OUR TOWN
While there are many local businesses from my growing-up years in Taylor that hold special memories, two of my favorites are Wesley’s Grocery and Louie Mueller Barbecue.
What I didn’t know until recently was that before Wesley Miller opened his popular store on Davis Street, he learned about the grocery business from Louie Mueller.
A few weeks ago I enjoyed visiting with Wesley’s three daughters Pam (Mikulencak), Moppy (Miller) and Heather (Klotz) to learn more about the early days of these two businessmen.
This story is actually a twopart column. This week we take a look at Part I, Wesley’s early days as an apprentice. Next week, Part II will take a closer look at Wesley’s Grocery and Market, which I’m sure many of you will remember.
Many thanks to the Miller sisters for sharing this important part of Taylor’s history.
Before Louie Mueller became famous for barbecue, he owned and operated small grocery stores at two locations in Taylor.
Louie Mueller’s Red and White Complete Food Stores were located at 115 W. Second St. and 315 S. Main St.
At age 14, Wesley began working part time at the Second Street location sweeping floors for Mr. Mueller. Next door was the Diamond Inn, a longtime favorite spot for hamburgers.
While attending Taylor High School, Wesley also played Duck football for Coach T. H. Johnson. He graduated in 1948, the same year as future Emmy Awardwinning actor, Rip Torn.
After graduation, Wesley left his part-time job and went to work in the oil fields at Trent. Young Wesley often said he didn’t like being very far away from “the water tower,” so it wasn’t long before he hitchhiked his way back home to Taylor.
The next day after returning home, Wesley went to Louie Mueller’s food store on Second Street, put on an apron and went to work just as he had done many times before.
At the end of the week, Mr. Mueller hired him as a full-time employee.
“There was a preacher in town named Smith who was a butcher for Mr. Mueller,” Heather said. “He taught Daddy how to cut meat, sort of as an apprentice.”
Not only did Wesley learn about the grocery business, he also became known for his sausage-making skills as well as being an accomplished butcher.
At some point, Louie Mueller decided to start barbecuing some of the meats from his store. The barbecuing took place at a simple lean-to structure at the back of the two-story building on the southwest corner of Main and Second streets.
For longtime Taylor residents who might enjoy a nostalgic look back, this corner building was originally built as a bank in 1883. A couple of doors to the south on Main was Taylor Meat Co. Next to this former bank building and lean-to on Second was a parking lot, then the Diamond Inn, Louie Mueller’s grocery store, and at the end of the block at Second and Talbot streets was Zieschang’s Hatchery and Feed Store.
Pam recalled, “Meat was taken from the grocery store to the lean-to where it was barbecued and sold. If they ran out, Daddy would walk out the back door at Louie Mueller’s and across to Taylor Meat to get what they needed.”
Wesley married Billie Gene Sain, a Hutto graduate, in 1950. During the early years, she worked at McCrory’s in Taylor. The family soon grew with the birth of three daughters over the next few years.
“We lived on Wallace Street and had one car,” Moppy recalled. “We would pick Daddy up every day at 6:30 p.m. when he got off work. We bought our groceries at Louie Mueller’s on Saturday.”
The Millers’ three daughters remember Mr. Mueller as a kind man. Every Christmas he gave them each a silver dollar, treasures they kept through the years and still have today.
Mueller eventually closed the store and opened his barbecue restaurant across the street. When Wesley decided to open his own grocery store, he did so with Mr. Mueller’s blessing.
Join me here in a couple of weeks as we take a look at Part II and the impact Wesley’s Grocery and Market had in our community.
Until then, make it a great week, and be proud of where you’re from.
Crow is a longtime Taylor resident and retired from the Taylor Independent School District after 40 years of service. For a topic or suggestion, reach out to Crow via jason. [email protected].
