A Little History...30 Years in the Making!

Thirty years ago, on November 2, 1981, Tim and Molly Montz started their family business in a small wood framed shed on Hwy 79 in Byers, TX. Due to their buildings general appearance (and Tim’s lack of imagination), they decided to name their business “The Pecan Shed”. Little did Tim and Molly know how their store would grow and change over the years. Now the Pecan Shed is much more than just pecans. It has a wide selection of Texas gifts, home décor, and collegiate items. They also make their very own delicious homemade fudge. However, they still stick to the roots of the family business…locally grown, top-quality pecans.
The Pecan Shed was originally only open for business November through March selling in the shell and cracked pecans grown in leased orchards. Then in the fall of 1985, Tim and his long time friend, Bobby Elledge, along with Phillip Helm, built a new metal building to support the growing pecan business. This new Pecan Shed had a retail area, warehouse, office, and even indoor plumbing (no more running across the street to Reed’s gas station). As business grew, Tim and Molly decided to open another store location in Wichita Falls on Call Field Road. This location, called the Garden Patch, was open year round. In the fall and winter, the Montz family and staff sold pecans and in the spring and summer they sold produce grown by Tim or other local farmers from the Red River Farm Trail.
Business continued to grow. Thus, in 1994, the Montz family closed down the Garden Patch and built the Pecan Shed at its current location, 1401 Midwestern Pkwy. Even this building has seen change and growth over the past 17 years. Now, the Pecan Shed is an almost 10,000 square foot building which houses a large retail area, walk-in freezer, storage and packaging rooms, offices and a very busy fudge kitchen.
The Pecan Shed is open year round selling local pecans grown in the Montz Orchards. Tim and his family began planting trees in 1987 and their orchards have grown to include 800 acres and over 25,000 trees. Looking back 30 years ago, Tim can see how much his pecan business has grown. While buildings and locations have changed over the years, the best improvement has been in the pecans. Varieties have changed from the older pecans such as Burkett, Stuart, Mahan, and Success to the “improved papershell” pecans which include Pawnee, Cheyenne, Wichita and Choctaw. These new and improved papershell pecans fill out with more pecan meat, they are less susceptible to bugs and disease, and they are able to weather droughts better (although this past drought was hard on everything).
Tim and Molly have both tried to retire over the past few years. While Tim does more hunting and fishing, he still has a close eye on the family business. As proof that it is hard for him to let go, he kept the original “shed” building that the Pecan Shed started in and has turned it into a hunting cabin located in one of his pecan orchards. Tim can be found out in the orchards throughout the year and Molly will be at the retail store during the busy times.
Their children, Jake and Jill, are now managing the family business. Jake runs things out at the orchards and Jill handles the retail store. Some employees have been around for many years, but one has been there since the beginning. Kathy McGhee has helped out at the Pecan Shed since it opened, but officially got a paycheck starting in 1984. She is now not only Jill’s “right hand lady”, but she is also the one in charge of making the Pecan Shed’s delicious homemade fudge.
The last 30 years have been filled with lots of blood, sweat, and tears for the Montz family as well as a great deal of laughter and love. “Family Owned and Grown” is not just a saying for this business…it is what this business and the family that owns it represents. Tim and Molly taught Jake and Jill a simple formula for success…great pecans and outstanding customer service gave the Pecan Shed its roots and will continue to help it grow for years to come.