Moore’s Store originally opened in 1933 as a general store, offering a deli, groceries, hardware and a photo studio. After being closed for years, the building was bought and renovated by the late Brooks Gremmels, who opened a restaurant and music venue in 2009. After his death earlier this year, Summer Haltom has taken over the business. Ms. Haltom has worked to expand the business’ hours, the bar, menu and music offered there. (Casey Murphy photo)

BEN WHEELER – Growing up in Ben Wheeler, Summer Haltom remembers going to Moore’s Store for groceries and to take family pictures.

The general store originally opened in 1933 by the Moore family and was shut down in the late 1980s or early 1990s, she said. The building in the unincorporated city’s downtown sat vacant for years until the late Brooks Gremmels moved to town and revived it, along with several other businesses.

Moore’s Store was the first of many downtown businesses renovated by Gremmels. He turned it into a restaurant — the first for downtown — and opened it in September 2009. Later, he added a bar and live music, Ms. Haltom said.

In 2003, Gremmels retired to the small town in Van Zandt County. He began buying property and repairing dilapidated buildings, and transformed it into an arts district. Gremmels died earlier this year.

Before Gremmels moved to town, the community’s downtown was “completely dead,” Ms. Haltom said. Now the strip is bustling with small, unique businesses. “He had a hand in all of them,” she added.

Gremmels did a big renovation on the Moore’s Store building but a lot of its original features remain, including the hardwood floors.

Instead of selling hardware, dry goods, and ammunition, as the general store once did, Moore’s Store now offers food, live music and a full bar.

Although her parents were entrepreneurs, Ms. Haltom never imagined she would own a business at age 33.

“It is hard work,” she said. “However, it’s a dream come true.”

When Ms. Haltom gets down to the day-to-day grind and asks why she is doing it, she remembers three things: she grew up with the Moore family and considers them her second family; there were no restaurants or places to have fun in Ben Wheeler when she was growing up; and people work hard for their money.

“When they come to Moore’s, I want them to get one of the best experiences they’ve ever had,” she said.

 

BACK HOME

After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University with a degree in hospitality administration, Ms. Haltom couldn’t find a job so she returned to Ben Wheeler to work for her parents and get into the family business.

“I swore I’d never come back but I did,” said Ms. Haltom, who has a 5-year-old son.

Her parents, Don and Sharon Gilchrist, have owned Door Control Services since 1973. Ms. Haltom still works for them, doing the marketing for the company that does commercial automatic and manual doors.

After Gremmels died, members of the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation he founded discussed the need for new ownership of Moore’s Store. Gilchrist, who serves on the foundation’s board, jumped on the opportunity and recommended her, she said.

Mrs. Gilchrist and Ms. Haltom own the business and Ms. Haltom runs it. The transfer of ownership took place on Sept. 4 and the restaurant never closed, she added.

 

EXPANDING VENUE

Since taking over, Ms. Haltom has expanded the business’ hours, the bar area and menus. She’s added televisions in the bar area and back porch, Wi-Fi and a wait staff instead of customers picking up their orders at the counter. She has added seating on the front porch and there is a back porch bar for larger events.

Thursday nights offer karaoke and there is live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Mostly country bands have been playing but she is adding more of a variety of music, such as rock, blues and Cajun. Although she loves country music, she believes there should be a variety for people looking for somewhere to go every weekend.

Ms. Haltom is bringing back bands loved by the locals but is also bringing in new singers. “I want to support the local talent and give them a place to start,” she said.

A dozen items have been added to the menu but the favorite dishes also remain.

They offer Angus beef handmade hamburgers and chicken fried steak, as well as catfish, veggie burgers, a “Dancing Pig” sandwich, salads and appetizers.

Lindsey Hollowell, manager, is the longest of the 20 employees at Moore’s Store. She started working there when Gremmels opened it and recalled that he worked for years to renovate the old building, bricking the front, updating the plumbing and electrical, replacing rotten wood and missing pressed tin.

Ms. Hollowell said the unique décor includes a collection of hats that came from a general store in Fruitvale. The Bugs Henderson memorabilia either belonged to Gremmels or was donated by Henderson’s wife after his death, she added.

There are also hogs on the wall, representing the community’s Feral Hog Festival, which was also founded by Gremmels and has its kickoff celebration and pageant coronation at Moore’s Store each year.

“I’m ecstatic,” Ms. Haltom said of how business has been since she has taken over. “I’m very pleased. People have been very welcoming to the changes.”

 

 

IF YOU GO

 

Moore’s Store: 1551 Farm-to-Market Road 279 in Ben Wheeler

Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Friday and until 1 a.m. Saturday

Contact: 903-833-5100; www.mooresstore.com

 

LIVE MUSIC IN JANUARY

 

Friday – Chase and the New South / Unplugged – 9 p.m.

Saturday – Todd Freeman & Bullet Proof – 9 p.m.

Jan. 16 – Rodeo Clown Dropouts – 9 p.m.

Jan. 17 – Eleven Hundred Springs – 9 p.m.

Jan. 24 – Wayland Hicks and the Travelers – 9 p.m.

Jan. 30 – Austin English Band – 9 p.m.

Jan. 31 – Ben Lowery and The Texas Express – 8 p.m.