Longview’s food scene will be packed with good stuff this week.
The first of three Braum’s planned in Longview is expected to open Nov. 10 at 3069 Eastman Road, the company reported. Braum’s stores are known for their ice cream and other dairy products, along with desserts, hamburgers and other food items.
A second Longview store, at 280 N. Spur 63, next door to Kroger, is expected to open around Christmas. Braum’s bought that property in 2021 and leveled the site a year later. A Casa Ole restaurant was previously located there.
Construction also is expected to start this month on Longview’s third Braum’s at 1420 W. Loop 281, next door to Dutch Bros. Coffee and across the loop from Milano’s Ristorante. It is a location that Braum’s had previously purchased but abandoned plans for in 2017.
Braum’s operates East Texas stores in Tyler, Mount Pleasant and Athens. The Tuttle, Oklahoma-based company has more than 300 locations across Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas.
And an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 will welcome a new FRESH by Brookshire’s to Longview.
Representatives from Brookshire Grocery Co. and the city of Longview will take part in the ceremony at 3121 N. Eastman Road at the Fourth Street extension.
FRESH is a destination market specializing in natural, organic and chef-prepared foods. At 66,000 square feet, the new Longview location is the third FRESH store and will be 10,000 square feet larger than the original FRESH in Tyler. Brookshire’s says the new store features the “best amenities” of the Tyler and Fate locations. That includes a sushi counter, a Mexican taqueria bar, FRESH brick oven pizza, chef-prepared food, gelato and an artisan bakery.
The outdoor area will feature a patio, grill, and bar along with a stage for live music and a playground for children.
Brookshire’s 13-foot tall motorized “Big Grocery Cart” will be on hand for photos.
In addition, a special soft opening event will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday.
Brookshire Grocery Co. is a regional family-owned grocery business that operates more than 220 stores in four states – Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma – with three distribution centers. The company employs more than 17,500 people.
Bar, restaurant planned
Bearded Monkey Sports Bar & Grill is expanding into Longview.
Michael Weatherall, managing owner, and his business partner, Carl Willis, have opened three other locations of the new restaurant concept in Forney, Rockwall and Lavon. The Longview location is one of three other restaurants they’re planning to open.
“We’re a sports bar…” Weatherall said. “We’re all into sports and good times, good food…”
The restaurant will feature eight Diamond pool tables, darts, indoor cornhole and other activities.
The 7,500-square-foot restaurant and bar will be inside the former Anytime Fitness at 1013 Wal St. near Sam’s Club.
Weatherall said he hopes to open within 90 days. He said he participated in a pool tournament in 2024 in Longview.
“It seems like a lot of people are out and about, but there’s nothing like what we do,” Weatherall said of the business environment in Longview.
He said the menu includes pizza, wings, hamburgers, salads and a variety of sandwiches.
“It’s been a great, great establishment. That’s why we’ve added so many stores so quickly,” Weatherall said.
First anniversary celebration
East Texas Juicery celebrates its first anniversary Nov. 8. Sydney Reed and Chris Williams are owners of the store that offers cold-pressed organic juice, smoothie bowls and trail mix at 424 E. Cotton St.
Customers will get a chance to spin a prize wheel from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 8. Customers also can enter for a giveaway during business hours this week, 11 a.m.-3 p.m through Monday.
— Business Beat appears Wednesday. If you have items for the column, email to newsroom@newsjournal.com; mail to Business Section, Longview News-Journal, P.O. box 1792, Longview, TX 75606; or call (903) 237-7744.