Happy Birthday Highlands Café! The family-friendly neighborhood restaurant first opened its doors 5 years ago. Highlands Café (highlandscafe.com) is locally owned, and operated by managing partners and Lake Highlands residents Kathy Stewart and Anita Siegers. Did you know that investing partners include 20 Lake Highlands families? Located at the southwest corner of Walnut Hill and Audelia, the restaurant is also available for catering, and to make it even easier for customers, they now have a catering hotline available Monday through Friday (214.341.9661), where folks can place their order for the next day. Another fun fact: the restaurant displays artwork by local budding artists. The art displayed in the café is for sale, and 10 percent of any profits are donated to a local arts charity. Local artists that would like to display their work in the café can e-mail feedback@highlandscafe.com for more information.
On Dec. 1st, a couple of popular Lake Highlands insurance agents are getting new digs. Jennifer Wilcox, a State Farm agent located on the corner of Audelia and Walnut Hill, and her husband, Reed Wilcox, an independent insurance agent for The Woodlands Financial Group Insurance Services, located at White Rock Trail and Walnut Hill, are moving their businesses to a common suite in the Northlake Shopping Center. The couple, who have lived in our neighborhood for the past few years and are very involved in several Lake Highlands organizations, will have separate entrances for their businesses to help customers make the distinction. Check them out in their new locale behind Tony’s and Subway, just west of the Ebby real estate offices.
You may have seen it as you’re coming and going from the Arboretum, but did you know that Walton’s Garden Center, 8652 Garland, has been family owned and operated for almost 24 years? On many days, you can catch the shop’s owners, Chuck and Ann Walt on, helping customers or working the retail counter. Recently, the couple have been busy working on some massive renovations, including adding a second story and a new temperature controlled greenhouse, plus adding a new retail pavilion. Holiday tip: Did you know that the Waltons receive a shipment of hundreds of Christmas trees each year? You can even bring your own stand, and they will help you install your tree. The shop is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., but the Waltons will stay open a bit later as needed for Christmas tree shoppers.
L Streets resident Michelle Lawrence wanted to be mindful of the environment by switching to reusable grocery bags, but the fashionista didn’t find any that matched her taste for all things fun and funky fresh, so decided to create a line of her own. Scribbles n Such is a labor of love for Lawrence, and all products feature her hand-painted, original artwork. What originally began as a way to make some extra pocket money, has turned into a business run by her husband, Kent, and marketed by her longtime friend Christy Fagin. The philosophy of the group is that “a splash of color adds a little extra happy to everyday life.” Check out the goods at scribblesnsuch.com. They also work with local organizations on fundraising efforts; e-mail kent@scribblesnsuch.com for more info.
A loyal Advocate reader recently submitted a touching story about a neighborhood gem. After their pet began struggling with health issues, one local family sought professional help, and that’s when they first got to know Dr. Berry, owner of the Skillman Animal Clinic at 9661 Audelia. The family had some tough decisions to make about their beloved pet, and they absolutely sing the vet’s praises about the quality of care, medical counseling and personal attention they received. Berry purchased her practice (originally Skillman Vet Hospital, located where the Town Center development is under construction) 5 years ago, and she renamed and moved the practice to its current location a little more than 2 years ago. A veterinarian for 25-plus years, Berry prides herself on running a very personal clinic — answering the phones, scheduling the appointments and seeing the animals is all in a day’s work for this animal lover. Call 214.348.0900 to schedule an appointment for your dog or cat.
Erin Moyer is a Lake Highlands resident and entrepreneur who owns her own small business manufacturing original women and children’s clothes and accessories (progenyinc.com), plus a consulting business specializing in marketing and business development. Her monthly “Live Local” column features anything and everything we might want to know about some of our favorite mom-and-pop shops, as well as what’s up and coming in our neighborhood as it relates to business. Live Local is more that just a column, it’s about supporting neighbors and helping our community thrive. Send Moyer ideas and feedback at livelocal@advocatemag.com. Not everything she receives can be published in the magazine, but check out our Back Talk Lake Highlands blog daily for more information about ways to live local in our neighborhood.
