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    Food by Phoenicia

    Gourmet grocer blasts off with new co-working space in Houston's Westchase

    Eric Sandler
    Aug 19, 2025 | 1:45 pm

    Houston’s Westchase District is home to a new co-working facility that’s named for Houston’s role in space exploration. Dubbed Mission Control, it’s the latest project from Haig Tcholakian, who’s part of the family behind destination-worthy gourmet grocer Phoenicia Specialty Foods.

    In fact, Phoenicia plays a role in Mission Control’s appeal to potential tenants. Not only is the facility located near the store’s Westchase location (12121 Westheimer Rd.), it will also sell prepared items at the space’s cafe that include breakfast pastries, sandwiches, salads, and premium coffee and tea. Mission Control’s owner also sees a more spiritual connection between the two businesses.

    “I wanted to create a space that inspires people to show up and do their best work — where creativity, innovation, and community thrive,” Tcholakian said in a statement. “The same values that shaped Phoenicia — care, quality, and connection — are at the heart of everything we’re building here.”

    The 12,000-square-foot facility will be home to 54 private offices sized for individuals and small groups, divided into one, two, three, four, and eight desk configurations. Tenants have the option of both conventional sitting desks or on-trend standing desks. All office have access to amenities including high-speed WiFi, complimentary parking, and access to a community kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator, and prep space.

    When tenants need a little more room, they can rent meeting and event spaces with full audio-video capabilities that are sized for groups of four to six, nine, 12, or taking over the full cafe for parties that can hold 70-80 people.

    Mission Control also offers a recording studio with microphones and video cameras for podcasting, livestreaming, or making video content.

    Rates start at $249 per month for standard coworking. Dedicated desks are priced at $449 per month. One desk offices start at $700 per month with discounts available for those who sign up for six month or longer terms. Mission Control is also taking 50-percent off a tenant’s first month rent through August 31.

    “Houston has always been a city where big dreams take off,” Tcholakian added. “Whether you’re launching a startup, meeting clients, recording content, or building a brand, we want Mission Control to be your ground control — a place to stay grounded while you reach new heights.”

    Mission Control co-working space

    Courtesy of Mission Control

    Mission Control opened recently near Phoenicia.

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    pay raise

    Wages grew fastest since 2021 in these Houston-area counties, study finds

    John Egan, InnovationMap
    Oct 6, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Tesla factory
    Courtesy of Tesla
    undefined

    Bolstered by a thriving manufacturing sector, Waller County—the country’s second-fastest-growing county—leads all Houston-area counties for the growth of pay from 2021 to 2026, according to a new study.

    The study, conducted by personal finance website SmartAsset, found average pay in Waller County rose 48 percent from 2021 to 2026. The county’s average weekly pay climbed from $891 to $1,323 during that period.

    Manufacturing ranks as the No. 1 employment sector in Waller County, accounting for about 4,500 workers, according to Executive Pulse. Those workers earn an average pay of $77,442 per year.

    Waller County powers up its manufacturing hub

    Waller County’s manufacturing economy keeps expanding, almost certainly contributing to the 48 percent spike in average pay from 2021 to 2026.

    Grundfos, the world’s largest producer of water pumps, broke ground in June on a manufacturing plant at its Brookshire campus. The Danish company’s U.S. headquarters is in Brookshire. In conjunction with the groundbreaking, Grundfos opened the Grundfos Academy Americas training center.

    The new 143,000-square-foot facility will make pump systems and water technology, primarily for water utilities and commercial real estate landlords.

    Grundfos expects construction to be completed by Q3 2027, with the first production lines planned to start in Q4 of next year.

    “Our growing presence in Brookshire reflects both our confidence in the U.S. market and our long‑term commitment to investing where our customers and partners need us most,” Grundfos CEO Poul Due Jensen said in a release.

    Another manufacturer, TMEIC Corporation America, recently opened its third U.S. plant at Twinwood Business Park in Brookshire. The 280,000-square-foot facility, which eventually might employ 500 people, makes uninterruptible power supply units and medium-voltage power drives. The $65 million plant includes a customer training center and tech development labs.

    The Twinwood facility is the largest of TMEIC’s 13 factories around the world.

    TMEIC’s two other U.S. manufacturing plants are in the Houston area. The company’s North American headquarters is in the Houston Energy Corridor.

    Perhaps the biggest recent manufacturing prize for Waller County: Austin-based electric vehicle maker Tesla’s new 1.65 million-square-foot factory at Brookshire’s Empire West Industrial Park. The $200 million plant, expected to employ up to 1,500 people by 2028, produces utility-scale batteries for energy storage.

    Other major manufacturers in Waller County include Daikin North America and Igloo.

    Pay growth around the region

    Here’s a rundown of 2021-26 pay growth in the Houston metro’s eight other counties, according to SmartAsset.

    • Austin County — 42 percent
    • Chambers County — 37 percent
    • Harris County — 33 percent
    • Liberty County — 31 percent
    • Montgomery County — 29 percent
    • Fort Bend County — 28 percent
    • Galveston County — 26 percent
    • Brazoria County — 23 percent

    Statewide, Dickens County, outside of Lubbock, saw the most significant growth in wages. According to the study, wages grew by 212 percent over the five years, from $707 per week in 2021 to $2,204 per week in 2026.

    Among all Texas counties, Waller was ranked No. 44 on the report.

    Small counties in the High Plains and West Texas regions saw the largest percent changes in average weekly wage, according to the report. See the full findings here.

    ---

    This story was originally published on our sister site, InnovationMap.

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