The industry of a dairy-farmer, the resilience of a boxer and the attitude of an eternal optimist. It appears that is the combination of characteristics required for someone starting their own business. And that, alone, is not a recipe for success.

Those traits may build a foundation for success, but the end result depends on offering a product for which people will pay, in effect sharing in one’s vision.

Two local eateries opened in the past year and are well on their way to realizing success under the most challenging of circumstances.

Sheila and Ben Hartin opened Monkey Trunks on Feb. 15, 2020. As Ben explained, the opening was the eventual result of an afternoon out with the family after church one weekend.

“We spent a lot of money having lunch that day, and I decided to start doing some cooking on a larger scale.”

The Hartins are raising seven children, and economy of scale was necessary.  

Experimentation ensued, and soon friends and neighbors were commenting about Hartin’s new-found talent. 

But it took about eight years for the idea to germinate into a vision. The Hartins credit the local community with being a primary influence in their endeavor. 

“We wanted to provide families in Alba and the large Lake Fork area population another option on a Saturday night,” explained Ben. 

What emerged from this vision was Monkey Trunks, a small taco and sandwich restaurant located on the west side of US 69 just north of town. The feature offering is a large, soft tortilla taco filled with pulled pork, shredded chicken, fajita steak, Baja shrimp or cauliflower. A small list of accompanying sides is available. 

The response from the public has been amazing, recounted Sheila.

“It’s just a real blessing,” she remarked.  She expressed how much it meant to serve friends and neighbors. “I try to capture all my customers’ numbers when they call in, so we can build the community and get to know our customers,” she added.

It just happened that the vision developed by the Hartins – a healthy, limited menu, Saturday-only, modest restaurant – was largely unaffected by the pandemic.

“Of course we had to meet all the interior spacing requirements,” admitted Ben, “but our limited open hours were not a result of the pandemic but were a part of the initial business plan.”

With the exception of a two-week pandemic closure in mid-March, Monkey Trunks has been open every Saturday since.

“It’s our Saturday night gig,” smiled Sheila.  

A man with a huge range of interests, Ben relished the challenge of opening up the eatery.

“We designed the building ourselves,” he stated, “and will soon have a drive-through option.”

He expressed thanks to the Alba EDC and especially the Wood County EDC for their assistance and patience. 

And the name? “It’s from our fourth son, Isaac,” the Hartins answered. “We had the little symbol for our place, but not the name. Isaac came up with Monkey Trunks.”     

Just down the highway from Alba, in a newly-renovated feed mill adjacent to the railroad tracks in downtown Mineola, Skip Bush, proprietor of The Line, described his vision. 

“It’s all in my head,” he admitted. “There were doubters, and some folks thought I was out of my mind for opening in the middle of a pandemic,” he explained, “but I knew what I wanted.”

Bush’s vision was well-matured through years of work with General Mills, where he managed restaurants throughout the Midwest.

“I was trained by the best,” he said.

A change of careers brought him to East Texas 15 years ago where he made a living in the lucrative oilfield equipment business. From the oilfield, he then ventured into real estate.

“I am a project guy,” he offered. He related how being in charge of a whole project had always appealed to him. 

Bush purchased the location at the corner of Line and Commerce Streets. He and business partner Trisha Fitzgerald opened an antique mall. The idea of opening a restaurant and applying all those skills learned long ago at General Mills, however, never left him.

While Fitzgerald continued running the antique mall, Bush began to empty the south end of the building from its antique stalls. The renovations took months. What came in its place is a most excellent use of space which today accommodates a commercial kitchen, a bar area, a large dining area, a stage, an entrance and two rooms housing three pool tables. 

In September, The Line, a full-service restaurant and bar, opened for business.

“We didn’t know how much, or if at all, we would be effected by the pandemic,” commented Bush. The virus did impact the opening in ways not anticipated. Furnishings were often late in delivery, as factories were delayed in meeting production timelines.   

Little escaped Bush’s attention. From the height of the bar to the directional fans installed in the overhead to cool the performers on stage, The Line came together step by step.

Fitzgerald handles all the bookwork for the establishment and adds her significant creativity to The Line. She designed and produced the unique t-shirts available with The Line marquee.

“Her efforts in originally managing the antique mall, and now keeping the books, enabled us to open the restaurant,” Bush said. 

Bush shared his simple formula for success: good food, good service and good parking. He counts on Chef Willie – a 15-year veteran as a chef with Marriott Hotels – for tabling good food. For service he counts on his daughter, Audrey, to manage the restaurant.

With frequent live performances, and weekly karaoke run by Michele Simmons, The Line is becoming a draw from throughout East Texas and beyond. It is one of those rare destinations where one can get a good meal and enjoy some local entertainment in an environment where one can “tip your hat back,” as Bush described.  

When reflecting on the whole adventure which brought The Line to life, Bush voiced his appreciation for the sense of camaraderie in Mineola among restaurant proprietors.

“They are just a great group of people and they see individual success as everyone’s success,” he stated.

The Line is open Tuesday through Saturday. Chicken-fried chicken and some local music sounds like a great combination as winter gives up its grip on Mineola.