AUSTIN-Wichita, KS-based Fox and Hound Smokehouse and Tavern searched for awhile, but finally settled on the warehouse entertainment district for its first location in Austin. The upscale tavern operator could open doors by August's end.

PORTLAND, OR-The Portland outpost of Zions Small Business Finance, a Division of California Bank & Trust, has gained the Small Business Administration's "Preferred Lender" status, which means faster loan approvals on real estate purchases, among other things.

HOUSTON-Dr. Barton Smith, the region's favorite forecaster, says exercise caution in interpreting reports about how bad 2001 was and how good 2002 could end up. His analysis says it will be 2003 before it gets much brighter.

DENVER-The 15-story, 108,000-sf building, which the city bought for $15 million last year, is scheduled for demolition April 7. Until then, the building is used to train firefighters on battling high-rises blazes.