BEDFORD, Texas — In Bedford, they call it Colossal for a reason. It’s not just the sandwiches at The Colossal Sandwich Shop, but the heart behind the man who runs it.

For years, Jonathan Merrill, known to most as "Big John," has been feeding his community. A veteran, a father and the owner of the small Bedford restaurant, Merrill has built a reputation not only for his food but also for his generosity.

“Every time you walk through the doors, you just get to hear that big booming voice,” said Pastor Nate Zuniga of Salvation Home Church in Bedford.

Through inflation, a broken air conditioner and three different break-ins, the community has always rallied behind Merrill’s shop to keep the doors open.

“Because everybody knows Big John, everybody knows Colossal," Zuniga said. "So we just

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