David Beard’s Catfish Village In Ore City Has Closed

David Beard's Catfish Village, located on Hwy 155 north of Ore City, has closed after nearly 50 years in business. This location was the first Catfish Village restaurant in the chain opened by David Beard in 1969.

Rumors about this potential closing circulated social media earlier this week, and sources had said the doors would be locked once the restaurant ran out of food or by Thursday, Nov. 15, whichever came first.

David Beard, the "Catfish King" died in June at 82 years old. According to information from Great American Foods, Beard never finished school, but his hard work and determination led to several catfish restaurants scattered over Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Details as to why the Ore City location was closed have not been disclosed, and nothing is known about the future of his other restaurants. Calls to Great American Foods, located in Hughes Springs, were not returned Wednesday or Thursday.