Opening a restaurant in downtown Slaton had long been a dream of Courtney and Rugby Stafford. It was the couples desire to open a Texas-German Steakhouse and bar that served quality food in a comfortable, clean, family-oriented environment. Being natives of the town, the Staffords wanted to open a business that would be a gathering point for residents of Slaton and the surrounding communities. In an attempt to turn their dream into a reality, the Staffords sought out the help of the SBDC to create a business plan that they could present to their local bank. The SBDC was able to assist the clients in constructing a business plan that demonstrated that they had done their homework regarding the cost to open the business and its market potential. The SBDC also aided the clients in evaluating the financial viability of the project and it was able to help them find market research that would show that their restaurant concept could be successful in downtown Slaton. Thanks to the assistance provided by the SBDC, the Staffords were able to get a loan to open their dream restaurant. Since its opening, Texas 1809 has added patio space and it also offers nights of live music. In a very short time, Texas 1809 emerged as the place to go for food and entertainment in downtown Slaton.
