Sunbird Barbecue owners Bryan Bingham and David Segovia have expanded their business in the Longview area with the addition of a new pit that doubles their cooking space.

Luling-based Cen-Texas Smokers delivered the 1,000 gallon pit the day before Thanksgiving to the location of their food truck, parked at Heritage the Market in Green Top, at 7486 US 259 ​​right at the outside of Longview, Segovia said. The business partners, who previously worked together at Bodacious Bar-BQ on Mobberly Avenue, launched their food truck earlier this year.

Bingham said they first set the pit on fire on Monday.

“Having a professionally built (pit) made all the difference,” Bingham said, with Segovia adding that the new pit allows them to better regulate temperatures and other factors that affect the quality of the food.

They had started their business with a pit in their food truck and had already added two other outdoor pits.

They sell food every day, Bingham said, but a lot of that is because they just didn’t have the space to cook so much meat.

“This one just makes the game better for us,” Segovia said.

Sunbird is open 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with outdoor seating and cornhole games available.

The steel distributor is expanding

Steel and Pipe Supply’s Longview distribution facility began an expansion of approximately $ 2 million in November.

The growth of the private carbon steel distributor in Longview follows the closure of its Houston plant a few years ago, which local general manager Mark Ledkins said did the same as the location from Longview.

He said the expansion includes adding 370 feet of crane rail to an existing crane at the facility that will allow the company to store products under the crane, as well as adding a third crane. . An existing warehouse will be expanded by 30,000 square feet, increasing the warehouse size by 25%.

The expansion will increase the volume of the distribution facility to better serve customers, Ledkins said.

The construction project is expected to be completed in March, he said, with the Town of Longview building permit information placing its construction value at nearly $ 2 million. Transet Co. of Longview is the contractor.

Steel and Pipe Supply employs 47 people in Longview, Ledkins said.

Sharman’s Announces Tyler’s Closure

The Longview Sharman Sewing Center will remain open after its Tyler store closes at the end of the month.

The Longview store will celebrate its 38th anniversary next year, while the Tyler store has been open for 25 years. Owner Sharman Dorsey has said she is downsizing her business to make life easier, and a “huge store closure” sale is being held at Tyler to show his appreciation to his customers there. Denver-based RFM Retail Consulting will conduct the sale and clearance of all merchandise including all sewing machines, quilting machines, embroidery machines, cabinets, supplies, fabrics and accessories. . The sale will include a prize competition.

“I am grateful, grateful and very fortunate to have always had such wonderful and caring staff / friends at both locations, doubly blessed by the countless friends Richard and I have made over the past 37 and a half years and the opportunity that we’ve had to be of service to the amazing Tyler-area sewing and quilting community for 25 years, ”Dorsey said in a statement provided by the store.

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