Jonathan Diaz’s store in West Longview gives people looking for something unique a place to find one-of-a-kind vintage clothing.
Gavilan Vintage opened recently at 1615 Pine Tree Road, next door to Big Mike’s Hobbies.
Diaz said as a boy, his mother would take him shopping at second-hand stores.
“I would always wear vintage, thrifted clothes without knowing it,” he said
He was born in 2002 so didn’t get to take part in the fashions of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
“But this is close,” Diaz said of vintage clothing.
He became more interested in vintage clothing as he grew older.
“At the time, (the vintage trend) was smaller on YouTube and Instagram. I started watching that and I kind of got obsessed with anything old,” Diaz said.
In Spanish, “gavilan” means hawk, he said.
“I just saw that in Longview, the vintage scene was growing, but I didn’t see no one taking the lead,” Diaz said. “I wanted people thinking about vintage around the Longview area – I wanted them to think about Gavilan.”
He said people like vintage clothing because it’s hard to find someone else wearing the exact same thing.
“I think people like it because you can be very unique with it,” he said. “Every shirt is unique. It’s really hard to find anyone else wearing the same shirt.”
His 1,000-square-foot store also features vintage decor, including a working PlayStation and a VCR where shoppers can watch old VHS movies.
He’s planning to add more racks of clothing soon, especially with the colder season approaching.
Gavilan Vintage is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
Clinic renovations planned
The Christus Urgent Care center in West Longview will receive a more than $3 million interior renovation, according to documents filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The 8,850-square-foot clinic is at 2101 W. Loop 281.
Specific details about the plans for the center weren’t available yet.
“Christus Health is constantly exploring opportunities to best serve our communities, including updating or renovating existing facilities,” said Christus spokesman Coleman Swierc. “While no final decisions have been made, our goal is to ensure we continue to provide accessible, high-quality services in a space that meets future demands. We will keep the community informed as plans develop.”
Trail could get dog wash
Longview residents Ashly and Keith Lloyd have proposed installing a self-service dog wash station at the Boorman Trail head closest to the Stragent Dog Park, at Summers Drive and Loop 281.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted Sept. 22 to recommend the “Bubbles ‘n Bark” project for City Council approval.
Ashly Lloyd said she and her husband are lifelong Longview residents who are committed to working for the city’s benefit. They’ve also been looking for good business ideas for several years. She recalled seeing self-service dog washes in Dallas and other cities. She works off Loop 281, near the trail head, and thought it could be a good location for a dog wash.
Parks and Recreation Director John Albertson told the board the Lloyds would like to lease 400 square feet of space at the trail head where they would pay to install the self-service dog wash building. They would be responsible for all the associated costs, including connecting water and sewer service and then paying for water and sewer service.
The Lloyds would pay the city $2,400 per year during the initial five-year agreement. The Lloyds also would be responsible for all costs associated with removing the structure if they close the dog wash at some point.
The proposed agreement also would donate 25 cents per wash to the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center. A 15-minute self-service wash would cost $15.
“It’s not something we’re going to get rich in,” Ashly said.
She praised the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center as being “phenomenal,” and she said the organization is always looking for new ways to raise money to support the shelter.
She said the standalone structure will be heated and cooled, with locking doors and specific business hours. It will be equipped with shampoo and conditioner for dogs and a dryer. Monthly memberships will be available.
“The dog park can be a little muddy sometimes. We were thinking, ‘Who wants the mess at home’?” Ashly said,
She said the dog wash should be open in a few months, pending City Council approval. They’re planning to expand the business to other locations in the future.
— Business Beat appears Wednesday. If you have items for the column, email to newsroom@newsjournal.com; mail to Business Section, Longview News-Journal, P.O. box 1792, Longview, TX 75606; or call (903) 237-7744.
