For Immediate Release                                    Media Contact: Ben Wheeler Development Company, LLC                

     Veronica Terres • 903.262.4786

Tuesday, April 8, 2009 – Downtown Ben Wheeler Welcomes New Tenants

Ben Wheeler, TX – Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation welcomed well-known kinetic metal artist Randy Martin and talented woodworker Rob Eberle as its newest tenants to Downtown Ben Wheeler with the opening of their new shops The Flying Fish Gallery and Wild Woods of Texas, respectively.

The artists’ official move-in date was in mid-March on Thursday, March 17.

The shops are located at 1537 FM 279 in a restored building with a rustic, front-porch-clad facade, which Martin and Eberle will be dividing and designating half of the space as the Flying Fish Gallery and the other half as Wild Woods of Texas.

Shop hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The tenants’ move-in comes after about a year of planning, coordinating and building revitalization provided by Brooks Gremmels, a Ben Wheeler resident who is the owner and founder of Ben Wheeler Development Company and the foundation he and his wife began called Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic Foundation.

“A lot of hard work was spent getting the shops ready and it is well worth all of the effort,” said Gremmels. “Their presence is exciting and appreciated and I feel it’s a testament of how people really want to see this town revitalized for today’s community and future generations to enjoy.”

Martin, who has been profiled on Texas Country Reporter, Southern Living and the Discovery Channel concedes that when he first found out about Gremmels’ vision and efforts, he immediately knew it was something he couldn’t pass up. “I said to Brooks, ‘whatever you’re doing here, I want to be a part of it. I want to be a part of the rebirth of downtown Ben Wheeler,’” he said.

Martin and his wife Sherry, both well-known East Texas artists are selling and showcasing his kinetic metal art and her altered art and collage art at the Flying Fish Gallery. The Martins are also displaying and selling other artisans’ works-of-art through their doors including: Sally Wade a jewelry artist from Winona who primarily works with silver, Les Mitchell a potter from Mineola and Cindy Fuqua a horse hair potter from Alba.

Wild Woods of Texas houses Eberle’s hand-sculpted woodwork made from beautifully crafted mesquite, cedar and live oak furniture including tables and chairs, fireplace mantles, lamps, beds and more. Gremmels asked Eberle to be a part of downtown after discovering his work when he was passing through Dripping Springs.

The artists hope the people of Ben Wheeler and surrounding areas will stop in and see all the beautiful works they have to offer.

“I hope they enjoy it and tell all their friends to take a look,” expressed Eberle. It’s going to be fun!”

For more information, call the shops at 903.833.5743.

Coming Soon!

In addition to the newest tenants: The Flying Fish Gallery, Wild Woods of Texas and County Line Magazine, downtown Ben Wheeler will also be home to Dan Harrison a renowned custom knife maker who has been honing his craft over the last 50 years. His experience is far reaching having worked with big industry names like Ka-Bar, Kershaw and Browning.  Harrison’s knives are made freehand, ground from raw stock.

And, in late spring, portrait artist Mary Hortman will also call downtown Ben Wheeler home.

The revitalization is made possible by Ben Wheeler Development Company (BWDC) owner Brooks Gremmels and Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic Foundation (BWA & HF) a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation created by Brooks and his wife Rese Gremmels. The company and the foundation serve as the primary vehicles for reconstructing not only the physical aspects of Ben Wheeler, Texas, but perhaps more importantly, returning a sense of community to the town.

Together, the two entities are returning the southern Van Zandt County community aesthetic to the way it looked in 1935 and are working daily to bring new businesses, cultural attractions, and a new attitude to the area. The project began a year ago and will take at least two years or more to recapture the old-fashioned atmosphere with an even longer timeline for some projects.

In a community with a thousand or so nearby residents, BWDC and (BWA & HF) are planning music venues, multiple entertainment porches, new restaurants, and more new shops.  A fully restored downtown park complete with gazebos is also planned to be part of Ben Wheeler’s renewal. 



Ben Wheeler, named for the first man to carry mail into Van Zandt County, thrived during the late 1800s and early 1900s as families arrived in horse-drawn wagons, rode horses, or walked to visit, get mail, buy supplies, and sell or trade goods at one of the several general stores. The community included churches, barbers, blacksmiths, tailors, saddle and shoe shop, several gins and mills, a bank, the Berry Resort Hotel, boarding houses, a movie theater, lumber yard, a garage with gas pumps eventually, cafes, a school, and even a college at one time called the Alamo Institute. Ben Wheeler shrank after World War II as many people left for large cities to find work. 


For more information, please contact Ben Wheeler Development Company marketing director, Veronica Terres at 903.262.4786.