By Amy Moore

The News staff writer

Brothers Scott and Joey Beard have a vision of Port Arthur’s downtown area that includes flourishing businesses, busy restaurants and a positive impact on the city.

Owners of Sabine Universal Products on Houston Avenue, the Beards, along with several other family members at the business, hope to change the negative perspective many Southeast Texans have on the downtown Port Arthur area.

“We’ve been here since 1950 and we’ve never had any problems,” said Scott Beard. “With all the negative remarks you hear about the area, this place needs a chance to come back to what it used to be.”

The Beards say with its wide streets and close proximity to the port, Houston Avenue has a lot to offer perspective businesses — not to mention spacious buildings with low price tags.

“We’re trying to change the image and things are moving forward. The city has been tearing down old buildings and it makes a huge difference. We just hope it keeps going on,” said Joey Beard. “There are even respectable homes for sale in the neighborhoods.”

Using the downtown area of Beaumont as inspiration, the Beard brothers said image and perception are important elements in the revitalization of the city’s downtown and the pair have done their part to better the image of the area.

As business partners, Joey, Scott and other family members have spent the last several years working on what they call “their own little piece of dirt.” The family has worked extra hours to make their business a reputable and eye-pleasing structure on Houston Avenue.

“We take pride in our area and we hope other people do too. We’ve talked to the city about getting better lighting on the street and beautifying the city. To their credit, they’ve started cleaning up and we hope they don’t stop,” Scott Beard said.

Sabine Universal Products was able to do so well in the business community because of grants from the EDC. They hope that other businesses coming to the area will get the same assistance to get their projects started.

“Beaumont Bolt is coming down here and will be hiring 45 new employees. IGS just relocated here from Beaumont, too,” Scott Beard said. “And with Cheniere coming in, there will be an increase in the volume of boat traffic. There’s going to be 50 to 60 new jobs down here in just a few blocks. The problem is that they are all commercial business, not residential business. We need a restaurant owner to come in or what not. There needs to be some shopping or something.”

Long time businesses in the area include Drago’s, Gulf Copper and JBS Packing and the International Seaman’s Center is under construction as well. Scott and Joey see their commercial business neighbors just as they do their neighbors at their homes and want to see them succeed.

“We’re here and we do care and we want to change the image people have across Mid-County — heck, across the state,” said Joey. “There are a lot of things taking place down here. It’s the best we’ve ever seen it. We want to counter the negative news.”

The brothers said the best way for downtown business owners to assist in changing the perspective of the area is to put a little sweat into their businesses, outside and in.