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Heather Harbison
Heather Harbison:
2020 has been a year of change for
entrepreneur Heather Harbison
STORY BY MIKE ELSWICK | PHOTO BY GINIA HOOPER
AT A GLANCE
Transformation could be
the theme of the year
for Heather Harbison
in 2020.
The Shelby County
entrepreneur and owner of TCS
Bistro said the evolution of the
former location of The Century
Shoppe into TCS Bistro represents
a lot of vision, planning, support
and hard work.
In addition to transforming a
former Tenaha Street residence
into an eatery, she’s adapted to
restrictions placed on businesses
due to the coronavirus pandemic,
moved her business from leased
space to property she owns and has
worked with a variety of contractors
in getting the doors open.
Heather purchased The
Century Shoppe in 2015 from
Selena Watson. One year later she
moved operations from Shelbyville
Street to the Hurst Street. When
she purchased the business, a small
sandwich shop was part of the
shop.
“Actually I did not plan on
being in the restaurant business,”
she says.
“I originally bought The
Century Shoppe for the home
décor and gifts,” she says. “When
I got involved with it, I fell in love
with the restaurant side.”
That has resulted in a major
shift in her operations out of the
home décor and gift arena and
into the fine dining niche side of
operations.
“This is a lot more work than if
I’d stayed with the home décor side
of the business,” she says. “But I
love it and I love the fast pace.”
As Heather saw opportunity,
her vision changed direction and
her dream has been adapted with
the times.
“This has become a dream,”
she says. Towards the end of
achieving her new vision, Heather
realized she had a strong support
base.
“I thank my family and all my
friends for all the hard work they’ve
helped me put in,” Harbison
says. “And I thank the community
because without you all, I would
not be here.”
She also says being raised in a
food business family helped open
her eyes to the work required and
customer service skills needed to
succeed.
“My parents had a restaurant
and grocery store businesses from
the time I was little,” she says.
Heather was raised in Tenaha with
the family operating locations in
both Tenaha and Logansport.
“God has blessed my family
very much,” Heather says. “And, I
have an excellent staff, including
Jennifer Forrest, who has been with
me for six years — I really count on
them.”
Along the way of getting TCS
Bistro opened, she spent extensive
time working with contractors,
equipment vendors and others
involved in making the needed
modifications in the Tenaha
Street property from a home to a
functioning dining spot.
“Every day something new
pops into my mind and I jot it down
in a little notebook I keep in my
truck,” she says. “I was trying for
a rustic, industrial, vintage look
with a focus on old Shelby County
history.”
Heather says she was involved
every step of the way in designing
the location and laying out the
kitchen, dining area, bakery
display counter and more.
“My goal was to put my own
personal touch in it,” she says.
In addition to decorating the
restaurant, her stamp is also on the
expanded menu.
“We kept our basic menu
and have added some items, like
appetizers and a few more menu
items,” Heather says. With the
move, she has expanded the hours
to 7 a.m.— 7 p.m., Monday through
Friday.
Breakfast is served from
opening until 10 a.m. The menu
features items like loaded
oatmeal,toasted bagels with
cream cheese, quiche, parfaits,
homemade cinnamon rolls and
baked goods.
To top off food items, TCS
Bistro has an extensive line of
gourmet flavored coffees, lattes and
frappes. On the food end, Heather
has a focus on not only serving
tasty dishes, but also healthy
offerings like salads and low carb
or no carb sandwiches and wraps.
Soups and daily specials are
also offered. While the dining
room and bakery are closed on
weekends, the venue is available
on weekends for parties, receptions
and other special events.
WHAT:
TCS Bistro
WHO:
Locally owned and
operated by
Heather Harbison
WHERE:
315 Tenaha Street
Center, TX 75935
WHEN:
Monday-Friday
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
drive-thru/inside dining
PHONE:
(936) 598-4453
FACEBOOK:
@TCS Bistro
Business MATTERS | 2020 Fall Edition 31