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Dallas-based CenterPoint Hospitality recently celebrated the opening of its Garner Hotel Longview South.

Located at 900 S. Access Road, the hotel is in what was the Best Western Plus Longview - University area. CenterPoint finished an "extensive renovation" of the property in December. 

CenterPoint owns and operates 12 hotels, partnering with such companies as Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham Hotel Group and Red Roof Inn.

Garner Hotel is a new brand under IHG that was established in 2023. Information from CenterPoint described the hotel brand as a "midscale limited-service" property that focuses on "delivering quality stays at an affordable price, which is hard to find in the midscale conversion space."

"Garner Hotels are designed to deliver the all-important things guests value most ÐÔÊӽ紫ý” a convenient location, a sound night's sleep, and a great complimentary hot breakfast," information from CenterPoint said. The property also features a gym and outdoor pool.

The Longview location is the first Garner Hotel in Texas. Garner Hotel Longview South offers 90 rooms and one meeting space that accommodates 45 people.

Minesh Patel is managing partner of the business, with CenterPoint formed in 2016 by the children of Kanu Patel. Kanu Patel opened his first hotel in 1991 in Buffalo, Texas, where he raised his three children, Nita, Minesh and Anant.

Twenty years later, "the second generation hoteliers now focused on expansion formed CenterPoint Hospitality to centralize and scale their operations. At the time the company and its affiliates owned three hotels, and a decade later now own 11 hotels across Texas," information from the company said.

CenterPoint acquired its first property in Longview in 2017 and now has four hotels in the local market:

Tobacco Junction festival

Tobacco Junction will host its Third Annual East Texas Cigar Festival from March 21-22 at 522 E. Loop 281 in Longview.

Billed as "the largest premium cigar event in North East Texas," this year's event will have 16 vendors: Davidoff, Avo, Camacho, Cruce Del Tobac, JC Newman, Crowned Heads, Drew Estate, Esteban Carreras, Perdomo, Forged, Alec Bradley, General Cigars, Illusione, Oliva, Rocky Patel, United Cigars and Aganorsa.

Tobacco Junction describes its store as having "the largest all cigar humidor in the state."

The weekend will kick off with a VIP Davidoff Winston Churchill Event from 6-8 p.m. March 21. The festival will continue 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 22.

Tickets are still available for the VIP event at all Tobacco Junction locations or by calling (903) 234-1212. Participants will receive a free Winston Churchill cigar, with opportunities to purchase additional cigars and take home Davidoff swag.

The national launch of the new United Cigars brand GOLD STAR will start at 9 a.m. March 22 with free breakfast.

Elite Repeats changes

Juneau Embry continues to operate her original Elite Repeats location at 3000 Gilmer Road in Longview, following the closure of her second location at 2167 Gilmer Road. 

The closure followed her decision to change some business operations. She no longer sells men's clothing items at the consignment store because they weren't selling. The store also has stopped selling formals but continues to take evening gowns. 

Embry conducted a sale at the second location before closing, and then donated remaining clothes to a nonprofit organization .

"We've increased our business substantially (since the second store closed) because we're not spreading our customers out," Embry said.

Elite Repeats is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.