If you have told me five years ago when I came to Suffolk that homes on Brewer Avenue would be selling for more than $400,000 in 2005, I would have laughed in your face and written sarcastic columns ridiculing you in the newspaper.

Heck, I wouldn’t have believed it a year ago, but such is the case.

Developer Mickey Garcia spoke at the Suffolk Rotary Club Thursday afternoon about his many projects in Suffolk.

A week or so ago, I wrote in this blog a tongue-in-cheek piece about Garcia owning every building in Suffolk. I thought I was exaggerating, but he damn near does.

I couldn’t keep up in my notes as he rattled off project after project. Among them: A Virginia Beach attorney moving

into Gurley Press, a fitness center in the pawn shop on North Main, a new restaurant, called Primo 114 in the old Crystal, two houses on Peinder Street that will sell for close to $300,000 two on Brewer at $400,000, various apartments and his plans for the Damiani Building.

It’s incredible, and great for Suffolk.

Elizabeth McCoury noted that the Suffolk Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce will move into the West Washington Center today and that Cabell Birdsong’s firm will move in as well, making the building fully occupied. Good for them.

Also, Kyle Brackett is leaving the Suffolk Economic Development team for a similar job in Hampton. Kyle’s a nice fella and I hate to see him go, but happy for his career advancement.

Quote of the day:

&uot;Basically anybody who can fog a mirror can go get a loan and buy a building.&uot;

— Mickey Garcia