North Texas Smoke interior. JULYSSA CANTU | WCMESSENGER
North Texas Smoke became a Texas barbecue destination after making Texas Monthly’s coveted Top-50 BBQ Joints list in 2025.
Now, pitmaster Derrick Degenhardt and his team are celebrating their expansion from a food truck trailer to a permanent location.
The expanded North Texas Smoke is located directly behind its former spot near Wise Honda off U.S. 81/287 just south of Decatur. The address is 2555 N US Highway 287, Decatur.
Degenhardt converted several massive shipping containers into the open concept barbecue restaurant, set up for dine in and to-go orders.
His road to opening a successful barbecue restaurant wasn’t necessarily straight forward. Born and raised in central Kansas, he moved to Decatur after his military service to be closer to his wife’s family, and began cooking in his spare time while working as a truck driver. Around five years ago, he dropped everything to pursue the pitmaster thanks to a gifted custom-built barbecue trailer from a fellow pitmaster. He began selling his barbecue on weekends, hitting food truck events, and North Texas Smoke took off from there.
The Decatur BBQ joint has repeatedly defended its Best Barbecue in the Messenger’s Readers’ Choice Awards, winning again in 2026. They also took home Best in Show at the Eighter Food Truck Challenge. North Texas Smoke got its first taste of statewide acclaim when it was featured on Texas Monthly’s list of the 25 best new barbecue joints in 2023. Last year, they made the big list, the Top 50 barbecue joints in the state.
They are open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until they sell out.
North Texas Smoke exterior. JULYSSA CANTU | WCMESSENGER
North Texas Smoke interior. JULYSSA CANTU | WCMESSENGER
DEDC recognized for impact
COURTESY | DEDC
The Decatur Economic Development Corporation was recently recognized by both Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas and the Texas Economic Development Council for its community outreach and economic development efforts.
Decatur EDC was named the recipient of the 2026 Economic Development Excellence Award by Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas, which recognizes organizations for leadership in workforce development and economic growth.
In its announcement, Workforce Solutions cited the organization’s partnerships with local school districts and the creation of programs that connect students with local employers.
“This initiative not only builds early engagement in high-demand industries but also strengthens the crucial collaboration between education and business,” the organization stated in a press release.
Matt Runnels, EDC business development director, said the Workforce Solutions award reflects collaboration among local partners.
“This award was not achieved by DEDC alone,” Runnels said. “It is the result of work by our workforce partners, especially Decatur ISD.”
Mike McQuiston, who serves on the Decatur City Council and DEDC Board said Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas is an important regional partner.
“We are grateful for their recognition of the Decatur Economic Development Corporation’s collaborative work with local employers and educators,” McQuiston said.
For the last two years, the DEDC has connected with local school districts through introducing students to careers in manufacturing and public safety, with field trips and hands-on tours of these industries.
The Manufacturing Day event saw student participation at Decatur ISD and other Wise County school districts nearly double last year.
“Our partnership has created meaningful connections between our schools and local industry, giving students real-world insight into careers available in Decatur,” Decatur ISD Superintendent Taylor Williams said.
Decatur EDC was also among 85 organizations recognized through the Texas Economic Development Council’s 2025 Economic Excellence Recognition program. The program honors economic development organizations that meet standards related to professional development, certifications, memberships and organizational effectiveness.
Awards were presented Feb. 27 at the TEDC Winter Conference in El Paso.
It’s the eighth year in a row that Decatur EDC has received the honor.
“On behalf of the Decatur Economic Development Corporation, I want to extend our sincere thanks to the Texas Economic Development Council for this recognition,” Wren said. “I am incredibly proud of our board and staff and appreciate the continued support of our partners across the community.”
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