West Texas travel center chain to build first DFW location
A West Texas chain is breaking into the North Texas market, and Pilot Point will be its first non-Permian Basin spot.
Tarzan & Jane Travel Centers were started by brothers Seth and Zach Covington, and their business partner Anthony Taylor will be the face of the North Texas store 'where we are planting our flag in the DFW area.'
'This project has been several years in the process,' he said. '... What we've built in the Midland-Odessa area has become something really special, and we wanted to see if we can enter other markets and transpose that success.'
The three poured over the Dallas-Fort Worth area and landed on Pilot Point because it felt like the right fit.
'We looked forever for the right spot to do it, and there were some spots that were better than others, and then this one came along, and it was the needle in the haystack that took literally a year for us to find in the DFW area,' Anthony said.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, he expounded on that.
'We looked for small, high-growth areas with a core community that took pride, that would wear a T-shirt that had their city on it, and one that was underserved, and so we found Pilot Point,' Anthony said.
Pilot Point Realtor 'Texas' Tammy Francois, who also serves as the Pilot Point Chamber of Commerce secretary, helped them connect with the Irick family, who sold the lot that will become a T&J Travel Center.
'We visited every single one of their locations,' she said. 'I was like, 'Listen, if we're bringing this in, I want to make sure this is good quality.' And they're amazing people.'
Travis Irick, his daughter Kendyl Irick and his sister Jessica Richardson were present at the July 29 groundbreaking ceremony.
'It's great to see the highway here developing,' Travis said. 'It's something that we're going to enjoy for years with our family. We're going to be neighbors forever, so we're excited about it.'
Anthony described the chain as a restaurant with a gas station component.
That's because the Tarzan Grill came first.
'We've always been a food first concept,' Anthony said. 'We started in Tarzan, Texas, and it started out as Zach, the older brother—he had this opportunity to buy ... this rundown restaurant,' Anthony said. '... So then that's where the food truck turned into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.'
Next, they added Jane's Gas.
'That was when the food concept became a travel center,' Anthony said.
With four locations operational and two in the works in West Texas, Pilot Point will be far afield from the other travel centers.
That's why Anthony will be spending his time largely at the North Texas location.
In addition to diesel and traditional unleaded gas, there will be DEF diesel and nonethanol gas, which Anthony said is crucial for small motors, including boats.
Included in the Pilot Point travel center will be an indoor playground, which Anthony and his wife, Carly Taylor, said was motivated in part because of their own growing family.
For Carly, having the play area be family friendly for kids from toddlers through older children is an important feature.
'I hated going to indoor playgrounds with a 5-plus year old and then the baby can't get up there,' she said. '... Having the accessible play space was super important.'
Members of the Pilot Point community, including City Manager Britt Lusk and Pilot Point Economic Development Director Denise Morris, were also in attendance. Lusk shared his excitement for the impact of the business.
'Bringing HTeaO, bringing the restaurant that they have and having their family- first attitude is going to be a real bonus for the city of Pilot Point,' he said. 'We're excited for that.'
Morris similarly focused on the impetus the development could be on the types of businesses Pilot Point can attract.
'I am very excited that T&J will be our welcome center from the south and ... Tiger Mart will welcome from the north, and with great food and a family ... environment, embrace the community,' she said. 'That's a win for Pilot Point.'
