Wichita Falls has worked extensively to upgrade the atmosphere and offerings of downtown for years. As those efforts continue, downtown business owners are expending their own efforts to not only survive demanding economic times but also to help downtown thrive.
An appetite for downtown eateries
Among those facing unique challenges are restaurant owners. Downtown Wichita Falls offers many spots for a hearty lunch, a quick cup of coffee and anything in between.
Jana Schmader, Downtown Development executive director, said the culinary scene downtown is an important piece of the bigger picture for bringing people downtown.
“Restaurants are a huge piece of, you know, a vibrant fabric in downtown. We want to have offerings for everyone, from food to entertainment to beverages,” Schmader said, later adding, “They provide such an economic impact. So people will come down here to eat, and then they stumble upon something else to do in downtown. So they’re really an anchor of why people start coming down here in the first place.”
Location, location, location? It's downtown.
Tracy Pollard owns and operates Fully Loaded Potato Kitchen, a unique baked potato-based restaurant that just celebrated its first anniversary of opening downtown.
Pollard said the challenges restaurants face, particularly downtown, are varied.
“One of the biggest challenges is people just knowing where we are, our location," Pollard said, adding, "and that we offer things that you can’t find at other places. So it’s just a challenge getting it out there to the public."
Filling the plate in tough times
Ryan Thomas, owner of Stone Oven Pizza, said costs are always a concern for businesses as well.
While most consumers are feeling pressure from inflation, that impact is magnified for small business owners.
“People kind of underestimate the cost," Thomas said.
With inflation and other factors, people don’t expect how much the little things are being affected, she said.
"You don’t notice the price of cheese going up when you go to the grocery store and you get slices, but when you’re ordering like 200 pounds of cheese a week…,” Thomas trailed off, leaving the weight of the increased prices hanging.
Schmader said restaurants downtown have responded with resilience and determination that keeps them going strong.
“I think we all know the restaurant industry is hard. It’s a tough one," Schmader said. "But what I believe our downtown restaurants provide are quality and consistency in not only their food but just their uniqueness in their products, as well as their service.
"They know that in their own business and being part of the bigger downtown family, providing that consistency is what helps them stay afloat in tougher times."
Thomas added that another reason restaurants can struggle to gain a foothold downtown is the perception of downtown.
“Downtown businesses have always fought the stigma of downtown where people are like, 'Aw man, it’s dangerous.' It’s not dangerous downtown,” Thomas said, pointing out he lives downtown and goes for a run through the area early each morning.
'Mom-and-pop restaurants'
Schmader said challenges or not, restaurants downtown are continuing to offer distinct options and experiences to stand out.
“We have a lot of great restaurants down here that are specifically unique because they serve something different. They’re all small business mom-and-pop restaurants, so they work even harder to gain your business,” Schmader said.
Pollard said businesses downtown also help each other, making it easier to keep going.
“There definitely is a sense of community. I feel like our downtown restaurants and our other businesses that are down here all support one another and try to build each other up,” Pollard said.
Thomas also saw a sense of community among downtown businesses.
“I do my best, any time I see something cool that’s happening downtown from another business, I try to use our business page to share that," Thomas said. "And I’m hoping that catches on, I hope other businesses want to start doing that, too, because it definitely builds that sense of community.”
An invitation to come downtown
With support from each other and a variety of unique offerings, Pollard said she just hopes to see the community come out to support restaurants and businesses downtown more.
“I want to see more people come down here and shop . . . when it’s more than just events going on,” Pollard said.
She wants to see shops open all the time downtown, and people having things to do that bring them to the area, she said.
“It just feels good to know that people love what we do,” Pollard said.
Here are some restaurants to check out downtown:
6th Street Winery, 600 Sixth St.
8th Street Coffee House, 901 Eighth St.
Branding Iron, 104 E. Scott Ave.
Broad Street Billiards, 1300 14th St.
The Burrito Shop, 907 Ninth St.
Casa Mañana, 609 Eighth St.
The Duck Coffee Co., 717 Seventh St.
El Norteño Restaurante, 110 N. Burnett St.
Fully Loaded Potato Kitchen, 801 Indiana Ave.
Gidget’s Sandwich Shack, 701 Ohio Ave.
Half Pint Taproom and Restoration Hall, 817 Ohio Ave.
Healthy’s Downtown, 900 Eighth St., Suite 11
Highlander Public House, 726 Scott Ave.
Hook & Ladder Coffees and Wine Co., 616 Seventh St.
McBride’s Land and Cattle, 501 Scott. Ave.
OG Cellars at the Holt, 600 Eighth St., Suite 100,
P2-The Deuce, 1409 Lamar St.
Panaderia La Victoria, 1213 11th St.
Pat’s Drive Inn, 400 Scott Ave.
Prine’s BBQ, 1209 13th St.
Progress Pizza, 701 Indiana inside Wichita Falls Brewing Company
Sakura Sushi Downtown, 807 Eighth St.
Savage Boards, 809 Eighth St.
Stone Oven Gourmet Pizza and Eatery, 810 Seventh St.
Tacos Y Tortas El Pelón, 703 Ohio Ave. at The Yard
TAG's Maniac's Mansion, 710 Eighth St.
Didn't see your downtown eatery on this list? Email Tchoate@gannett.com.
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