The closure of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Decatur lacked closure. One weekend in June, the doors locked and the windows were adorned with the hand written message “closed for good.”

The picture on why it closed remains, well, fuzzy.

This week, the future for the location at 109 N. State Street started coming into focus, and I can confirm that a new restaurant is planning to fill the void on the Decatur Square.

Clint Moore, the owner of Pappy Jacks in Springtown, is planning to expand his grill, bar and live entertainment formula to Decatur.

He has secured a lease for the property and hopes to open in September, is already starting the work to get there.

The Pappy Jacks menu includes burgers, tacos, catfish, sandwich staples and an array of appetizers that pair nicely with a cold beer.

And this may be just the beginning of Moore’s move into Wise County.

“I have five kids. It’s my goal to give each of them a restaurant by the time I retire,” Moore said.

Restaurant number three might also be located in Wise County. The ball is already rolling on a potential Bridgeport restaurant — a retirement gift in the making that may complete a 4A #txhsfb rivalry triangle for his family business.

Grocery store opens in… Cottondale?

DG Market, Dollar General’s fresh grocery concept to combat food deserts, made its Wise County debut in Cottondale last month.

The DG Market, surrounded by fields at 6989 FM 2123, is now open, offering a nearby grocery store option for residents in the Cottondale and Paradise area. The store features a selection of fresh meats, fruits and vegetables, as well as everything else customers can expect when popping into Dollar General.

“We are excited to provide Paradise residents with our new DG Market format and look forward to welcoming customers to our new location,” said Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development, in a press release. “… We strive to provide a pleasant shopping experience to customers and looking forward to being a strong business partner and good neighbor.”

The DG Market will employ approximately 10-15 people. Available positions can be found at www.dollargeneral.com/careers. 

Beyond the economic spark provided by job creation and sales tax revenue, schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store can apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $271 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.dgliteracy.com.

Can’t get enough oil and gas (stations)

While the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTOG) showed Wise County grew 2.7 percent in its 2025 population estimates, another way to track local population trends and traffic volume is by the trail of new gas stations, a trail that just keeps getting longer.

The newest one to open is the Bridgeport Mart gas station at 575 Hovey Street in Bridgeport.

It’s every bit of a one-stop shop with a store that packs Mexican food, pizza, a selection of wine and beer, as well as your normal convenience store fair inside. It’s a big place and seems to have the type of variety that could handle the pickiest of pitstoppers.

Another new gas station is in the works on the other side of the Big Sandy, at 2806 S. Farm Road 51. The new gas station, Prime Stop Convenience Store, is a $1.125 million project that includes the construction of a 4,500 square foot convenience store, according to the project registered with TDLR. 

On the oil front, there’s been some serious progress for the construction of Take 5, a new express oil change facility that’s underway near the new TexasBank location on S. Farm Road 51 in Decatur. The 1,682 square foot facility will have three bays.

Until we meet again

Bad news, bean heads.

This is a Band-Aid that I’m not ready to rip off. But here it goes.

Butter Bean Baking Co., a colorful spot on the Decatur Square that dreamed up genre-defying cookies and desserts, announced that it will close Aug. 2.

I am sad.

Sara Reynolds, the mastermind behind the Butter Bean’s classic salted chocolate chip cookie and other delectable treats, is shifting gears to spend more time with family. In all seriousness, that’s a commendable move that outweighs any tummy-driven protests.

The good news is that the baking will continue, but just on a more manageable basis. Stay tuned for their next moves on their Facebook page.

And in another blow, Joe’s Pizza, Pasta & Subs (which was my first meal after moving to Decatur years ago) recently closed. And for those holding out hope for a surprise return of the Decatur restaurant near Taco Bell, I’m sorry. It was demolished this week, along with the nearby state inspection service station, which most know as the former FINA station. 

No plans have been disclosed for the future of that site, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for it.

Tip of the hat

James Wood Chevrolet in Decatur received the 2024 Mark of Excellence Award from Chevrolet, a distinction given to top-performing dealerships that lead in customer satisfaction and sales performance.

“This recognition reflects the hard work of our dedicated team and the continued trust of our customers,” the dealership announced on social media. “At James Wood Motors, we’re committed to delivering not only quality vehicles but also a world-class dealership experience.”

Congratulations to the good folks over at James Wood Chevrolet!

Medical City Decatur CEO Jason Wren has been named one of the top rural hospital and health system CEOs to know by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Wren was among 118 rural healthcare leaders recognized. Becker’s Hospital Review highlighted CEOs who are helping expand access to care in remote areas, reduce the need for long-distance travel and improve patient services through recruitment and facility investment.

Wren oversees financial operations, clinical quality and patient experience at the hospital, Medical City Decatur said in its announcement.

He is a board member for the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals and serves as president of the Decatur Economic Development Corporation board. Wren is a former Decatur City Council member and previously served on the Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange board from 2018 to 2023, as well as the Texas Hospital Association’s Council on Policy Development from 2018 to 2022. He currently serves as a director for the THA Member Solutions board.