New shelving units have been installed at Hometown Market to showcase health, wellness and artisan-made goods, preparing for its grand opening later this month. (Contributed Photo)

So far in 2025, Tyler has seen a mix of business mergers, new openings and the reopening of familiar establishments.

Among them:

Roost

Roost Chicken Salad & Deli, a popular Tyler restaurant known for its chicken salad and breakfast offerings, will reopen this spring at 5377 South Broadway Ave. after being forced to close due to redevelopment at its former location at 3314 Troup Highway.

The new location is in the space previously occupied by Lola’s Handcrafted Kitchen, which closed in September after a decade of operation.

Roost specializes in a variety of chicken salads made with fresh ingredients and unique recipes. The menu also features hearty deli sandwiches, all-day breakfast items such as sandwiches, tacos, omelets, pancakes and French toast, as well as sides like soups, salads and chips.

For more information, visit the menu at roosttx.com or call 903-200-1775.

Lone Star Botanicals

Lone Star Botanicals relocated to 12907 State Highway 155, in Tyler. The shop offers a variety of loose herbs by weight, custom-blended teas, herbal accessories and natural products from local vendors.

It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with Sunday being closed. Customers can visit to find wellness products, tea blends and connect with a community of herbal enthusiasts.

For more information, call 003-894-6133 or visit https://www.lonestarbotanicals.com/.

McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Deli opened a second location in Tyler, at 5868 Old Jacksonville Hwy. on Jan. 15. The restaurant is known for serving savory sandwiches, large baked potatoes, fresh salads, hearty soups, delectable desserts and its Famous Sweet Tea.

For more information, call 903-253-0840

Hometown Market, LLC

Hometown Market’s grand opening is set for Jan. 25, featuring a variety of baked goods, take-and-bake meals, chicken salad and other options available for pre-order, with gluten-free options offered. The store is a health, wellness and artisan-made goods market that sources quality products.

For more information, follow the Facebook page of the same name, visit the health food store at 501 W Duval St Suite 101, Troup or call 430- 777-5006.

Val’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza

Val’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza announced on their Facebook page that progress on their new location is nearing completion, with a scheduled opening just after Valentine’s Day.

The parking lot has been resurfaced, and the interior is nearing its final touches. Hiring is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks. The new owners expressed their excitement about being in Chandler and their eagerness to serve the community.

For more information, visit Val’s Italian Restaurant at 401 W. Hwy 31, Chandler or call 903-515-2010. People can also visit their website at valsitalianrestaurant.com.

JCPenney

JCPenney has merged with Sparc Group, a retail company known for several household brands, to form a new entity called Catalyst Brands, based in Plano.

The new company will oversee a range of brands, including Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, Nautica and JCPenney’s exclusive private brands like Stafford, Arizona, and Liz Claiborne.

JCPenney, a longstanding department store chain, offers a wide selection of brand-name clothing, footwear, furniture and more. The Tyler location is situated in Broadway Square at 4401 S Broadway Ave, and features departments such as JCPenney Optical, JCPenney Portraits and JCPenney Salon.