Longview’s Sunbird Barbecue will soon open its first dine-in restaurant.
Bryan Bingham and his wife, Kimmy, and David Segovia opened their mobile barbecue business in 2021 after previously working at Mobberly Avenue Bodacious Bar-BQ. Segovia’s wife, Kay, also helps out at Sunbird Barbecue.
“We always knew we wanted to go into a brick and mortar,” Bryan Bingham said, and they expect to open their new location, at 415 N. High St., in a few weeks. .
The building most recently housed The Cace Kitchen until the business moved deeper into downtown Longview at 104 N. Green St.
“The trailer is great, but we’re a little over the top,” Bingham said. In addition, without a building, customers have no place to sit and eat in no time.
Their barbecue pit is in place, and he said they also hope to add an outdoor dining area later.
The community support for the business has been “overwhelming,” Bingham said.
“We wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of the community,” he said.
The Sunbird food truck will remain open at Hyundai of Longview, at 3680 US 259, but Bingham said they hope to open on High Street within a few weeks.
The restaurant’s hours will continue at 11 a.m. until sold out Wednesday through Saturday, but Bingham said they hope to expand the hours later as business improves.
Located in New El Sombrero
El Sombrero opened Friday in its new location at 2005 Toler Road in West Longview.
Mike Kittner opened the original restaurant 22 years ago on McCann Road in the Brookwood Village shopping center. He previously operated locations in Hallsville and Kilgore but sold the one in Hallsville. The Kilgore restaurant has been closed since a fire in August, and Kittner plans to demolish and rebuild later.
He also has plans to open a second location in Longview.
The location that just opened, in the former Catfish Village, is nearly double the size of the McCann Road restaurant at 9,200 square feet, and it has a drive-thru and a larger bar.
Hours are 11 am to 9 pm Monday through Wednesday, and 11 am to 10 pm Thursday through Saturday.
Change of ownership
The Ritz Salon at 1901 Judson Road is under new ownership.
Claudio Castro and Jeff Pugh bought the salon in late 2022. They learned it was for sale while working at the Barber Institute.
Pugh works at the salon full-time, while Castro continues to work at the Institute full-time and then at the salon in the afternoons. She hopes to eventually work at the salon full-time.
He is a cosmetologist, he said, while Pugh is a barber who also offers straight razor cuts and shaves.
“We do all kinds of hair,” Castro said.
Hours are 9 am-6 pm Tuesday-Thursday and 9 am-5 pm, and salons accept appointments and walk-ins. Hours are likely to expand later, Castro said.
“We hope we can bring the best to Longview and continue to grow the business,” Castro said.
