Up & Coming is Made Here Featuring The Table at Madeley and Melonhead Photo

Conroe’s commitment to free enterprise has helped lay a foundation for entrepreneurs to succeed. Regardless of background or industry, Conroe’s entrepreneurial spirit is welcoming to all, and this welcoming environment has recently propelled several new entrepreneurs to open businesses in Conroe. Their stories help explain how in Conroe, Texas, Up & Coming is Made Here.

Frank Jackson is a lifelong Conroe resident with a passion for music and entertainment. He helped create the Texas Music Chart and get Conroe designated as a Texas Music Friendly Community. Jackson plans to turn that passion and experience into business with the creation of The Table at Madeley, a food truck park and entertainment venue in downtown Conroe.

“I want to create a place for great entertainment. Conroe is ready for this,” said Jackson. “Quality service, friendliness, cleanliness, and providing a comfortable atmosphere is what you can expect.”

The Table at Madeley will consist of a 2,000 square-foot building for indoor dining and music, a 24 x 20 foot outdoor stage and event space, four permanent food trucks with outdoor dining, and room for alternating food trucks to introduce diverse cultures and genres of food. Jackson aims to hold 104 ticketed shows per year, one every Friday and Saturday, to highlight local and Texas music. The venue is expected to open in the first quarter of 2022, in time to serve as a venue for the first Conroe Crossroads Festival in April.

Jackson’s creation will bring an exciting new offering to Conroe. Its location on Madeley Street is accessible to downtown businesses, restaurants, and shops and an ideal place for tourists to get an authentic Conroe experience.

“With our location, we’re the welcome mat to downtown Conroe. It’s a beautiful spot,” added Jackson. “There’s a lot going on in Conroe and a lot coming. We’re excited to be a part of it.”

Location, growth, and strong leadership are the reasons that make Conroe the right spot for entrepreneurs, according to Jackson. Combining a dream of owning land and a passion for entertainment, Jackson is proud to chase the entrepreneurial dream in his hometown.

“Entrepreneurship in Conroe is going to drive the next layer of success. We’re ready to take that next step,” said Jackson.

Around the corner from The Table at Madeley, Melanie Hall-Fisher, an award-winning photographer and founder of Melonhead Photo, puts her exceptional talents on display. The Conroe native started Melonhead in 2004 and recently opened a state-of-the-art studio in downtown Conroe to better meet the needs of her business and community.

A graduate of Sam Houston State University, Hall-Fisher has earned a reputation as a top photographer. In 2015 she earned her Photographic Craftsman degree from Professional Photographers of America (PPA). The following year, Hall-Fisher earned her Master Photographer degree from PPA, making her the youngest Master Photographer in Texas at the time. She has collected numerous awards and distinctions from photography competitions and organizations, building a robust portfolio and trophy case.

A creative agency, Melonhead shoots a variety of photographic genres. Hall-Fisher and her husband and business partner, Nick, shoot everything from commercial marketing to weddings to senior portraits. Melonhead’s new studio has enhanced the company's offering and lifted an already impressive agency even higher.

“We are working to get rid of the stigma that studio photography is boring. We can create something special for the client and differentiate from what anyone else can do,” said Hall-Fisher. 

Previously operating out of a home studio, Melonhead’s move to a downtown Conroe studio has improved visibility and increased leads. The studio was built using Hall-Fisher’s years of experience to understand what makes studio photography special. Highlighted by a compliment of wall backgrounds, superior lighting, dressing rooms, and a 100-inch projector screen to view images with clients, Melonhead’s studio brings stunning photography to life.

“I never thought that I would be able to have a studio like this. That’s the dream of every starving artist. It’s really rewarding,” offered Hall-Fisher.

Hall-Fisher describes herself technical and detailed. She believes that this mindset translates well to being an entrepreneur. She is using her strengths to get connected in Conroe and continue building a successful business.

“A good entrepreneur not only knows his or her craft, but also how to run a business. They know how to be profitable, how to make sure they’re marketing correctly, how to plan ahead, and how to help other businesses,” added Hall-Fisher. “I am more technical and detail oriented than a lot of photographers and that ties-in with how to run a business versus just taking pretty pictures.”

Jackson and Hall-Fisher are two of the many entrepreneurs looking at Conroe to launch exciting ventures. The Table at Madeley and Melonhead Photo are proving that success is the present and future of Conroe. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well - Up & Coming is Made Here!