A Doggone Delicious Texas Tradition

A DOGGONE delicious

TEXAS TRADITION

by Jean Eisenmann | photos courtesy of Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs

If you’ve lived in Texas for any length of time and haven’t heard of Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, don’t you dare admit it! Fletcher’s iconic hot dog on a stick is to Texas what the lobster roll is to Maine or the Philly cheesesteak to Philadelphia. You see, as any true Texan can attest, the Fletcher family created the corny dog. It’s a portable meal in your hand. A little bit of Texas heaven. And a Texas tradition.

In 1942, brothers and former vaudeville performers Neil and Carl Fletcher developed and introduced their corny dog at the State Fair of Texas. After experimenting with product names such as K-9 and Brown Bomber, the brothers decidedly agreed on the name Fletcher’s Original State Fair Corny Dogs. Though it took them 12 years to perfect their unique batter, the proprietary recipe remains the same to this day. Their corny dog became a cornerstone of the State Fair of Texas, and generations of Texans have come to associate the event with the best corny dog on Earth. Fun fact: Fletcher’s has been a staple of the State Fair a decade longer than Big Tex!

Many fans aren’t aware that the Fletcher family has lived in Denton County for decades. Neil’s granddaughter, Amber Fletcher explained, “Grandfather moved from Missouri to Dallas in the 1930s. In the 1970s, he relocated to Lewisville and remained there until his death in 1988, when I was just a year old. My father, Neil Jr., moved his family to Double Oak around 1977, and my mother GG, brother Aaron, and I still live there.”

In 1988, with the passing of their patriarch, brothers Neil Jr. and Bill Fletcher assumed the company. For the next nearly 40 years, with Bill at his side, Neil (crowned Skip, “The Corny Dog King”) continued their father’s legacy while implementing new business ideas, such as opening restaurants and adding new flavors to the corny dog menu. Skip introduced both the Jalapeño & Cheese and the Bird Dog. Later, Amber created the Veggie Dog, while her brother Aaron came up with the Cheezy Pup.

Since the passing of Skip Fletcher in 2017, the family’s baton has been passed to a third generation. GG and Bill still maintain

an active presence in the company, though the day-today operations now rest with Amber, Aaron, and Bill’s son W.C.

For Amber, growing up with Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs became part of her identity.

“My neighbor loves to remind me,” she reflects laughingly,

“that as a child of about 8 years old, I introduced myself to her saying, “Hi, I’m Amber Fletcher from Fletcher’s Corny Dogs.”

Approaching their 80th year in business, Fletcher’s has evolved within each of the three generations. The original brothers had the State Fair of Texas and one restaurant. The next descendants also had the State Fair, the debut of mascot Mr. Corny in 1983, new corny dog flavors, and multiple restaurant franchises that eventually closed due to economic downturns. But the current generation has taken the brand to new heights — all without sacrificing the deeply-rooted Fletcher legacy.

These days, Fletcher’s takes its corny dogs to the community year-round. In 2019, they purchased two full service mobile catering trailers, giving fans greater access to their corny dog at birthday parties, weddings, local festivals, corporate events, and more. Their 10’x10’ pop-up tents accommodate even more venues. A summertime limited edition to the Fletcher family of dogs was introduced in May, called “Make Mine Texan.” It’s an all-beef and brisket dog with a natural smokey flavor that Texans can’t resist.

“The State Fair of Texas, where it all began, always will be our priority,” Amber said. “Ninetynine percent of our products are sold in Texas, and the majority is in the DFW area. We’ll ship our corny dogs or take our catering trailer to neighboring states when there’s a request.”

And request they do. Transplanted Texans still crave their Fletcher’s Corny Dogs.

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, anonymous donors commissioned Fletcher’s catering to feed first responders and hospitals. Requests expanded into other community businesses.

“When the State Fair of Texas announced closure in 2020, citizens emailed us asking what they can do to support the brand they’ve loved for years,” Amber explained. “That kind of loyalty saved our company.”

That level of customer patronage isn’t surprising.

Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs are the finest Texas fare at the State Fair of Texas and, for that matter, anywhere.

The family, too, is awesome. Awesome, but corny.

And that’s precisely how they intend to remain.

The Premier VENUE

FOR YOUR NEXT OCCASION

by Jean Eisenmann | photography by Your Candid Memories (YourCandidMemories.com)

All of us experience many milestones throughout our lives that deserve to be acknowledged through celebration. Gathering together with friends and loved ones to toast a special occasion and share one another’s joy creates indelible memories that become pleasant reflections of a lifetime.

Corinth recently welcomed a new business to this growing city with a unique event venue that embraces celebrations, business meetings, weddings, and any noteworthy event for which you need a beautiful space.

Apricus is an impressive 10,000-squarefoot upscale facility at the forefront of a growing urban development conveniently off I-35E. At the helm of this burgeoning enterprise are Pablo Figueroa, Chief Inspiration Officer, and Chief Catalyst & Opportunities Officer, Jaime Murrieta.

“Apricus is a Latin word that translates to ‘warmed by the sun,’” Pablo explained. The meaning reflects the state of mind Pablo and Jaime want their clients to reach while in the space. “To evoke the sense of contentment we feel when we attain harmony with nature and the people around us,” he concluded.

Having celebrated their grand opening on April 8th, brand new Apricus is ready to make your special occasions memorable. The venue is the shining star within a 24-acre development called Millennium, which is quickly becoming a lifestyle destination of apartment homes, retail and dining spaces, and a hotel. And they are all within walking distance from each other.

“Apricus is at the forefront of a growing and developing area, and we’re ready to demonstrate that we can deliver a great, quality experience,” Jaime said.

Within its walls, the Tuscan feel is warm and welcoming. A 4,700-squarefoot ballroom cannot fail to impress and can be transformed into a smaller space or different configuration as needed. Modular additions can be implemented, such as a stage or platform, to accommodate any event. The spectacular view from the wall of full-length windows is that of a 1.5-acre pond with water features. Across the water, nature has provided the tree-lined

BALLROOM

view, and the scene is picturesque and serene. A walking path adds to the landscape.

“The ballroom can accommodate an event with up to 300 guests, or we can arrange a beautiful space for an intimate gathering,” Pablo remarked.

The patio with its covered terrace also shares the landscape view, but without windows and walls. It lends itself to a feeling of being in Tuscany. This space can accommodate 80 to 120 people.

A stone’s throw away is the Marriott hotel, scheduled to open this year.

“There will be a favorable room block rate for Apricus guests,” Pablo commented. “We also have partnered with one of our neighboring businesses to offer the use of their rooftop lounge to Apricus guests before or after their event.”

No strangers to the event services business, Pablo and Jaime are co-founders of the tremendously successful Bella Luna Event Hall in Dallas. As with Apricus, it, too, caters to a wide range of luxury events. “We partner with several exclusive catering companies, and we only work with experts in the field,” Pablo said. In addition, they belong to highly regarded trade organizations, such as ILEA, TxACOM, and the Society of Wedding Professionals, where Pablo previously served on their board of directors.

“Both Pablo and I have enjoyed successful careers in the corporate world, but we no longer felt the need to work just for a paycheck,” Jaime reflected. “We were ready to take on a new and exciting challenge. The Millennium development’s investors became aware of our successes, and we were approached to create and operate Apricus. It has been a dream come true for us.”

The team’s goal for Apricus is to become established within the community as being flexible for any type of social and corporate event. In addition to weddings, there are so many other traditional milestones in one’s life, such as mitzvah and quinceañera celebrations, wedding vow renewals, retirement parties, and whatever else you want to joyously celebrate with others. “As far as businesses events,” Jamie expressed, “in addition to corporate meetings and training seminars, how about product launches or fashion shows?”

SIENA SUITE LUCCA SUITE

Both are firmly committed to supporting diversity.

“We foster an environment that recognizes and embraces our differences,” Jamie strongly acknowledged.

Pablo added, “We love learning about other cultures, their traditions, and how they contribute to our society. So we hope to hold more cultural events here, too.”

As part of their commitment to the community, Apricus will host bimonthly open houses to tour the venue, experience the service, and meet the team. Visit their website and follow social media for updates on these and other upcoming public events – each one an Apricus Affair!

Apricus is more than a venue. It’s a destination. Pablo and Jamie are event services professionals committed to delivering a stress-free, fabulously successful event that you’ll remember for a lifetime.