BEN WHEELER — Two more stores have opened here as the small town continues to redevelop itself.

Players, a music store offering acoustic and electric guitars, amps and banjos, is downtown next to Moore’s Store, and T-Dawg’s Kuntry Karts is off State Highway 64.

About T-Dawg’s

Tim Freeman has been in the golf-cart business for nearly eight years and each year, business has gotten bigger and better. With the help of Ben Wheeler Development Company, Freeman began the move in March to continue selling, upgrading and servicing golf carts at the new location. He was previously on Farm-to- Market Road 314.

About Players

Players is owned by musician Danny Hollis. He has played with the Mercy River Boys and recorded for Word Records, a Christian record label in Nashville. In the late 1970s, his group was nominated for a Grammy and won Dove awards. The group opened for such country singers as Charlie Daniels, Crystal Gayle and The OakRidge Boys.

Having played at Moore’s Store several times since its opening and getting to know Brooks Gremmels, the cofounder of Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation and owner of Ben Wheeler Development Company, Hollis said he felt it was a great time and opportunity to open Players downtown.

“I feel good about what (Brooks) is doing here,” Hollis said. “Everybody knows what’s going on in this town.”

By the end of summer, Wagon Wheel Forge & Gallery will also open in Ben Wheeler. The blacksmith shop is run by Lonnie Robinson, who has been in the business of twisting and bending metal for 45 years. At 14, he began taking instructions from a third-generation blacksmith in Sellersburg, Ind. Ever since, he has worked with metal from autobody to making custom knives using a coal forge, to blacksmith art.

It’s number is 214-392- 5772. Players’ number is 903-833-5614, and the number for T-Dawg’s is 903-539-4621.

For more about Ben Wheeler, call 903-833- 1070.