BBQ News

Texas barbecue chain brings the brisket to new western frontier

New barbecue in the West.

Photo courtesy of Rudy's

We have Rudy's to the north and Rudy's to the, well, the northeast. But now we'll get Rudy's in the west: Rudy's Country Store and BBQ, the Texas barbecue restaurant chain, is opening its first branch in Fort Worth, in a new building off I-35 and Western Center Boulevard, six miles north of downtown.

According to Lauren and Robert Wolf, who own the Rudy's franchise for North Texas, the restaurant will open this fall. "We are hopeful it will be open by late September or early October," Lauren says.

Rudy's has been serving Texas barbecue in the southwest since 1989. Its pits are 100 percent wood-fired with oak. The meat cooks with a dry spice and is served with Rudy's famous "sause." There are more than a dozen Rudy's up and down I-35 between Dallas and San Antonio, plus Houston, El Paso and West Texas, along with branches in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

The first branch in Dallas-Fort Worth opened in Denton in 2005. Since then, three more branches have come along: in Arlington, Frisco and Allen, the most recent addition which opened in 2011.

"We always do our research before we pick our location, and it takes us a long time to decide," Lauren says. "We do have one branch in Tarrant County in Arlington, but we didn't have one in Fort Worth. We're real excited to get into Fort Worth."

Fort Worth has no shortage of barbecue: from old-timers like Angelo's, Cousins and Railhead, to newer favorites such as Billy's Oak Acres and Heim Barbecue. But the area Rudy's has selected is uncontested; the closest competition is Cooper's in the Stockyards.

In addition to brisket (in both moist and lean versions), ribs and sausage, Rudy's has turkey, chicken, pork loin and pulled pork. It also does good breakfast tacos, and is open on Sundays.

Rudy’s started out as a meat market with a gas station in front, and has kept that setup as it expands, which limits its location choices to a degree.

"We do need a certain amount of space," Lauren says. "I would like a location in Dallas, if only for my own selfish needs, since I live in Dallas. We've got to find right spot, but we'll keep looking."

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Fueling up

Restaurant-style convenience store chain TXB makes DFW debut in Frisco

Facebook/TXB

Quesadillas on the grill at TXB.

A Texas-based convenience store chain known for its high-quality, restaurant-style food has debuted its first Dallas-Fort Worth location in Frisco: TXB (Texas Born) has opened at 15355 Preston Rd.

TXB Frisco is the chain's largest location yet, a release says; it features a 16-pump gas station, walk-in beer cooler, Subway restaurant, grab-and-go items, and made-to-order food and coffee.

The Frisco store is TXB’s 54th location across Texas and Oklahoma.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the Frisco community,” says Kevin Smartt, CEO of TXB, in the release. “With the new theme park opening soon and being right down the street from The Star (Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters) and the PGA Frisco golf course, we’re happy to know that TXB will be a part of our guests’ journey to their destinations.”

Founded in Spicewood, outside Austin, TXB touts itself as a "foodvenience" store with a strong focus on prepared food, including made-to-order quesadillas and tacos on tortillas pressed daily in-store, and hand-breaded chicken tenders. They also offer breakfast sandwiches, salads, and specialty items like "Texas Scorpion Bites" (spicy jalapeños) and habanero queso.

The company also offers private-label products such as jerky, bottled water, and coffee.

Customers at the new Frisco location can sign up for TXB’s loyalty program, which includes fuel discounts, in-store savings, and access to the company’s Chug Club beverage subscription, they say.

TXB also touts its support for local communities and give-back initiatives.

According to a spokesperson, TXB is hosting their 30th Annual Fishing and Golf Tournament on May 11-May 12 at Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro to raise money for CASA, a child advocacy nonprofit benefiting children in foster care. As soon as the tournament concludes, all proceeds will be donated to local CASA chapters throughout Texas; they hope to reel in $200,000 for CASA.

"TXB’s incredible commitment to giving back is a mission that is not only instilled in the brand’s values, but it is also a core pillar in their philosophy and mission to Leave ‘Em Better," the spokesperson says. "By engaging with numerous communities around the state, they are actively serving the causes that matter most."

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