Marty B Honored as FM Chamber’s Citizen of the Year
Marty Bryan insists that he doesn’t get surprised too often. Even if he doesn’t know all the details, a friend, family member, colleague, or someone from the community will at least give him a heads-up that something big is about to happen.
That definitely wasn’t the case at the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Luncheon on Feb. 7 — and the look on Marty’s face was priceless.
Marty, a wildly popular local restauranteur and self-made industry titan affectionately known as Marty B, was caught off guard when he was named Citizen of the Year in front of a packed house at Denton Country Club.
To top off the surprise, Marty was joined at the front of the banquet hall by his wife, children, and mother-in-law.
“When they started talking about the person who would win Citizen of the Year, I remember thinking, ‘Golly … somebody here has the same birthday as me,’” Marty said recently. “As they kept talking about this person before introducing them, I thought, ‘Wait … that sounds like me.’ I had no clue they would recognize me like that. That was incredible. What an honor.”
According to Marty, it was a well-planned surprise. A friend at the engineering group, McAdams lured him to the event under the ruse that McAdams was being recognized for an award. Since Marty has worked with McAdams numerous times on projects, they asked if he’d attend and sit at their company table. Naturally, Marty said yes — unaware he was the big award winner.
“The Chamber did recognize McAdams, but I had no clue they were about to recognize me, too,” Marty said. “The special part about it was when my family came out and surprised me. That was really special, and I was quite emotional, as you could imagine.”
The awards luncheon celebrates local businesses, non-profits, and business people who generate economic prosperity in the community and have strong philanthropic involvement. Several awards are presented, including the President’s Choice Award, Rookie of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Business of the Year.
But the top honor everyone strives for is Citizen of the Year.
This prestigious award is given to the person who most exemplifies the determination and resolve to work hard for the overall good of our community. Clearly, no one has gone above and beyond quite like Marty.
Marty burst onto the scene in 2017 when he opened Marty B’s in Bartonville. More than just another restaurant, Marty B’s captured Marty’s vision of creating a place where people could escape the everyday grind, connect with friends and family, and celebrate life in a fun, family-friendly environment. It was — and still is — unlike anything Denton County had seen. Nearly eight years later, Marty B’s is still thriving and is at the epicenter of an unmistakable brand Marty has created from scratch.
These restaurants and local hangouts include Marty B’s Coffee Co., Marty B’s Ice Cream, and Marty B’s To-Go, which has a full kitchen and services to-go orders for Marty B’s and the ice cream shop. Marty also owns 1845 Taste Texas in Lakeside, Rustico Wood Fired Grill and Wine Bar in Flower Mound, and Cactus Canyon and Branded Bowls in Argyle with his valued partner Brian Gasperson.
A wedding venue called The Reserve at Marty B’s is coming soon. The project is under construction and will soon start booking events for Feb. 2026. He’s also opening another coffee shop in south Flower Mound in Spring 2026.
Beyond opening new businesses — there are several on the horizon — Marty lives and breathes the communities he serves and is constantly looking for ways to use his time, talent, and treasures to volunteer and give back any chance he can get.
“There is intentionality behind everything we do, and to be recognized for that is a real honor,” Marty said.
For more information about local hangouts, visit CircleStarBrands.com.
