He was inspired by the cowboy movies he watched as a child and established the facility he had dreamed of

Health sector employee Funda Alpak, who has been working in Trabzon for 25 years, established her dream business inspired by cowboy towns in western movies she watched as a child. Those who see Funda’s Texas Town in the Yalıncak neighborhood are greatly surprised, while visitors touring the facility feel like they are in a cowboy town.

Impressed by the image of cowboy towns in the movies she watched during her childhood, Funda Alpak (42) realized the business she had been dreaming of for years. The woman entrepreneur, who built the town she dreamed of in a garden that used to be a hazelnut orchard, attracted great attention. In the restaurant establishment that attracts the interest of domestic and foreign tourists, Alpak also created a photo area and provided customers with cowboy hats to immortalize their memories.

In the establishment where the staff dress in a manner suitable for cowboy movies, wooden structures named ‘Bank,’ ‘Old Town Salon,’ ‘Post Office,’ ‘Market,’ and ‘Sheriff Jail’ were built. Alpak, who named her concept establishment ‘Funda’s Texas Town’ and applied for a patent, expressed her happiness for realizing her dream. Having obtained both the name and logo patents, female entrepreneur Funda Alpak said she is happy.

“I have had a fondness for cowboy movies since childhood”
Alpak, stating that she watched a lot of cowboy movies during her childhood, said, “I used to watch under my father’s influence, and then I started to love them. I have had a fondness for cowboy movies since childhood. I loved them very much. Then this turned into a passion for westerns. I have been working in the health sector for 25 years. I host many guests from domestic and foreign countries. Trabzon has very beautiful places. But I wanted a concept venue. I wanted to create a venue that is a bit more casual, with activities inside, where people can have a pleasant time and is also close to the city. That’s how the story began,” she said.

Alpak, noting the high interest in the establishment, said, “I am very happy. I was expecting this. It really happened faster than I expected. I am happy to be a female entrepreneur. I am experiencing the rightful pride of the feedback I received,” she said.

“We did not use concrete structures”
Alpak, stating that they did not draw an architectural project, said, “I wanted to give the appearance of a typical town. We did not draw an architectural project for this. We did everything ourselves based on what I have been targeting for years. We built this place in about 10 months. It had a significant cost. It was difficult to access many materials. I did not receive any support. I thought it would be more difficult, but it happened faster than I expected. The name of the establishment has a special memory. Heather’s means ‘Funda’ already. I wanted to make it ‘Funda’s Texas Town.’ We did not use concrete structures. We really tried to evoke that Texas town atmosphere. I applied for the patent of this establishment directly before starting construction. I obtained both the name and logo patents. As far as I know, there is no such concept in Turkey,” she said.

“They have created a very beautiful place”
Emrah Sağlam, a young man who came to the establishment to see the concept he encountered on social media, emphasized, “I saw this place through social media thanks to a friend. We liked it a lot in the visuals, and when we came and saw it, we witnessed that they have really created a very beautiful place. It will add value to our Trabzon both in terms of tourism and business. It is a separate pride to bring such things to one’s homeland. I remember the Texas Tommiks magazines from my uncle and grandfather. I was not watching a lot, but I really liked it visually. Hopefully, we will visit frequently from now on,” he said.

“It has become a place that brings people back to their childhood”
Visitor Oğuzhan Süleyman, stating that he went back to his childhood years, said, “While browsing on social media, I saw this place. It caught my attention because this concept is unique not only in Trabzon but also in Turkey. We are very happy to see such a beautiful establishment in our Trabzon. All of us spent our childhood watching cowboy movies on Sundays. That’s why it has become a place that brings people back to their childhood. During the time I spent here, I felt like I was spending a Sunday from my childhood.”