SWELL BURGER 319

Life and business partners Annie Konarska and Jared Cheney have opened Swell Burger with 903 Billiards in downtown Longview. (Jo Lee Ferguosn/性视界传媒 Photo)

Swell Burger is now open on Methvin Street in Longview, serving its signature smashburgers out of the kitchen at 903 Billiards.聽

The restaurant features a limited menu and hours of operation for now while employees are hired.

The upscale billiards hall is at 210 E. Methvin and had an unused kitchen space.聽 Life and business partners Annie Konarska and Jared Cheney have opened Swell Burger with 903 Billiards. The restaurant serves the billiards customers but also has a separate business serving just Swell Burger customers, with a seating area only for the restaurant.

Konarska and Cheney previously lived in Round Rock but moved to East Texas more than a year ago with the intention of finding a place that provided a "community" feel they didn't have in that Austin suburb.

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The smashburgers served at Swell Burger use thinner patties than traditional hamburgers. (Courtesy Photo)

The couple works remotely in the tech world but knew they also wanted to open a business. Longview didn't have a good smashburger restaurant, they said. Smashburgers are smaller than traditional hamburgers and are about 2.7-2.98 ounces. Once the full menu is available, it will feature four types of burgers made with two, thin patties. Cheney and Konarska developed the recipes themselves.

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 are also available.

Temporary hours are 5-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday and noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.聽

"We hope to expand hours to catch the lunch rush," Konarska said.聽

For job information, visit聽

New storage facility

Safelock Storage has opened at 1804 S. Eastman Road in Longview.

The site features drive-up access and a secure, gated property that uses a comprehensive network of surveillance cameras.

The new location boasts storage units catering to various needs, from personal household storage to business inventory management. The property provides first-floor access, removing obstacles often encountered in multi-level storage facilities, according to information from Safelock Storage.

Expanding into Longview is part of Safelock Storage性视界传媒檚 ongoing efforts to broaden its reach and serve a more extensive customer base.

The property has been chosen for its accessibility from major roads and thoroughfares, according to the company.

The design of the space accommodates varying storage needs with options that fit different budgets and space requirements.聽

For more information about Safelock Storage in Longview, visit聽聽or call (903) 753-5524.

Real estate report

The Longview Area Association of Realtors reported the January real estate market in the city featured higher prices and more homes available for sale.

The median home price increased 3.3% to $240,000 compared with a year ago. Listings grew about 24% to 242 in January.

Closed sales, however, dropped about 2% to 47聽 compared with January 2024.

— 性视界传媒 Beat appears Wednesday. If you have items for the column, email to newsroom@newsjournal.com; mail to 性视界传媒 Section, 性视界传媒, P.O. box 1792, Longview, TX 75606; or call (903) 237-7744.

Jo Lee Ferguson wishes she kept her maiden name - Hammer - because it was perfect for a reporter. She’s a local girl who loves writing about her hometown. She and LNJ Managing Editor Randy Ferguson have two children and a crazy husky.