Rollin Stone Craft Burgers 

There have been multiple business closures, along with some openings and expansions, in the Tyler area over the last month.

Among them:

Mojo’s Cantina & Grill

Mojo’s Cantina & Grill, a Mexican restaurant at 5106 Old Bullard Road, has permanently closed. It was located in the building formerly occupied by Breakers: A Seafood Joint, which closed in August 2023.

Mojo’s served seafood tacos, burgers, and signature dishes.

The Dinner Table

The Dinner Table, located at 4730 S. Broadway Ave., announced on Sunday that it would be closing. Owners say the closure, which became official Tuesday, is due to rising costs such as rent and utilities that became too high to manage.

Owner Sherri Lamb posted on Facebook about the restaurant’s closure, expressing deep thanks to the Tyler community for its support over the past five years. She said the relationships built with customers have made her staff’s work meaningful and joyful.

Lamb’s post also shared the difficulties of running a small business, urging people to support local businesses, which often don’t make a lot of money despite the hard work involved.

Lamb praised her employees for their dedication and skill and said she is now helping them find new job opportunities. The owner ended by reflecting on the tough decision and her faith in the Lord’s guidance, encouraging others to trust in Him during their own challenges.

Lamb, with two decades of experience in the corporate world, started her business after seeing the need for convenient already-made meals in a busy world. In a November 2022 interview with ETX View, Lamb cited several challenges her business has faced over the years such as COVID-19, a shopping center remodel, inflation and more. 

Rollin Stone Craft Burgers

Rollin Stone Craft Burgers is temporarily closing its food trailer, effective Saturday.

Owner and Chef Dexter Ballow posted to Facebook stating that building a brand and owning a business has always been his dream, but unforeseen circumstances and slow business has left him with no choice but to close for now.

A projected reopening date is uncertain, but he said he is determined to reopen at a later date.

The food truck opened in May 2023, offering various craft burgers with a signature beef blend of brisket, chuck, and short rib with a few made-in-house sauces.

Ballow said in a previous interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph that his idea to start the business began back in college when eating out was scarce yet he wanted to enjoy good food. This led to some creativity on the grill and in the kitchen, creating unique combinations and sauces. 

As for where the truck will be for the remainder of its time on the street, patrons can enjoy burgers from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Big Lots at 4400 S. Broadway Ave., 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Wagner Cadillac, 5855 Old Jacksonville Hwy. Tyler, and 5 to 7 p.m. at the Troup four-way stop across from city hall 106 E. Duval St. Troup, and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Alpha Center, 3200 Troup Hwy. in Tyler, and 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Big Lots at 4400 S. Broadway.

For more information, visit Rollin Stone’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RollinStoneCraftBurgers .

Lola’s Handcrafted Kitchen

Lola’s Handcrafted Kitchen, a sandwich shop at 5377 S Broadway Ave. in Tyler, closed its doors after a decade. The business was located on south Broadway street, near Gateway Plaza.

The business’ closure, described as suddenly by the community, as the Facebook page was active Sept. 14. The website thanked customers saying, “We are deeply grateful for your support over the past 10 years and the memories we’ve created together.”

The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported in March 2018 the sandwich shop had changed hands, reopening under new ownership. The new owners were ushered in after social media response of a closure led the couple to find a way to keep the business running.

Averitt Express

Averitt Express, a transport company, announced the opening of its new service center in Tyler, located near Interstate 20. This facility, covering 20,500 square feet with 33 dock doors, significantly increases Averitt’s capacity, enabling faster and more efficient freight handling for customers.

The new center is designed to streamline operations with expanded dock space, two on-site fuel islands and secure parking. These upgrades enable Averitt to provide more reliable, timely service to customers, while also enhancing the work environment for associates through modern amenities such as break areas and new restrooms and showers.

“Our new Tyler facility is a major step forward in our ability to serve customers across East Texas and beyond,” said Bryan Walters, Tyler service center director. “With improved infrastructure and increased capacity, we’re positioned to meet the growing needs of our customers, delivering the high-quality service they expect from Averitt.”

This facility also marks the debut of Averitt’s newly redesigned signage, featuring a streamlined Averitt logo and updated color scheme that matches Averitt’s fleet of equipment, associates’ uniforms and reflects the modern evolution of its brand.

Zaza Thai Tyler

Zaza Thai, an authentic Thai food restaurant, opened its doors Sept. 2 at 6611 S. Broadway Ave. Suite 100 in Tyler.

The restaurant serves Thai and Vietnamese dishes, with a variety of vegetarian options. 

Jimmy John’s

Jimmy John’s has reopened its location at 5303 S Broadway Ave. in Tyler after closing in 2022. The sandwich shop is once again serving customers at this address.

Parry’s Pizzeria & Taphouse

A New York-style pizzeria set to open in November just past the corner of Troup and the Loop, promising a family-friendly atmosphere with a vibrant work culture. Known for its “uncommon hospitality” and “craveably crafted” food, the restaurant will also offer 72 beers on tap for craft beer enthusiasts.

The pizzeria is located at 3314 Troup Highway in Tyler. The area is the same spot Salsarita’s and Roost were previously located.

In addition to its menu, the pizzeria plans to host weekly fundraiser nights for local community groups, including school teams, church camps and charities.

The hiring process is currently underway, with a trailer outside the restaurant where over 150 team members will be hired in the next eight weeks. The business is seeking individuals who are fun-loving, competitive and take pride in providing excellent service and food.

As of Tuesday, new signage had been put up at Parry’s, signaling progress is well underway.

Food Truck Monday

The Chandler Texas Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Food Truck Monday at 11 a.m. at McCain Park this past Monday. The lineup included Frios Gourmet Pops, Just Pies, Nana’s BBQ, The Spud Station, and The Three Frontiers. New food trucks are invited to participate each week.

The next event will be held on Sept. 23, also at McCain Park, 16672 State Hwy. 31. The list of participating food trucks will be posted next week on the Chamber’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/chandlertxchamber .

Tyler Thrift

Tyler Thrift opened in its new location at 2515 E. 5th Street over the weekend. It is a donation-based thrift store with a food pantry inside.

The thrift store was previously located at 1700 SSE Loop 323 but after five years had outgrown its space.

In the new location, the store has upsized from 1,700 square feet to 4,200 square feet.