Category Archives: Operator Feature

Worth the Drive: Five D Cattle Company Steakhouse and Meat Market

Darlene Jacobs has her own take on the real estate maxim ‘Location, location, location.’ She’s happy to leave prime locations along well-traveled thoroughfares in high-density cities to others. Her Five D Cattle Company Steakhouse and Meat Market in tiny Avinger, population 444, tucked...

 Vera’s Backyard Barbeque

Armando Vera is not one to pat himself on the back. Describing his restaurant, he says simply, “We serve barbacoa. Our menu has varied some over the years, as we’ve added brisket, lamb, menudo and pork. But that traditional Mexican beef-head barbacoa is what we’re known for.” If you ask aficionados like Texas...

One would not expect two experienced retail clothiers to dive headlong into a fine dining venture. And one would certainly not guess that they would select a former bank in which to do so. Four years ago when Bridgette and Harley Hooper opened Villagio del Vino, they definitely went beyond their comfort zone, challenged the...

For years Longview locals have headed to a popular spot on the southern outskirts of town to fulfill their Tex-Mex cravings. Ronny and Debbie Maxey stopped in regularly for dinner after a long day’s work. When they were approached about buying the long-established business known as T. Blanco’s...