North Longview is getting yet another new hotel property in coming months as plans for a Candlewood Suites materialize.

Longview hospitality property operator Mark Patel has received a city building permit for $2.4 million worth of construction for property at 2904 Tuttle.

Patel and his 281 Lodging Partnership already operate the three-story Holiday Inn Express and Suites at 300 Tuttle Circle, also between Loop 281 and Hawkins Parkway.

Leinart Construction of Greenville is the general contractor for the new 39,000-square-foot Candlewood Suites. Patel also owns Kilgore's Holiday Inn Express and Tyler's Comfort Suites on South Broadway.

The property will join a new LaQuinta Inn and Suites on Hawkins Parkway and a new Hampton Inn and Suites off North Eastman Road in the northside hotel market. Also in the planning stages for property directly north of the new Hampton Inn is a Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Texas Bank to open later this year

Another new bank with a distinctly Texas tie to its name will likely open in Longview later this year.

Texas Bank, headquartered in Henderson, has received a city of Longview building permit for construction valued at $750,000. According to Dean Bingham, senior vice president with Texas Bank, rains have delayed the start of construction.

Bingham, a veteran East Texas banker with 24 years of experience in the Kilgore and Henderson markets, said officials hope to have the Longview branch open later this year.

It will be on a pad site at the southwestern corner of the South Longview Wal-Mart SuperCenter and have an address of 4018 Estes Parkway.

Texas Bank has two Henderson locations and one branch each in Tatum and Nacogdoches. Bingham said officials with the 14-year-old Texas Bank have been eyeing entry into the Longview market for some time.

Bingham said Texas Bank officials saw opportunity in servingSouth Longview, Lake Cherokee and the Kilgore area with the new branch.

New dining options

Downtown Longview can expect a new eatery to open soon, according to a window sign posted at 212-B N. Fredonia St.

The Lil' Thai House is earmarked to go into the location formerly occupied by Taco San Luis.

The Belle Pepper Cafe at 4196 East U.S. 80 in the former location of Hutto's East 80 Garden Center,is openand serving home-style cooking. Karen and John Hutto's garden center operations moved to property directly east of the new cafe.

In-patient hospice opening Monday

Longview's first in-patient hospice facility is set to start accepting its first patients Monday, according to Gail McBride.

The president of Beacon Hospice at Margaret's House said the facility has already been providing outpatient service. Beacon Hospice is at 5016 Gilmer Road.

Mike Elswick is the business editor of the Longview News-Journal. He can be reached at (903) 237-7737.