The Legendary Coyote Store: Where the Old Meets the New
If there’s a place where old ways can survive in modern times, that place is the Legendary Coyote Store located in historic Gail, TX. Situated approximately 30-40 minutes from any larger towns, The Coyote Store allows visitors to take a peek into a much different way of life. It is a place where people of all ages, from all walks of life, come to eat food prepared in old fashioned ways, spend quality time with friends and family, and listen to some of the greatest country music entertainers the business has ever had to offer.
The Coyote Store originally started in 1985 as a place for travelers to stop, stretch their legs and grab a quick snack or a hot meal before getting back on the road. Current owner, Becky Justice, recalls her first job working at the Coyote, washing windows and sweeping the floors, while her grandmother, Bertie, looked on. Bertie also worked at the Coyote and in 1992, after her husband passed away, decided to acquire financing and purchased the store, where she loyally served her community and travelers for over 30 years.
In 2014 Bertie became too ill to continue working and made the difficult decision to sell the store. She asked Becky to draw up a contract as she had agreed to sell the store to some folks that wanted to turn it into a taco stand. It was not an easy decision to make. Since the store began it had been a constant not only in Berties life, but to her families as well. In the years before Bertie even bought the store, most of her entire family either worked or had close ties to the Coyote. Becky remembers how her and her mother would bake homemade goods for the deli case and they would walk and deliver their treats to the store for $10 per day.
As the sale of the store became closer and closer, it became a certain reality to the family that their old ways would soon be gone. Then the news came that, due to financing issues, the prospective buyers would not be able to move forward with the purchase. It was then that Becky made the decision to buy the store from her grandmother and keep the family tradition alive.
At the time, Becky had a career of her own in the criminal justice system and was raising her two sons. She had worked very hard to obtain a graduate degree in criminal justice and was about to begin work on a PhD. when she made the decision to buy the Coyote. She felt that God was opening this door for her and that He had plans not only for her and her family, but for the Coyote and its customers as well.
In 2016 the store was expanded and would now include musical performances on the patio. Now, while the customers enjoyed hot steak dinners or weekly fish fries, they could be entertained by talented musicians singing gospel and country music. Becky could never have dreamed what God had in store for her future, and the future of the Coyote in the coming years.
In 2017 the decision was made to construct a main stage behind the Coyote and start booking artists from years past. They wanted to book artists from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s to ensure that each of the singers would always feel relevant, and that they have a place to entertain their fans that stirs up feelings and memories of years past. Becky wanted to book artists that stand for the same values as the Coyote and their customers. It was important that the fans had a place to escape to and listen to their favorite artists from years ago. Artists that sang songs that would stir up past memories and allow them to remember who sang songs that related to their own individual experiences. The first artist to play the main stage was none other than the amazing Gene Watson. People came from all over our great state to witness what would be the first of many amazing shows to come.
To prepare for the first show, local ranchers loaned Becky cattle panels and trailers to construct gates and a stage. When Becky found out there were places that would give people pallets for free, she made the decision to expand the coyote with all the pallets she could find. A stage was constructed by welding cotton trailers together that created a 16X84 ft. stage that allowed for 3 separate bands on 3 different locations. With the assistance of so many local residents, as well as the donations of pallets too numerous to count, the Coyote Store was being transformed into not only a place for customers to gather for meals and meet their neighbors, but also a music venue unlike any other. It was now a place that provides a nostalgic environment for entertainers and fans alike.
Becky is always the first to say that without God, and the support of so many loyal customers, this dream would never have come to reality. By working hard and remaining dedicated to her faith, Becky has been able to build a place that thrives on old fashion ways. A place where grandparents can bring grandkids and great-grandkids and know they are safe as they run and play with other children. A place where traditional values are still alive and well. A place where the younger generation can enjoy home cooked meals for their lunches and work around the Coyote to pay off their tabs. And also a place that raises thousands of dollars for local charities and veterans. In 2022, the Coyote Store, in one nights performance, raised over $57,000 for veterans and the Honor Flight.
The Coyote Store is a location that proves you can be successful in this modern era while holding on to traditional ways. It genuinely feels like you have traveled back in time to a much simpler way of life. A time when we were not so consumed with electronic devices and screens constantly in our faces. It is a place where you will sit and visit and make many new friends while dining on amazing food and listening to your favorite artists.
The Coyote Store is a story of loyalty. A story that for almost 4 decades such a small community has kept a family business operating in the fourth least populated county in Texas. A devotion like that from its customers is due to loyalty and commitment by Becky and her family. She strives to provide each customer, and all her business partners, an experience they will never forget. An experience where each person will feel at home and that they are treated and served in way that God want us to.
I have heard it said that the American dream is dead. That the old ways are no more and that the traditional values we learned from our elders no longer exist. To some, especially those in large cities where everything is rushed and people rarely speak to strangers, this may seem true. But, I can assure you that after just one trip to the Coyote Store, you will see that the old way of life is still thriving and a place exists where you can put down the cell phone and reach out your hand to new friends.
So please, make it a priority to take a weekend and discover what the Coyote Store family is all about. Visit their Facebook page and website to see when your favorite artist is booked and mark it on your calendar. Hotel accommodations can be made in Snyder at the Fairfield Inn. Just be sure and mention you are coming to the Coyote Store in Gail for a special rate.
In closing, I just want to take a moment to thank Becky Justice and the entire Coyote Family for being such a major part of Texas Life Publications. We were invited by Becky in June of 2021 to come out for a show after featuring one of the artists in the Coyote Family, Will Banister, on a previous cover. Since that visit Becky has gone above and beyond to help grow our publication and provide our family a place to gather and make new friends. It is comforting to know that good people and places like the Coyote Store still exist, and we cannot wait for our next trip to The Legendary Coyote Store in Historic Gail, TX. A place where tradition lives, and the legends play.
