HTX-SLM: Impact 10/23/2025

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Oliver’s Gourmet offers more than Southern cuisine

Cooking has always been a large part of Christopher Nichols' family dynamic. He grew up watching his mother run her catering business, and began cooking in his late teens, after watching the Food Network and Gordon Ramsay.

In July 2023, Nichols and his parents opened Oliver’s Gourmet in Missouri City, serving Southern gourmet food in the form of specialty sandwiches and soups.

How we got here: Four years ago, Nichols' son Oliver, or Ollie, was born eight weeks early, and his esophagus was not attached to his stomach. Ollie underwent a surgery that was rarely successful on an infant so tiny, and surgeons at Texas Children's were able to reattach his esophagus to his stomach in one surgery.

A family affair: The name of the restaurant is not the only tribute to Ollie—he has an entire wall dedicated to sharing his story. Ollie’s family sees him as a gift from God, and they hope his story will inspire customers to believe in their own miracles, Nichols said.

3843 Cartwright Road, Missouri City

Latest News

2nd Missouri City comprehensive plan survey underway

Missouri City officials are looking for resident input as the comprehensive plan update nears its completion.

The details: According to an Oct. 17 Facebook post, the 15-question-long comprehensive plan survey allows residents to provide input on:

The feasibility of mixed-use developments
Concerns about major corridors
What businesses they would like to see
Landscaping, lighting and signage regulations
Future city development

The survey is the second community questionnaire aimed to provide guidance as city officials work to update its comprehensive master plan following multiple rezoning concerns from City Council members and residents.

The background: The update, which kicked off in June 2024, will provide direction on undeveloped land, redevelopment areas and 10 focus areas, Community Impact reported.

Going forward: The survey will be open through the end of October, Director of Development Services Jennifer Thomas Gomez said.

Read here.

CI Business

Family-owned Sienna School of Music hits a high note in its 1st year

Since opening its doors in August 2025, the Sienna School of Music has surpassed expectations by enrolling over 250 students—more than double the typical industry benchmark for a new music school, co-founder Nick Evangelista said. He said this milestone is due to the support of the local community.

The history: The Sienna School of Music is a sister campus to Pearland’s School of Music, which was also co-founded by Evangelista and his wife, Kristen, in 2017.

What it offers: Evangelista said that since opening in Missouri City, the school has seen a growing demand for lessons tailored to students with neurodiverse needs and disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, with attention deficit or who are blind. In response, the school quickly expanded its team by recruiting instructors with specialized training in inclusive music education.