Dish-Houston

He is leaving FOX but he's not leaving Politics and the story seems to be that he's moving to North Texas. Glenn Beck has often joked about moving his family to Texas when his talk show on GBTV.com starts in September. Plus one of his best friends and frequent fill in host Pat Grey lived in Houston for quite a while with regular visits from Beck.

Beck's company spokesperson at Mercury Radio Arts isn't talking this week about the rumors, but some folks in Tarrant County seem convinced that Beck will move there, maybe into a leased mansion in a Westlake neighborhood which also has been home to the Jonas Brothers.

The home he has reportedly leased it the $3,900,000 home of Jorge & Vanessa Piedra (she is a Swarovski heiress; he is a major league ballplayer who's had some issues) at 2208 Vaquero Estates Boulevard in Westlake. The Piedra home has been on the market since August 2009, and originally listed for $5,400,000. The price was lowered to $3,900,000 and then put in the rental pool for $20,000 a month, which is actually more than the original lease offer of $15,000.

So this is what Glenn and his wife, Tania will be getting: 7,904 square feet, four car garage, almost two acres of land (1.7ish), a Hill Country styled house, La Cornue stove, master retreat with a relaxation room, study, steam shower, limestone, hardwoods, travertine, seven bedrooms, both sun and exercise rooms, a guest house with living, bedroom, bath, and of course a pool. And if he decides he likes it so much he wants to buy, seller financing is even available! Bonus!

Back to business: Beck fueled the guessing by telling Gov. Rick Perry he'll move to Texas and even said Monday...

"I could run for governor," Beck said.

This is his final week of a three-year career at Fox so everything is mobile. According to Beck, Mercury has 150 employees who can live and work anywhere also has said to Texas Governor RIck Perry:

"I'll move my company to Texas, but I need you to give me zero income tax -- do you see what I'm saying?"

Perry has already named Beck an honorary Texan, grinned then responded...

"I think we can work with you," he said.

Beck, as most of us know, was a radio jock in Houston and  is well aware that Texas doesn't have an income tax.

This of course also adds fule to the fire for those who think Perry will be running for President.

Radio host-turned-state Sen. Dan Patrick and had this to say:

"Glenn could go anywhere in the country," Patrick said by phone from Austin, "but he's coming here because we are pro-business and because he loves the independent streak and conservative influence we have in Texas."

Patrick said Beck will be "proud to call Texas home and we'll be proud to have him here."

Guess we get to keep guessing for a few weeks!

Katz's Deli is such an iconic spot that when CNBC did a story last week about Texas being one of the best places to do business, they broadcast live from Katz’s Deli on 6th street. CNBC possibly chose the wrong location considering they parent company M&M Katz Inc filed for Chapter 11 protection July 20th.

Despite the filing, owner Marc Katz said the deli’s motto — “Katz’s Never Kloses” — will remain true, albeit probably not at the 618 W. Sixth St. location has called home since 1979.

Katz’s Deli was founded when the then-33-year-old New Yorker had “more hair and a lot less belly,” moved his family down to Texas and with a loan from his ex-wife's mother was able to achieve his dream of serving New York-style deli classics and traditional Jewish kosher-style cuisine.

Most around the state know Katz as the man who would do anything for free publicity including running for Mayor of Austin and most recently, Lieutenant Governor of Texas. He said the bankruptcy is not related to the failed campaign attempt. Instead, he said rent is too expensive and his landlord has threatened to evict him, after Katz sold him the building during hardship and leased space back.

In 2006, Katz said he leased back the deli space and nearby parking for the next 20 years, after selling three downtown properties for $4.4 million. Current court records show he is paying $22,478 a month in rent, or $269,000 per year.

Katz said agreeing to his lease terms was his “biggest mistake,” but also said he was “asleep at the wheel” and did not respond to rising costs and declining economic conditions quickly enough.

Also according to court records, Katz’s Deli owes $121,900 in federal, state and county taxes. The company owes about 14 vendors about $30,000 and owes more than 55 past and present employees about $26,000. The company has annual revenue of about $2.7 million, based on court records that said monthly revenue is $225,900.

Katz said he is looking at several new locations, but did not disclose what parts of town they are in, although he hinted at leaving downtown.

“All options are open. I’ve been looking north and south,” he said.

Katz said he never recovered financially after choosing to enter into a law suit with his son, Barry, who owns and operates delis in Houston, including a Katz's Deli on 616 Westheimer St. and Kattz's Express in The Woodlands. Records show the elder Katz sued his son and the younger Katz decided to separate entirely. The Austin store went to the Marc Katz and Barry built Houston.

This is not the first time Marc Katz has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In 2004, with about $6 million in debt and as many as 99 creditors, including the IRS, lender Amresco Commercial FinanceLLC, Dallas-based law firm Hughes and Luce LLP, and Katz’s son. A restructuring plan for the bankruptcy was approved in 2005.

Today, the cost of doing business, including insurance and taxes, is rising, and “in hard times you have to cut back, and I didn’t do it fast enough,” Katz said.

DISH spoke with Barry Katz this morning and he had this to say.

"I am sorry to hear about the financial difficulties with the current location in Austin.  I hope my Dad finds another location or gets his rent lowered.  I am glad he is determined to keep the Austin Katz's from Klosing, this is an Austin institution.    This has no impact on my Houston or Woodlands area locations, we have run our businesses separately for about 8 years."