Old Jacksboro firehall to see new life

Fri, 03/03/2017 - 3:21 pm

Neri's on the Square to open Jacksboro locations

The firehall at 111 E. Archer St. on the courthouse square has been vacant for 8 years. Neri and Jonathan Gonzalez plan to renovate the building which will become their second restaurant location.
Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation President Bryan Bumpus and Executive Director Lynda Pack entered into an agreement with Neri and Jonathan Gonzalez to open a new restaurant on the Jack County Courthouse Square in the historic firehall.

Jacksboro will soon see a new restaurant on the square. Tuesday, the Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation announced it entered into an agreement with Neri’s on the Square to open a Jacksboro location in the old firehouse at 111 E. Archer St.

Neri and Jonathan Gonzalez have owned and operated their restaurant, Neri’s on the Square in Graham for 7 years. In looking to open a second location, they found Jacksboro to be the perfect fit.

“When this opportunity was presented to us and we went there, I immediately fell in love with the building and the square,” Neri said.

The Gonzalezes have plans to do a complete renovation of the building built in 1908 which has been empty for 8 years.

“We’re excited,” said Lynda Pack, JEDC executive director. “I’ve been wanting to do something with that building for so long. I took a chance on that building. The city wanted to tear it down when they built the new fire station and make it a parking lot. I hated to see it destroyed so I talked my board into letting the EDC take it over from the city.”

Neri said they have an industrial design concept in mind and plan to have similar offerings as the Graham location — a restaurant, bar and occasionally, live entertainment.

To read the complete article, see the March 3 edition of the Herald-Gazette.