about for years. But just one thing after another kept getting in the way. To finally see it happen, I’m overjoyed.

“When you’ve been poor, and you already know what that life is, you strive for something better. I think that’s why I have this determination to never give up. Every day, I’m here from opening until close. I’m just so determined to make this a success. I’ve been wanting it too long.”

— Sarah Wright

Sarah’s Restaurant is at 3321 Market, the former location of Baytown’s Historic Cafe. They specialize in “Southern comfort and Cajun eats.”

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The post ‘I’m just so determined to make this a success’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When you’re a hairdresser, you talk about everything with them. You help solve their problems, and sometimes they help you. But I tell you what, the men were bigger talkers than the women. Boy howdy. You get a man in there and get him talking about something, and he’ll go on and on and on about it. If there’s not really anyone in the shop but maybe one lady under the dryer and you’re doing the man’s hair and he’s had a bad day, he’ll tell you all about it.

“After my divorce I moved to Coldspring, where I had an antique shop and a beauty shop. I would do men’s haircuts there, too. I like to talk and I’ve always been very friendly, so I guess some of the guys took it the wrong way. While their wife was outside walking around in the little town square, the men would ask me out. That happened several times. And I would say, ‘Just a minute. As soon as your wife gets back in here, I’ll ask her if it’s OK if we can go out.’ And they’d go, ‘No, no, don’t do that.’ Of course, I never did. But I thought that was pretty interesting.”

— Betty Arabie

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The post For her, it was about more than just cutting hair appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“We not only shared a room growing up, we had to share a bed for as long as I can remember. I guess that’s just what our parents had for us. So we were pretty close. I shared her clothes all the time.”

“I started working at Dairy Queen, so I would buy my own clothes and everything.”

“And they were cool, so I wore them, too.”

“We eventually moved down here for Dad’s job. But while he and Mom came down first, they let me finish out my school year back in Indiana. I was just turning 16, and the two of us lived together in our family’s house for four or five months. She’s five years older than me, so I guess our parents trusted her.”

“I was almost 21 and had a 2-year-old child by then. So I had to work hard and make some money. She babysat in the evenings because I would work all kinds of hours. She was left alone with my daughter a lot of the time. But it was just kind of how it had to be.”

“I had obligations, so I couldn’t do some of the things that I normally did, like gymnastics and cheerleading. But it was fine. It was what family did for family, you know?”

— Cara Protain and Beth McAuliffe

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The post Sharing sisters remain close in new business venture appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m 43, and right now I serve and bartend. But I don’t want to be doing that when I’m 60-65. So I’ve got to do something to educate myself.

“After high school I went into the Navy for a little while. When I got out, I attempted to go to college. I only went a few weeks. My mind wasn’t all there. I didn’t want it. Now I want it. One of my motivations is making sure my mom’s taken care of in case something happens to my dad. He’s 80, so just health concerns.

“I’ve only been bartending for about a year, but I’ve been serving off and on for 15-20 years. Right now I’m going to school for a certificate in entrepreneurship. But I’m planning to change my major to business management. A long time ago I did have that dream of owning my own business. Who knows, it might still happen one day. But for now, I’m looking at moving up into management where I’m at.

Is college hard for someone your age?
“It’s easier for me this time because I really want it. And as long as you make a good attempt, the teachers will do everything in their power to make sure you pass. What I would tell others is don’t give up. Just keep trying. If I can do it after 20 years out of school, you can, too.”

— Sean Smith

The post At 43, he gives college education another shot appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“My favorite comics are the superhero groups. I like X-Men, Avengers and Justice League. Those are the three titles that I kind of put in the closet and kept when I opened the shop. I like the teamwork aspect. Also, they hold themselves to a higher moral standard — truth, justice and the American way, the old chestnut from Superman. They’re fighting the good fight. They’re working together for the greater good. That always appealed to me.”

How about other collectibles?
“Since I opened the store, I no longer buy that much for myself. I mean, once in a while I will order a little something. I’m a big Godzilla fan. So when they come out with new Godzilla figures, usually I can’t resist the temptation, and I’ll order an extra one for me. My wife collects toys, too. That’s one of our common interests. She’ll hear about something and say, ‘Please get this for me.’ She loves Wonder Woman, the strong female heroes.”

What’s one of your top comics-related memories?
“I got to meet Stan Lee, I believe in 1977, at the Houston Con. My dad would bring home 5-by-7 memo pads, along with pencils and pens for us to doodle with. I took one of those pads to the convention when I was 12 or 13, and there was Mr. Stan Lee, the godfather of Marvel Comics. He was just cutting up. Stan is a very jovial, funny guy in person. So I walked up to him with my memo pad, and he went, ‘Oh, you want an autograph? I’m going to give you the biggest autograph I’ve ever given anybody.’ And he filled that memo pad with his signature. That was very cool. It was kind of a defining moment for me.”

— Norris Coleman

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The post A few of his favorite things: X-Men, Godzilla, Stan Lee appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m hoping to patent a device for the bottling industry that would help reduce the plastics that we use, while also allowing products to stay fresh and safe longer. I’m still in the research and design process. But one day I hope to have it patented, start my own business and get my stuff all over the world. I’ve always had a passion for creating, wanting to make things better. I’m one of those people who sees something and thinks, how can I make this better?

“I chose to study business — and I hope to get into international business — because I want to travel and I love meeting people who are different from me. I love cultures in general. I’ve been trying to teach myself Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. I have a friend who’s been helping me with Spanish. But the Mandarin thing is all me. Mandarin Chinese is one of the more prominent languages used in the business world. So if I ever want to work for an international company, I feel like that’s going to be a major help. It could open up some doors for me. I’ve been teaching myself through online courses. I’m still not very good at it, but it’s coming along.”

— Michaela Jones

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