The kitchen is already bustling with activity hours before Lone Star Eatery opens for business. From cutting steaks and fish to rolling out pizza dough, preparation works starts early at 8 a.m. for the restaraunt employees. By 10:30 a.m. the grills are fired up in anticipation of the day’s first customers to start pouring 30 minutes later.
After only three months at their new location, Lone Star Eatery has expanded not only in square footage, but in business as well.
“We grew from just a pizza place to a full-scale diner,” Ken Moyer, owner, said. “We enjoy a great number of customers from all of the surrounding communities, from Greenville and Sulphur Springs to Paris.”
“It has definitely grown,” Janet McPherson, manager, said over the steady hum of chatter and country music. “It’s busy, so that’s good. We have more seating and parking [than our previous location] and we have much larger groups coming in now.”
Employment has also grown, according to McPherson, who said that most employees come from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
“We have doubled out employment to roughly 85 employees – mainly college students, and we work around their schedules,” McPherson said. “About 90 percent of our employees are college or high school students.”
According to McPherson, the new locale has brought in more customers from out of town thanks to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel located directly behind the restaraunt, as well as the building being located just off of a major thoroughfare.
“We’re happy to be here at this location,” McPherson said. “You see all the clientel from the previous location, plus new faces. We have a lot of new people coming in, especially from the hotel on weekends.”
Waitress, Ali Harris, and hostess, Alexis Nixson, agree.
“I love our regulars. They’re the best,” Harris said. “[Lone Star Eatery] is a fun place to work. I really don’t have any complaints. I love working here.”
Nixson, currently 17-years-old, said that she enjoys the atmosphere of the restaraunt and sees herself waiting tables at the restaraunt after she turns 18.
“I mostly love this job because I work with the people and other than that it’s just a really good atmosphere,” Nixson said. “I really don’t hate anything or I wouldn’t work here.”
In addition to the pizza buffet that regular customers enjoy, Lone Star Eatery also offers a lunch menu available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the money-conscious on a budget.
“The lunch special seems to be doing pretty well. You get plenty to eat,” McPherson said.
According to Moyer, the restaraunt’s best-selling dish is chicken fried steak, followed closely by ribeye and sirloin steaks.
“We’ve also added new entrees such as salmon, catfish, tilapia and shrimp to the menu, along with some ‘Tex-Mex’ dishes like fajitas, quesadillas and enchiladas,” Moyer said.
The flat-screen televisions placed around the restaraunt have also attracted customers, especially on college football and Dallas Cowboys football nights, according to McPherson.
The restaraunt also offers an open bar with a vast selection of drinks to complement entrees offered on the menu.
Pick-up orders are also available for those who wish to dine in the comfort of their home or dorm room. Simply call Lone Star Eatery ahead of time at (903) 886-2121 with your order, and pay at the bar when the order is ready.
Expansion may also be on the menu for Lone Star Eatery, according to McPherson.
“We would eventually like to add parking around the back of the restaraunt, and eventually add more seating. Coming up we’ve got a reservation for 48 people,” McPherson said. “We may also expand on the menu later on. For now, we’ll have to wait and see how things go.”