28 replies to this topic

[jefffwd]

The article says Ruth's Chris Steakhouse will fill an "open spot" at Main @ 7th in DTFW. Where is that exactly?

GlobeSt.com Commercial Real Estate News and Property Resource
Last updated: February 13, 2007 08:29pm
Restaurant Deals Spike in Dallas/Fort Worth
By Connie Gore
(For more retail coverage, click GlobeSt.com/RETAIL.)
DALLAS-Restaurateurs' interest in Dallas/Fort Worth has risen significantly in the past year, with the trending up coming from high-end, sit-down establishments. The days of Tex Mex and barbecue aren't over, but they've taken a backseat for now to highbrow names from the Northeast, Las Vegas and the West Coast.

Tracey Evers, executive director of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, credits today's buzz and steady stream of openings to Nobu tapping into the market in late 2005 at 400 Crescent Court in Uptown. Since then, there's been an endless procession of high-quality names staking claims in the metroplex.

"It seems to me that other markets are now taking Dallas seriously as a restaurant market," Evers tells GlobeSt.com. "We really couldn't figure out before why the top national brands didn't want to come here."

Restaurant brokers Dennis Leibovitz, executive vice president of the Retail Connection, and Darrell Hernandez, executive vice president and partner of United Commercial Realty, say the floodgates have been opened by trophy developments, particularly infill, setting up never-before opportunities for a steady parade of brand-name newcomers and top-level locals. The statistics support the trend, with Dallas/Fort Worth accounting for nearly $12.8 billion of the $547.1 billion per year spent on dining out in the US, according to Fort Worth-based Buxton. Ranked second in the nation, Texas' dining revenue is expected to hit $32 billion this year, based on the latest stats from the National Restaurant Association.

"Restaurants are attracted to great developments with the right energy and retailers," Leibovitz points out. Infills like Victory, Uptown and NorthPark have picked up a plethora of highbrow, out-of-state names that are staking just one claim in the region while suburban developments like Arlington Highlands and Alliance Town Center are portals for sit-down locals adding second and third locations.

Likewise, the welcome mat's out in Fort Worth's Sundance Square, which has had an array of restaurant changes in the past six months and has just landed Ruth Chris for an open spot at Main and Seventh streets. And, a long-time Dallas mainstay like Truluck's is venturing into the suburbs for its third location, taking a spot in Southlake Town Square in Tarrant County. And then there is Hoffbrau's, with key spots in Dallas and Fort Worth, ready to test a mini-version of its steakhouse in Arlington.

"You have more restaurants than you have great space," Leibovitz says. "To get the best spaces, they are usually paying the best rate too."

Richard Hollander, president of Buxton's Customer ID line, estimates that the inquiries for restaurant searches have doubled in the past year, maybe even six months. The noticeable difference from the region's past to the present is "we are seeing a lot more one-offs that are better quality restaurants," he says.

Buxton's research shows there is 21 sf of gross leasable retail space per person in Dallas/Fort Worth versus the national average of 16 sf. It's not possible to extrapolate just the restaurant space, but it's recognized that it's a significant portion of the total.

"I think we're a long way from saturation," Hollander adds. "It appears to me that people like variety. With the population growth that we have, I don't think there is a saturation point in the foreseeable future."

Dallas/Fort Worth has long been viewed as a test market for the industry. Despite the prominence of the name, they don't all make it as Smith & Wollensky discovered. Industry insiders say the problem was the location: backfilling a spot along the North Dallas Tollway instead of joining its steakhouse equals in Uptown, the Galleria or Dallas CBD. Yet in days gone by, it was new concepts testing their fare, fast-foods and fast-casual. The times clearly have changed.

"We are seeing good operators and good restaurants reacting to new retail projects," Hernandez says, citing 15 to 20 new sit-down names and local expansions that are looking for space or about to come on line. "Dallas is going up another level."

Hernandez credits the changing times to the quality of the mixed-use developments that have taken over the region. "They have to differentiate themselves from all the others in Dallas," he says. "They want it to be special. At the same time, the restaurateurs are taking one key location and they want to maximize sales and be different."

Across the board, the pros say the trend will snowball and not wane. "When they choose to come to Texas, they either choose Dallas or Houston," Evers says. "We're certainly glad that they're choosing to come to Dallas."

[Thurman52]

I saw that story too and was lost. Transport Life is at the corner right? But it's years if at all ready for occupancy.

[jefffwd]

I saw that story too and was lost. Transport Life is at the corner right? But it's years if at all ready for occupancy.

Is the restaurant in the Hilton at Main @ 7th? Perhaps Ruth's is going in there to compete woth Bob's Steak & Chophouse in the new Omni???

[Fort Worthology]

I'm guessing this is the old Cactus space behind the Hilton, which occupies the other Main & 7th Corner besides Carter+Burgess, Transport Life, and TXU.

[jefffwd]

I'm guessing this is the old Cactus space behind the Hilton, which occupies the other Main & 7th Corner besides Carter+Burgess, Transport Life, and TXU.

Nope. I just got an email from the story's Author and she said it will be across the street from the Hilton and that the lease was signed a month ago. I'm thinking Transport Life.

[John T Roberts]

What about inside Carter+Burgess Plaza? That atrium has a lot of room where a restaurant could be placed. It's just a thought.

[Fort Worthology]

What about inside Carter+Burgess Plaza? That atrium has a lot of room where a restaurant could be placed. It's just a thought.

Personally, I'd rather it be out on a street/sidewalk-facing storefront than hidden inside C+B's atrium. It would do a lot more for the streetscape that way. Unless C+B plans to add some exterior storefronts (it will never happen, but it would be great if they did).

[cbellomy]

The Electric Service Building, perhaps?

[safly]

Cactus is too small for an RC, but the TLife Building would be best suited.

[jefffwd]

Cactus is too small for an RC, but the TLife Building would be best suited.

I have not been by lately and I know this has its own thread but is anything at all happening with the TLife?

[hooked]

From Bud Kennedy's column Jan. 17:

Ruth's Chris Steak House is working its way toward Fort Worth. The fabled prime steakhouse chain and the Hilton Fort Worth hotel are working on a deal to bring the steakhouse to the corner of Main and Seventh streets, directly across Main from competitor Del Frisco's. Hilton employees are already telling customers about the pending deal, although a Ruth's Chris spokeswoman wouldn't confirm it last week.

Ruth's Chris would become the fifth prime steakhouse downtown, counting Del Frisco's, Mercury Chophouse, Sam & Harry's and Texas de Brazil. Also coming are Bob's Steak & Chop House in the forthcoming Omni hotel and a new restaurant named Grace, owned by former Del Frisco's executive Adam Jones.

[Fort Worthology]

From Bud Kennedy's column Jan. 17:

Ruth's Chris Steak House is working its way toward Fort Worth. The fabled prime steakhouse chain and the Hilton Fort Worth hotel are working on a deal to bring the steakhouse to the corner of Main and Seventh streets, directly across Main from competitor Del Frisco's.

7th & Main isn't "directly across Main" from Del Frisco's. More like up the street or diagonal, but whatever.

This still makes me think that it's the Cactus space - that is on the other side of Main from Del Frisco's, and it's attached (sort of, at least) to the Hilton.

[John T Roberts]

If you take Bud Kennedy's column at face value, then it would have to be the old Cactus space. That annex building is owned by the hotel. If you remember, the ballroom is on the second floor.

[cbellomy]

If you take Bud Kennedy's column at face value, then it would have to be the old Cactus space. That annex building is owned by the hotel. If you remember, the ballroom is on the second floor.

Working from very rusty memory here, when I worked at that hotel during its Hyatt Regency incarnation, the Crystal Cactus restaurant and bar (as it was known then) were both on the ground floor. The Crystal Ballroom was on the second floor, but there was no street-level access to it except through the lobby. I would think that the Hilton would still be using that space as ballroom space, but that's conjecture on my part. The Hyatt was constantly renting that space for well-paying events.

Someone upthread, however, said that the Cactus space was too small for a Ruth's Chris. This is absolutely not true. The bar space would be too small, but there's considerable room behind the east interior wall there where the Crystal Cactus restaurant used to be. All they would need to do would be to knock that wall down. Note, however, that the kitchen for the hotel is also on the ground floor in that annex, so they couldn't have the restaurant stretch the entire block down to Commerce. (Not that they would want to.)

[safly]

My bad. I meant as is, it is too small for an RC. Having been to the one in DTSA lead me to that comment. In concept I would place it at the old Cactus Cafe for location purposes. And as I called "firsts" on this rumor thread about a month ago, I was confident in them placing the RC at that site. According to sources.

[Buck]

Hilton folks say it's the old Crystal Cactus. No idea how much remodeling they'll need.

[Fort Worthology]

Thanks goodness - the old Cactus space was a depressing sight, with the old sign stain and all.

[safly]

Crystal Catus???

or Cactus Cafe???

What in the HECK are you all talking about?

[cbellomy]

Crystal Catus???

or Cactus Cafe???

What in the HECK are you all talking about?

The Cactus Cafe had previously been known as the Crystal Cactus when it was operated by Hyatt (before Radisson).

[PLS]

phil romano was looking at a space near here about six months back for a dtfw nick and sam's location, if any of you are familiar with that dallas steakhouse. for whatever reason, they decided against it. i'm exicited about his new coal vines location in southlake though. should be a nice place for a casual dinner date.

[JBB]

In today's S-T, from Bud Kennedy:

"It's official: Ruth's Chris Steak House will open in Fort Worth. The New Orleans original spawned a generation of steakhouses, including a Crescent City competitor named Del Frisco's.

The new Ruth's Chris will open in the Hilton Fort Worth, across Main Street from Del Frisco's. The projected opening date is February."

[bhudson]

Hey, progress is being made! A lot of drywall is up, and was a large welding truck in front at lunchtime.

Mmmmmm!

[Rayeyar]

Hey, progress is being made! A lot of drywall is up, and was a large welding truck in front at lunchtime.

Mmmmmm!

Upper level restaurant with bar seating for +/- 70 ppl. Lower level banquet rooms with prep kitchen. Lower level serviced by new public elevator. This restaurant will be a great addition to the downtown area.

[76107]

You know, we really needed another place to eat steak in Fort Worth. We've only the Chophouse, Del's, the Silver Fox, Eddie V's (when it opens), Cattlemen's, Lonesome Dove, Duce, and let's not forget that thing by the courthouse where they shove meat at you until you beg them to quit. There's also a steakhouse on Calmont that does a pretty good lunch special, but it isn't for everyone, so I'll keep it off my list. I will enjoy the direct competition angle, however, insofar as Del's is concerned.

[bhudson]

Don't forget the Bob's Steak and Chop House coming in the Omni.

As far as whether we need them or not, I suppose the market will decide.

[txsloth]

Don't forget the Bob's Steak and Chop House coming in the Omni.

As far as whether we need them or not, I suppose the market will decide.

Also coming soon at the former Pedro's Trailer Park location on White Settlement...

http://www.star-telegram.com/eatsbeat/

[tjh1]

Also add Reata and Don Shula's new restaurant in the Sheraton to the list of FW steak places downtown.

FW is a steak eating city if i've ever seen one!

[Dcurtis]

You know, we really needed another place to eat steak in Fort Worth. We've only the Chophouse, Del's, the Silver Fox, Eddie V's (when it opens), Cattlemen's, Lonesome Dove, Duce, and let's not forget that thing by the courthouse where they shove meat at you until you beg them to quit. There's also a steakhouse on Calmont that does a pretty good lunch special, but it isn't for everyone, so I'll keep it off my list. I will enjoy the direct competition angle, however, insofar as Del's is concerned.

Some will make it, other's will not. Several years ago, the N. Dallas tollway was steakhouse row. Most of them, including the well-known Smith and Wollenksy's didn't make it. I do agree that too many of the same style eateries crammed into one area is not a good idea. Is the Texas De Brazil still doing well? That place was way overated, IMO, and after a couple of visits, there seemed no need to go back. I think the chain as a whole isn't doing as well as they were a few years ago.

[John T Roberts]

The changes to the exterior of the building are up for review by the Downtown Design Review Board on February 7th. Here's the agenda listing:

DG08-004 815 Main Street; Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Owner / Applicant: New Fort Tower I Hotel Limited Partnership / Hancock Sign Co.
DUDD
Requests a Certificate of Appropriateness to install:
1. A blade sign on the corner of Main Street and 7th Street;
2. Eighteen (18) aluminum routed window decorations – ten (10) on Main Street and
eight (8) on 7th Street;
3. Eight (8) awnings – four (4) on Main Street and four (4) on 7th Street;
4. A new illuminated canopy with glass front and sides on Main Street;
5. A single faced illuminated cabinet sign on Main Street; and
6. Ten (10) decorative lighting fixtures on the building – five (5) on Main Street and five
(5) on 7th Street.