This Chronicle article reports on the imminent closing of the Palace Boot Shop, which is a downtown Houston institution. The nearby Christ Church Cathedral has acquired the downtown city block where the shop is located, and brother-owners Lakis and Steve Xydis have decided to take a break for a year or two before deciding whether to reopen the shop in another location. Any suggestions on where I should buy my boots in the meantime?
Meanwhile, a couple of blocks down the street from the boot shop, this Chronicle article reports that Reece Rondon was sworn in this week as replace Bruce Oakley as judge of the 234th Harris County State District Court. Mr. Oakley stepped down earlier this year to return to private practice.
Judge Rondon was first appointed to the 334th District Court in October 2003, but he lost a close race in the 2004 Republican primary to Sharon McCally by 307 votes. Judge McCally went on to win the seat in the November election. Between stints on the bench, Judge Rondon returned to private practice at Andrews Kurth, where he had practiced before taking the bench. His new term in office will run until 2006, when he intends to run for a full term.