COURTESY | BLUEMOUND CAFE
Blue Mound Cafe, a staple for homestyle cooking in North Texas, is ready to plant its flag in Wise County. The cafe recently secured a lease for at the former Decatur Brandi’s location at 1803 U.S. 287 S.
This foray into Decatur marks the fifth location for the chain. Blue Mound currently operates two cafes in Fort Worth (on Vickery Boulevard and Belknap Street) along with spots in Saginaw and North Richland Hills.
Expect an ambitious rollout: Blue Mound plans to serve the “big three” — breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“Big news is cooking,” the cafe shared on Facebook. “Renovations are underway, the griddles are warming up, and before you know it, we’ll be servin’ up REAL HOME COOKIN’ — the kind that feels like Sunday at Grandma’s table.”
The menu is expected to feature classic diner fare: hearty breakfast platters, burgers, and daily dinner specials. If you’re looking for work, the restaurant is holding a hiring event at its new Decatur location from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 28.
COURTESY | BLUEMOUND CAFE
Jimmy John’s looks to finish renovation of future Decatur location by June 1
We know Jimmy John’s can deliver sandwiches in a freakily fast fashion. But can they remodel a shopping center building at the same pace?
That question finally has some clarity.
According to information from a recent Texas Department of Licensing and Registration filing, the new Jimmy John’s franchise at 1208 S. Farm Road 51 could be open before the end of the summer.
Contractors will begin transforming the former GameStop into a sandwich shop in February, with interior renovations estimated at $180,000. Construction is slated to be completed by June 1, according to the TDLR filing.
The shop will be neighbors with Little Caesars — perfect for those days when your group is split between a sub and a slice.
While we wait for an official opening date, hungry residents can find the nearest existing locations in Northlake, Azle, and Denton.
In some unrelated dining news, there were recent murmurs about Chick-fil-A expanding in Bridgeport near the Starbucks a few weeks ago. I checked on it, and I’m afraid that I can’t confirm Bridgeport winning the Chick-Fil-A race to be accurate quite yet.
But there are sings of another fast food joint eying this portion of U.S. 380, a Texas Stop Sign to be exact. Stay tuned for more info.
A Shot of Progress at Walmart
The Decatur Walmart is preparing for an expansion and remodel of its pharmacy area to create dedicated spaces for private consultations and vaccinations.
According to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TDLR), the renovation will feature a separate room to give patients a bit more privacy.
While the planning phase is underway, the actual construction is expected to move quickly. Work is scheduled to begin June 21 and wrap up by July 17.
First National Bank becomes Investar
If you’ve noticed a new name rolling out at First National Bank locations around the county, it’s not just a rebrand.
First National Bank is now part of Investar Bank following the acquisition of its Wichita Falls-based holding company by Investar Holding Corp. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based company finalized the deal Jan. 1 after announcing the acquisition last summer.
The transaction was valued at roughly $112.9 million and included a mix of cash and Investar stock. For local customers, the immediate impact appears minimal beyond new signage and letterhead. Branches in Bridgeport, Chico, Paradise and Runaway Bay remain in place.
Investar President and CEO John D’Angelo said the acquisition pushes the company into the North Texas and Wichita Falls markets and fits neatly into Investar’s multi-state expansion strategy.
At the end of 2025, First National Bank reported $1.2 billion in total assets, with about $1 billion each in loans and deposits — numbers that help explain why the franchise caught Investar’s eye.
Cheers to United Way
Representatives from United Way Wise County were presented a $23,000 check from business owner Al Wani following a fundraiser held by Al’s Discount Liquor in December to raise money for the non-profit organization.
Happy trails, Holzbog
The Decatur Economic Development Corporation is preparing for a leadership handoff.
After more than five years at the helm of the Decatur EDC, Executive Director Kevin Holzbog will step down March 31. The change was announced in a Jan. 2 press release.
Holzbog isn’t going far for his next gig. He’s taking on a new role as president of the Waggoner-Sauder family office — a move that keeps him rooted with the office relocating to Decatur.
The DEDC board has already started its search for a successor.
During Holzbog’s tenure, the organization focused on recruiting new businesses, helping existing employers expand and making long-term investments in land and infrastructure — the kind of behind-the-scenes work that doesn’t always make headlines but quietly shapes where a city is headed.
EDC board President Jason Wren credited Holzbog with positioning Decatur for continued growth, while City Manager Nate Mara described him as a key partner in building both job growth and the EDC’s internal capacity.
Holzbog will replace longtime president Kerry Graham and help relocate the Waggoner-Sauder family’s office from Wichita Falls to Decatur, where it will manage the family’s Wise County real estate holdings.
“Kerry Graham has been a steadfast and visionary leader for many years, and a friend of the Decatur area,” Holzbog told the Messenger earlier in January.
“… I am grateful for the trust the family and he are placing in me.”
The city has posted the EDC executive director position.
The listing calls for a bachelor’s degree, relevant certifications and at least five years of management experience, including time in executive leadership — ideally within the economic development field.
Downsized course pitched to allow for redevelopment
Over in Runaway Bay, the future of a shuttered golf course remains very much up in the air.
The owners of the closed RB Golf Club and Resort recently floated a concept that would shrink the course to nine holes, preserve about half the property as green space, and rezone the remainder for commercial and townhome development.
The Cocanoughers, who have owned the course since 2018, said there’s been no viable market to operate or sell the property as a full 18-hole course, and redevelopment offers a path forward for a site that has sat dormant since closing in 2024.
City officials tapped the brakes on potentially rezoning the property to make way for the changes.
In a Jan. 5 press release, the City of Runaway Bay said the City Council is “unanimously opposed” to the rezoning proposal, even though it hasn’t officially come before the zoning board .
The property owners described the plan as a starting point and said further pursuit would depend on whether there’s viable interest in the idea.
For now, the closed course remains in limbo, with rezoning not yet scheduled for Planning and Zoning consideration as the city worked through notification requirements.
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