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 his real estate development work through Arnold Interests.

In the early 80's Mr. Arnold bought and renovated his residence and a beach house and two historical homes in Galveston. In 1984 he bought a burned-out shell of a turn-of-the-century structure on Washington Avenue in Houston and converted it into a live-music bar, which has been more or less continuously operating for fifteen years, with live music every night. Mr. Arnold then bought and renovated 3418 Mercer, a 5000 square foot office building in the Greenway Plaza area of Houston, housing exclusively attorneys.

In the early 90's Mr. Arnold began developing a three block area in downtown Galveston, Texas, close to the Strand and the Railroad Museum. His first purchase was an abandoned cotton-baling 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 pre-packaged. It was a three hundred gallon system which is relatively large. The brew pub ran successfully for a couple of years at which time the brewing system was transferred to a new brewery in Clear Lake and the current space was leased by Mr. Arnold to a restaurant and bar operator for a project called the Old Magnolia Cotton Club. Also in the neighborhood are Arnold Interests projects the original Galveston trolley barn, (which has been converted to antique stores) a small hotel, with restaurant and bar, an artist studio, a metal warehouse, parking lot, a “corner grocery” historic structure with an adjoining brick courtyard, and another club currently being renovated. Mr. Arnold recently purchased 1 1/3 acres of vacant land adjoining his other properties which provides long-term parking for the project. See the Arnold Interests property listing.

Also in the early 90'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. Deals are pending for developing part of the property into single family residential lots and part to be sold to another developer.

Mr. Arnold had early involvement in the current renaissance 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. Later, the Downtown Historic District was successful enough to focus mostly on managing the growth and preserving the quality of life in the neighborhood.

310 Main 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. Texas Historical Commission Architect, Kevin Milsteadt, (now in Washington, D.C.) provided design assistance for the facade. Architect Niall Saunders laid out Mr. Arnold’s design for the interior. 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 is among the most successful in Houston, often grossing over $100,000 a month in gross liquor sales. The Greater Houston Historical Association Foundation has again requested Mr. Arnold to nominate the building for its annual “Good Brick” award. 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 (and still receives) 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.

Most recently, Arnold Interests has transformed the legendary Balinese Room in Galveston into a retail and entertainment “mall”. The Balinese Room 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”. Available now for lease is an “anchor tenant” restaurant; a large, elegant club (which can be combined with the restaurant), and a retail section. The original “South Seas Ballroom” is available for weddings, parties, seminars, galas, and charity events. There are miscellaneous smaller leaseholds available as well. The 20,000 square foot historic National Register building is over the waves of the Gulf of Mexico at the end of a 375 foot, enclosed walkway. It is located at 2107 Seawall Boulevard across from the three-star Galvez Hotel. The Beach Central Conference Center has a large parking garage which can service the Balinese Room (in addition to available street parking). The Flagship Hotel and the Commodore are in easy walking distance. The Balinese Room is easily accessible to the Strand Historic District visitors and cruise line passengers via the rail trolley. Its location and history provide a unique basis for an unequaled business or entertainment opportunity. For more information see The Balinese Room website.