Renovation work continues on the Sears building, the Arcadia Theatre and the former Hawn Hotel. When the Hawn opens next summer, the first floor will be Union Crossing Food Hall, an 8,000-square-foot dining experience with nine food vendors and common dining areas. According to developers, Union Crossing likely will serve breakfast, lunch and supper. David Stone photo

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

A new food hall with a railroad-themed name will occupy the entire first floor of the renovated Hawn apartment building when it opens next summer.

The 8,000-square-foot food hall — named Union Crossing in honor of Temple’s rich railroad heritage — will be home to nine vendors serving a mix of cuisines.

The food hall will be owned by UnionBrands Eateries Texas, which also operates Union Hall in Waco. Last week, the company announced plans for another food hall — Union Grove — in South Waco near Woodway.

“Union Crossing will serve as a family oriented food incubation system,” said Jonathan Garza, director of development for Turner Brothers, the Waco-based company that is redeveloping the iconic Downtown buildings. “The food hall allows local restaurateurs to experiment with different concepts and bring their community new and diverse cuisine options.”

“Places like Union Crossing can be a stepping stone for growing your food business,” Garza said. “We’ve seen food hall businesses take off and open their own restaurants. We’ve also seen food truck vendors who wanted to test out a stationary location without having to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

The Union Crossing vendors — one will be selling alcoholic beverages — will share common dining areas, he said.

“Of course the Arcadia Theatre will be next door,” Garza said. “The hall will be a perfect stop before taking in a show. It’s also a great starting point for exploring Downtown.”

Although this will be the company’s third foray into food halls, Todd Behringer of UnionBrands Eateries said each location will offer it’s own unique experience.

“There won’t be that cookie-cutter feel of the national brands,” Behringer said. “The Temple location will have its own synergy and energy.”

Cody Turner, also a partner in UnionBrands Eateries, agreed.

“Temple was founded as a railroad town and because of that, we knew Union Crossing would be the perfect name. Our food halls are filled with vendors and patrons from the surrounding community, and each location’s name should pay tribute to that.”

Union Hall, the company’s existing Waco establishment, is located on Franklin Avenue in downtown Waco and features 22 vendors serving a variety of cuisines. The hall is in its third year and currently hosts up to 80,000 visitors every month. Union Grove, like Union Crossing, is expected to open in 2023.

“The Hawn Hotel has been a pillar of Temple’s historic Downtown for almost a century,” said Shane Turner of Turner Brothers Development. “With Union Crossing opening onsite, it’s great to know people are going to appreciate and enjoy not only the delicious food served by local vendors, but the revitalization of the historic Hawn as well.”

According to Garza, food halls and food courts are not dissimilar. Generally, a food hall does not include national chains and franchises. Instead, food halls allow community-based dining concepts to flourish.

“Union Crossing will have a nice mix of eating spaces,” Garza said. “There will be different kinds of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Alcoholic drinks also will be available.”

Union Crossing may not be the only food hall Downtown. Last year, Patrick Guillen announced plans to open City Eats Food Hall at 106 and 108 North Main. City Eats would utilize 22,000 square feet over three levels of space and would include 13 kitchens.

Garza, however, welcomes the competition.

“It would be great to have two food halls in close proximity,” he said. “It would give customers a lot of options.”

This architectural rendering shows a “completed” Sears, Hawn and Arcadia renovations. While the Arcadia and Hawn will likely keep their names, the Sears building will carry a new moniker when it opens.

Imagine the Possibilities

Jonathan Garza and other Turner Brothers and UnionBrands Eateries representatives will be at Wednesday’s Imagine the Possibilities Tour. In addition to Union Crossings and the Sears-Hawn-Arcadia project, 25 other open-house receptions will be held during the self-guided tour of recently or soon-to-be renovated buildings. Overnight rains are expected to dissipate by early Wednesday morning, and according to the National Weather Service, weather should be cool and clear for Imagine the Possibilities.

Warriors to Wheels boosts McLane Co. workforce to 10% ex-military

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

Military-friendly programs and a hiring process that focuses on providing jobs for veterans has helped Temple-based McLane Company build a workforce that includes a growing number of former Marines, soldiers and sailors.

McLane, a leading supply-chain service company, boasts a workforce that is 10 percent former military. With offices and distribution centers located near major American military bases, McLane is well positioned to recruit those transitioning out of the military into civilian life.

“McLane offers challenges and rewards that keep a military veteran’s problem-solving skills sharp,” said Darrell Briscoe, regional vice president of Foodservice at McLane.

Briscoe, a former captain in the US Army, is a 28-year McLane employee who flew Huey- and Kiowa-class helicopters during Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations.

Briscoe said McLane provides opportunities for former soldiers to become business leaders and to learn various jobs within the same organization.

“The skills I learned in the military have been helpful in every leadership position I’ve held with McLane, from supervisor to manager to executive,” Briscoe said. “I enjoy the camaraderie and the responsibility of building and growing teams accountable for serving and supporting our customers.”

According to James Barnes, director of communications for McLane Company, the company attributes robust marketing of its military-friendly programs and word of mouth as playing a role in the continued increase in the number of former military members joining the company.

“Three years ago, McLane launched Warrior to Wheels, a registered driver apprenticeship program developed especially for people transitioning out of the military,” Barnes said. “The program is open to anyone, not just former military, however former military members who are eligible for GI Bill benefits in the Warriors to Wheels program can receive their GI Bill housing allowance while earning a wage at the same time.”

Jennifer Rojas Clouse, EEO compliance and inclusion manager, said more than 10 percent of McLane teammates self-identify as former military.

“We have been in business for more than 128 years and offer our teammates the opportunity to enjoy long, stable careers,” Clouse said.

“McLane is growing and has management, warehouse and driver positions available,” she said.

The company partners with the Army and Fort Hood in a nine-week training experience that teaches the basics of warehouse operations. In addition, the Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs help employers recruit and develop a highly skilled workforce. The programs are designed to help reduce employee turnover and increase worker retention, Barnes said.

To learn more about McLane's Warriors to Wheels program and locate approved training locations, visit McLanew2w.com.

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today’s best bets

• Tipsey Tuesday at Corky’s. Guy’s night. 1/2 off Corky’s Cocktails.

• Lonesome Dove: The Photo Exhibit runs through June 25. The exhibit is a collection of black-and-white framed photos captured by the late Bill Wittliff, renowned photographer, writer, and co-executive producer of the popular Western mini-series.

• Clay with Marilyn at the Cultural Activities Center. Go to cacarts.org to sign up for her series of classes.

• Trivia Night at J. Kowboy Wine Bar.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

To include your events in What’s Happening, email information to OurTownTemple@gmail.com. Photos are welcome to for use in the publication as space permits!

In the 1960s and 70s, why did people go to the Downtown bus station other than to ride the bus or pick someone up? ANSWER IS AT END OF TODAY’S ISSUE

On this day in 1869, 24 defendants went on trial in the celebrated Stockade Case. On the night of October 24, 1868, a Marion County mob dragged five Republicans, arrested the previous night after a Republican meeting ended in a gunfight with local Democrats, from the Jefferson jail and killed three of them, a white and two blacks. After the killings Reconstruction officials arrested some thirty-five suspects, and eventually tried twenty-four of them. The trial involved the testimony of 176 witnesses, and a verdict was not delivered until August 23, 1869. Only seven of the defendants were found guilty of any of the charges, and it is unclear whether any of them served any time in prison.

TODAY’S TEMPLE TRIVIA ANSWER: Pie. The small bus station diner had really good chocolate pie.

COMING TOMORROW: A Northside story you don’t want to miss!

COMING THURSDAY: A Southside story you really don’t want to miss!