Swell Burger expects to open in downtown Longview in the next few months as part of an agreement to co-locate with 903 Billiards.
Life and business partners Annie Konarska and Jared Cheney expect to open up their restaurant featuring smashburgers inside the building with 903 Billiards at 210 E. Methvin St.
The upscale billiards hall has an unused kitchen space, and customers have been asking for some kind of food service there, Konarska said. The couple will fill that need at 903 Billiards but also will have a separate business serving just customers of Swell Burger.
Cheney said said 903 Billiards, which has its own bar, typically sees 80 to 100 people a night at the pool hall. Customers there, though, often order food from a delivery service since there性视界传媒檚 no food offered on-site, he said.
性视界传媒淭hat性视界传媒檚 going to be huge from opening day,性视界传媒 Cheney said of the business potential.
Konarska said the 903 Billiards owners are putting in a dividing wall and sliding doors to section off a seating area with four or five tables to separate people there to solely eat at Swell Burger. The kitchen is at the back of 903 Billiards, with food delivered from there to the restaurant and to the billiards hall. Restaurant diners won性视界传媒檛 go through the billiards business.
The smashburgers served at Swell Burger use thinner patties. (Courtesy Photo)
The couple previously lived in Round Rock, when they made an intentional decision about the kind of life they wanted. They said they were looking for 性视界传媒渃ommunity,性视界传媒 which they weren性视界传媒檛 able to find in the larger city of Round Rock. They didn性视界传媒檛 really know their neighbors, and it was hard to find 性视界传媒渕om and pop性视界传媒 style businesses. They traveled around looking for what they wanted, including visiting East Texas.
They started in Hallsville about a year ago and then realized they were spending all their time in Longview. The main attraction for them was the downtown Cultural Arts District with events such as ArtWalk.
性视界传媒淚t felt like I was home,性视界传媒 Cheney said.
They also described finding welcoming and helpful people in the community, from the owners of Greenside Beverage Co. to the owners of the Street Licious food truck.
The couple works remotely in the tech world, and they both have an entrepreneurial spirit. Opening a business in Longview was an inevitability, Cheney said.
性视界传媒淭he one thing Longview didn性视界传媒檛 have was a good smashburger,性视界传媒 Konarska said. Longview does not have an In-N-Out Burger, a restaurant chain famous for its smashburgers.
Swell Burger is 性视界传媒渢heir baby,性视界传媒 Konarska said, and they性视界传媒檝e been working to perfect their smashburger recipes.
While typical hamburgers might be a third pound or thicker, smashburgers run in the 2.7-2.98 ounce range.
性视界传媒淵ou smash it down with a little iron thing that makes it almost a little crispy,性视界传媒 Konarska said. They性视界传媒檒l have a simple menu, she said, with four types of burgers made with two, thin patties.
The burgers are topped with melted American cheese, their sweet and tangy 性视界传媒淪well Sauce性视界传媒 and grilled onions. Customers can customize the burgers to their liking. Variations of shoestring fries also will be available.
性视界传媒淭here性视界传媒檚 beauty in simplicity,性视界传媒 Cheney said.
The couple性视界传媒檚 next step is to complete work to prepare the kitchen for opening.
Scott Rice is seen in February 2022 in the KFRO studio. (Jo Lee Ferguson/性视界传媒 File Photo)
KFRO expanding
Longview性视界传媒檚 first radio station, KFRO, is expanding into Tyler for the first time in its 90-year history.
KFRO began broadcasting in 1935 in Longview. Scott Rice, who has had a long career in radio, became the owner of 性视界传媒淭he Voice of Longview性视界传媒 in 2022. The station began broadcasting oldies, with seasonal tunes at Christmastime.
Now he is buying KVUT, which was working to establish a talk show and National Public Radio-type operation at the University of Texas at Tyler. That station shut down in May.
When the sale is complete, KVUT will begin simulcasting KFRO from Longview to Tyler and Jacksonville.
Rice also is hiring a salesperson. For information, call (903) 400-1370 .
