Family-owned business to close after 30 years, blames 19th Street construction project

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A walk through Galaxy Pawn will keep your eyes busy, but much like the once-treasured items that line the shelves, this shop now sits…waiting for a new owner and a new story.

Gail and Bill Roberts purchased the business in 1995.

“Just wanted to work together as husband and wife, that was our dream,” Gail said.

It is a dream they’ve sustained for nearly three decades.

“It really feels like we just got here, but we’ve been here 30 years,” Bill said.

The Roberts said their customers have become like family.

“It’s amazing how many of the kids call us Nana and Papa which is what our grandkids call us,” Bill said.

“Or Mom and Dad,” Gail said.

Just another reason why the decision to close the store is so hard.

“Our last day as a pawn business will be December 31. It will be with tears. We have put our life into this,” Gail said.

In June 2022, construction began on 19th Street; the road runs directly in front of Galaxy Pawn.

The $25.69 million project will rebuild portions of the existing roadway and update the drainage system, sidewalks, and traffic signals from Memphis Avenue to just east of I-27.

The contractor, Sacyr, is also installing a new water line and performing Storm Water Utility Work for the City of Lubbock.

The Roberts said their business slowed when the project started.

“We did have five employees at one time. Now it’s just down to mamma and I and a part-timer,” Bill said.

It’s a financial hit the Roberts say they can’t recover from.

Than Rittiluechai owns Choo Chai restaurant just down the street.

“Technically the restaurant owns me,” Rittilechai said.

His mom started the restaurant in 1982, and while there have been struggles along the way, like the pandemic, he says nothing has taken a toll on the business like this construction project.

“It might put me into early retirement. We’ve been here 42 years and this is the worst thing that’s ever happened in 42 years,” Rittiluechai said.

His restaurant, near Avenue X, is currently inaccessible from 19th Street.

“The problem is that nobody can get to me now,” Rittiluechai said.

Customers must take the alley to get to his restaurant – a detour people aren’t taking.

“Essentially we lost half of our business,” Rittiluechai said.

He said there are days he’s had to close up early.

“One time they were digging over here and they punctured a main water line so I had to shut down in the afternoon because I can’t cook or do anything without water,” Rittiluechai said.

Than said he’s thankful for his loyal patrons, but the business hasn’t supported itself in months; news he doesn’t want to break to his mother.

“This is her baby. She started this. I’m not telling her the details, she doesn’t need to know that,” Rittiluechai said.

Bill Hanselman is the president of The Computer Guy located further east near Avenue S.

Hanselman said customers are having difficulty getting into his business, too.

“They said they we’re going to have access to every business, but I don’t really consider this much access,” Hanselman said.

Hanselman lost his leg just one month before this project began. He said this construction has made the adjustment even more challenging.

“They came in and asked if I needed my sidewalk for anything and I thought that was one of the most ludicrous questions I had heard recently. I said yes, so people can get from my parking lot to the front door,” Hanselman said.

But Hanselman said not many people are using the sidewalk or the parking lot because not many people are coming to his shop at all.

“Three months with no money and all the bills that keep coming in. I don’t have any money left,” Hanselman said.

The Roberts are out of money.

“We have poured everything into this. I left another job and I put my pension into this. It’s been great for us except for the last few years,” Gail said.

With their retirement tied up in this business – they pray it will sell soon, but they aren’t surprised by the lack of offers.

“We had hoped to sell the business, but with everything going on, you can’t sell a building here right now or a business when you have so little customers coming in,” Gail said.

We took these business owners’ concerns to Senator Charles Perry.

“It’s not a simple road construction job now. It’s a road construction job with sewer, water, and infrastrasture needs. Compounding that, you take a state entity and a local entity, they each have planned schedules that have different things going on and we are still not back to pre-COVID supply sub-contractors,” Perry said.

Business owners we spoke with asked for more communication from those in charge of this project – a suggestion Perry says he took to Steve Warren, the district engineer for TxDOT’s Lubbock district.

“I said, ‘I think what I hear from Shaley and others is that communication could be better. Most business owners they can plan accordingly. What Steve committed to is trying to get a joint, both city and state, and affected owners in that area as soon as possible,” Perry said.

Some business owners tell us better communication would be appreciated but the damage has already been done.

Senator Perry said if the construction project is not wrapped up by January 1, 2025, he believes the state should step in to help those business owners who are struggling.

“I’ve asked TxDOT in the past, not on this particular project, is there funding or a bucket of money for loss of business? I was told no. That said, I am willing to have that conversation. If this is going to extend beyond January 1, maybe there is an opportunity to mitigate some of that,” Perry said.

The Roberts said it’s too late to save their business, but they hope there will be financial assistance to save their neighbors.

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