FORNEY, Texas — Despite the weather outside, things were heating up inside Bush’s Chicken in Forney, just east of Dallas.
Robert Davila and his wife, Megan, have been franchise owners for nearly a decade. And they managed to get a full staff in and ready to work Saturday morning.
“You’ll get the people that are concerned, like, hey, why would you make them open. But you know people have. The world can’t stop because of some weather,” said Robert Davila.
They were going to need all the help they could get.
The day before the storm came, the couple got a huge order from another business that didn’t close its doors, Trophy Nissan in Mesquite. Apparently, people were still buying cars in a winter storm.
The car dealership ordered 150 boxes from Robert Davila’s business. The dealership said they’re essential in times like these.
“They’re the first responders. Cause if the first responders can’t have their vehicles working in the order in which they need to work, then they can’t get to work to protect us. So, if you think about it. You’re feeding the first responders who are taking care of the first responders,” said Jennifer Carroll, managing partner at Trophy Nissan.
The 20-minute drive from Forney to Mesquite was icy.
Some cars were stranded or being towed, while a cluster of big rigs were unable to get through an overpass.
“I’ve always done a lot of driving. I’ve always been on the road a lot, and you have to be careful. You have to be careful. I’ve learned that there’s always people on the road even in these conditions. People are trying to get 18-wheelers. People are you know, again, the world can’t really stop,” said Robert Davila.
The Davilas have only closed the business a few times, once when they lost power and after a car ran into the building last year.
Even in the storm of 2021, when most of Texas was frozen, they had power and kept feeding their freezing customers.
He said this past weekend’s severe weather was nothing they couldn’t overcome.