About Us

PRINCIPAL: The principal of the developer is Scott Arnold, an attorney. Mr. Arnold became licensed and opened his law practice in 1980 and specializes in civil trial law and personal injury work, and is Board Certified in both areas. He still practices law full time, as well as pursuing his real estate development work through Arnold Interests.

EARLY PROJECTS: In the early 80's Mr. Arnold bought and renovated his Montrose area, Houston residence and two historical homes in Galveston. He bought a burned-out shell of a turn-of-the-century structure on Washington Avenue in Houston and converted it into a livemusic bar, which has been more or less continuously operating for almost thirty years. Mr. Arnold then bought and renovated 3418 Mercer, a 5000 square foot office building in the Greenway Plaza area of Houston, housing exclusively attorneys.

Also in the late 1980's Mr. Arnold purchased, as 50% partner, 123 acres with half a mile frontage on the Brazos River in Fort Bend County, which is just outside Richmond/Rosenberg off US Alternate 90. Most of the property is now sold or developed but some river front, lake front and subdivision lots are still available.

GALVESTON CRUISE SHIP NEIGHBORHOOD: In the early 90's Mr. Arnold began developing a three block area in downtown Galveston, Texas, close to the Strand, the Railroad Museum, and later, the cruise ship terminal. His first purchase was an abandoned cottonbaling complex, which was 10,000 square feet of masonry walls and floor. It was without mechanical, electrical, or plumbing and lacking the entire roof structure. Mr. Arnold developed the Galveston Brewery at that location, a brew pub. He designed and built the brewing system himself, rather than buying one prepackaged.

Acquired, renovated and now sold in the neighborhood are other Arnold Interest projects: The original Galveston trolley barn, an artist studio, a metal warehouse, a cruise ship parking lot, and a "corner grocery" historic structure with an adjoining brick courtyard. After Hurricane Ike, Mr. Arnold renovated a small hotel he owned into two upscale clubs, "Voodoo Lounge" and the "Granite Room", and now leases them to a tenant. Still available for sale or development is one of the largest vacant development tracts in downtown Galveston.

DOWNTOWN HOUSTON: Mr. Arnold had early involvement in the current renaissance and revitalization of the Market Square/Courthouse area of downtown Houston. Mr. Arnold joined the Downtown Historic District on the Board of Directors in early 1995, having recently bought the 310 Main building, across from the Harris County Administration Building. Mr. Arnold, along with a handful of other developers, business owners and concerned citizens helped spark interest in this area of town. The Downtown Historic District established facade grants, education programs for potential new District residents and other programs designed to promote this area.

310 Main built in 1880, is a 10,000 square foot building and had the original elaborate Victorian facade covered in featureless concrete when Mr. Arnold purchased it. The middle third of this three-story building was collapsed and piled in a twelve foot tall pile on the first floor. The roofs were almost non-existent and there was no mechanical, electrical or plumbing functioning. A top to bottom renovation was done by Mr. Arnold as designer, owner and general contractor. Mr. Arnold built beautiful law offices on the second floor, and leased the ground floor and the back portion of the second floor to the night club "Tonic". This nightclub was among the most successful in Houston at the time. Mr. Arnold's current nightclub tenant is Bobby Heugel and his "Pastry War Tequila Bar". Mr. Heugel also developed the successful concepts "Anvil", "Underbelly" and "Hay Merchant". Mr. Arnold was the first developer to build a project under the current Historic Preservation Ordinance and the first to receive the Certificate of Appropriateness from the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission. This project received attention in local newspapers and television interviews, along with mention in several national historical magazines. The restoration was one of the first on upper Main St., and helped spark the current frenzy of redevelopment in these four or five blocks. Mr. Arnold also acquired, stabilized and renovated the facade of 110 Milam, a building formerly part of the historic Magnolia Brewery, on the banks of Buffalo Bayou.

BALINESE ROOM PIER: The Balinese Room Pier in Galveston was famous throughout Texas and beyond in the 1940's and 50's as the center for elegant casino gambling, superb food and drinks, and stellar entertainment (Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, George Burns, Groucho Marx and many more). It was memorialized in song by ZZ Top in "Balinese". It had been abandoned and neglected for almost 20 years when Mr. Arnold acquired the property in 2001. Arnold Interests transformed the legendary pier in Galveston into a retail and entertainment "mall". Mr. Arnold restored the original "South Seas Ballroom" into a large live music venue featuring mostly classic rock and blues. The original casino was transformed into an Art Deco inspired reggae and rock club over the waves. There was also an icehouse/ fishing venue, a hair salon, an Internet/coffee cafe, massage, the "Seawall Bar", an occult shop, a gambling room, special event halls and other great venues. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ike destroyed the pier entirely in 2008. Mr. Arnold renegotiated his 50 year lease with the Texas General Land Office and now has 140 feet of Seawall frontage near Landry Corporation's Pleasure Pier now available for lease or development.

AMERICA'S ICEHOUSE: America's Icehouse is based on an innovative, modular, "steel and sail" structure. The architecturally striking building can be transported to a suitable site by standard 18 wheeler trucks (without special permits) and erected by a non-specialized crew in one weekend. It is based on two or more steel freight containers and a unique system of steel masts, sails and canopies to form a light, airy, open pavilion.

Although the modular building itself is adaptable to any usage, our initial concept is a reproducible building/business structure package called "America's Icehouse". Very simply, it is an old fashioned styled ice house with a large, rectangular, full-liquor bar, and a great deal of outside seating. It has a pool table, movie screen projection video for sports and movies, dramatic exterior lighting and very reasonable drink and beer prices.

The Texas City America's Icehouse location has a large outdoor band stand for live music, karaoke and performances, an outdoor movie screen, a food truck area, outdoor games of all kinds, children's amenities, water features, landscaping and lots of cold beer and whiskey in a relaxed outdoor setting.

A second location for the next America's Icehouse franchise has been acquired on Main St. in LaPorte, amid a bustling area of antique stores, coffee shops, restaurant and retail. Please inquire about this opportunity.

TEXAS CITY: The flagship location for the first America's Icehouse is a new "entertainment district" being developed by the City of Texas City on 6 City, but now newly landscaped, with great lighting, parking, paving and with exciting new concepts, public parks, event halls and other public amenities. Mr. Arnold has invested heavily in this rapidly developing neighborhood, acquiring, in addition to the Icehouse site at 622 6 N, half of a city block on 6 corner of 2 is six blocks from Galveston Bay and poised for dramatic growth. Development and leasing opportunities are available. th St. N , the historic downtown of Texas th nd St. at 2 Ave, a great original art deco masonry building at another nd Ave and 6th St., and a large corner lot at the corner of 6 th St. and 11 th th Ave. 6 th St. St.

OTHER PROJECTS: Also recently acquired and available for lease or development is a 2 acre tract on FM 517, with 300 foot frontage, near SH 146 in San Leon, Texas. It would be suitable for an industrial project.

Since Ike, Mr. Arnold has acquired and beautifully renovated a "1960's modern" two-story 8500 square foot office building in the best part of downtown Galveston. It has beautiful granite flooring, expansive glass and great design and is available for lease or sale.

He has also developed a couple of historical residential homes, on large lots need the beach, with beautiful tropical landscaping and interior finishes. They are currently leased to residential tenants.