It’s rumored that notorious bankrobbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow once hid out in the wooded areas around what today is the town of Gun Barrel City. Yes, that is a real place in the Lone Star State. Regardless of whether the tale is true or not, we imagine Bonnie and Clyde would be stopping in for Texas barbecue if they were hiding out today.

Gun Barrel City — and its town motto, “We Shoot Straight With You” — is about to receive a new barbecue joint courtesy of Soulman’s Bar-B-Que. If you’ve never heard of Soulman’s Bar-B-Que then you’ve probably never been to North or East Texas. Founded in 1974, Soulman’s has expanded throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and into East Texas, opening 21 restaurants across the area.

Gun Barrel City, about one hour southeast of Dallas and over four hours northeast of San Antonio, will be the furthest south Soulman’s has traveled, just surpassing the nearby Mabank restaurant.

Soulman’s is building a $300,000 restaurant covering almost 2,800 square feet at 938 West Main Street, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Construction is expected to start on Monday, March 30, and is aiming to be completed by July 3. All TDLR filings are subject to change without notice.

The TDLR filing lists the scope of work as “remodeling of an existing restaurant to ccommodate  new tenant.” The address 938 West Main Street used to belong to a Whataburger, but that location is listed as permanently closed on Google.

Soulman’s was founded in 1974 by Don and Teresa Hallett, who opened their first restaurant in Pleasant Grove near Dallas. The barbecue chain cooks all its meat low and slow over hickory wood, according to Soulman’s website bio, offering “mouthwatering” beef, chicken, ham, turkey, pork, sausage, hot links and the customer favorite ribs.

“Coining the motto ‘we’re not stingy with our meat’, and with fresh-made vegetables, we strongly believe in large portion sizes,” Soulman’s bio reads. “We are convinced our customers appreciate getting their money’s worth and keep coming back for great BBQ at a good value.”

MySA has reached out to Soulman’s for more information on the new restaurant.