College Station businesses see growth as summer comes to an end

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -After nearly two years of suffering due to COVID-19, two local businesses are thriving after a busy summer.

Labor Day not only marks the unofficial end of summer, but it also signifies the end of the summer travel season. The summer of 2022 led Urban Table to record sales.

Opening in April of 2019, the restaurant started with long waits and full tables. The community was excited to have a restaurant that offered an American flare by Chef Tai.

But COVID-19 hit the restaurant industry hard in 2020. Bar Manager, Joseph Garcia, told KBTX regular customers stopped coming by and their businesses overall started to slow down like so many others.

“I mean back when the pandemic started I know so much changed,” said Garcia. “I was here for the back end of the pandemic and even then I’ve realized how far past that stage we are now. So, I just can’t imagine going back to that place where we were wondering what’s next for Urban Table.”

Garcia said Urban Table is busy year round due to local customers coming back for more, but summer months seemed to be a highlight of their yearly business numbers.

When Labor Day comes around, Garcia said they often look back on the summer and compare it to past years.

“Compared to last year, I mean we didn’t have the half the crowd we do on this year’s Labor Day. It just shows you how we are moving forward. All of our staff is so grateful for our customers and it’s really great to see everyone’s faces,” Garcia said.

Another Brazos Valley business who noticed growth after people were travelling to Aggieland this summer is the Aggieland Boutique Hotel.

Tara Lawrence is the General Manager of Aggieland Boutique Hotel. The spot opened up in January of 2022, shortly after the hotel that was there previously shut down due in the midst of the pandemic.

Lawrence said she was some what worried when the hotel was up and running because of how COVID-19 has impacted so many businesses around the country. She said in order to succeed, Aggieland Boutique Hotel aims to offer a unique experience so people keep coming back.

“We already have people who have come back multiple times,” said Lawrence. “Especially now, that were kind of over that COVID-19 hump, I think we have a really good game plan here.”

As Labor Day and the months before were more than she could’ve hoped for, Lawrence said she expects even more business this fall.

“Football is starting back up and so many other Aggieland events so we are ready to take on any crowds,” Lawrence said.

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