THE LEGEND OF THE "BEAN" - A MAINSTAY THAT CONTINUES

The String Bean was opened in 1977, at 8830 Spring Valley, a very small building that was originally Alfie's Fish and Chips. The owner used his and his partner's recipes for most of the food, which at that time consisted of four entrees and four vegetables. Desserts offered were two prefab icebox pies, a partner's grandmother's recipe for homemade icecream and peach cobbler. The original menu was in the shape of a string bean and the tiny restaurant seated a total of 44 people. At that time there were only two homestyle restaurants in Dallas, one on Cedar Springs and one at Mckinney and Hall.

The current owners, Joe Gibson and Debbi McSwain, purchased the restaurant in February of 1980. We never changed the recipes on the original homestyle items (especially the ice cream), but have added to the menu over the years at the requests of our customers. We moved from the small location to the building next door to it (which had been a pizza place) in 1982. We enjoyed 12 more years at that address, which saw our business build and build (and our size double!). Alas, time marches on, and the owners of the property concluded an entire revamping of the area was in order and decided to demolish all of the Keystone Park Office Complex, shopping center, and surrounding pad sites. We lost our home as of January 6th, 1995, and moved to our current location at the intersection of Spring Valley and Coit in the Sunnyland Shopping Center. Here we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with our wonderful landlords.

We always aspire to give customers quality food and reasonable prices. Our advertising has consisted almost solely to word of mouth. We have some of the best customers in the world, which is why we are still around after this many years!! We've watched dates turn into marriages and then families........and first birthdays galore! And now, as much as Debbi hates to admit it, those kids are coming in with their children! It is these things that make those of us in the restaurant business love our work. So relax, enjoy, and let us do the cooking.

Thanks, Debbi, Joe, & Ron