Sherman residents saw the ribbon‑cutting ceremony for Bubba’s 33 on Friday, marking the first of several new dining venues slated for the city, according to KXII. The restaurant opened to the public at 11 a.m. on Monday, with managing partner Scott Grace noting it blends sports‑bar energy with rock‑and‑roll flair, featuring 33 TVs and loud music.
Chamber President Emilie Harris said the community has long needed fresh options, adding, “We’ve had the same options for so long, so it’s exciting to get something new in, and not just new to the area, but new to a lot of people who haven’t had their food before.”
Longhorn Steakhouse is scheduled to open next door to Bubba’s 33 on Dec. 14, while First Watch will occupy the former Taco Cabana space in the Town Center area, and Chuy’s is planned between the IHOP and Texas Roadhouse locations.
The city also announced Salsa Tex‑Mex as the first sit‑down restaurant at Sherman Crossroads, adjacent to the H‑E‑B property. The chain, which operates about five Metroplex locations, expects crews to break ground next year. Community and support services manager Nate Strauch said the sit‑down concept shows that development is “maturing and coming into its own,” and he anticipates more restaurants will follow.
City leaders credit the recent home‑building boom, driven by thousands of jobs at Texas Instruments and Global Wafers on Sherman’s south side, for the surge in restaurant interest. Strauch explained, “Now that a lot of those houses have been bought up and been filled with new families, you’re starting to see a lot of these restaurants respond and say, ‘OK, a lot of people are moving to Sherman. We need to give them more options to eat.’”
In statewide news, KXII reported that Democrat Gina Hinojosa will become Texas’s first Democratic governor since Ann Richards, and James Talarico will be the first Democrat from Texas in the U.S. Senate in more than three decades. Both are set to assume office in January.
Hinojosa, a former civil‑rights and union lawyer, said her priorities include replacing Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath with an educator and lowering property taxes for homeowners. She stated, “We have to end corporate welfare and use that money to buy down property taxes for residential homeowners.”
Talarico, a former public‑school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian, emphasized common community goals on election night, noting, “Despite our differences, we all want the same things. A safe neighborhood, a good job, a high‑quality, well‑funded public school, and the ability to see a doctor when we need one.” He added, “The real fight in this country is not left versus right. It is top versus bottom.”
Both new restaurant openings and the upcoming political changes could affect Sherman’s economy, employment landscape, and public‑service priorities.
What’s next: Longhorn Steakhouse opens Dec. 14; groundbreaking for Salsa Tex‑Mex is slated for next year. Statewide, Governor‑elect Hinojosa and Senator‑elect Talarico will be sworn in during January, with their policy agendas expected to influence education and tax matters that impact Sherman families.
