Food Hall News

Plano food hall sets up summer sipping with new tiki and tequila bars

Box Garden in Plano is very patio-licious.

Photo courtesy of Legacy Hall

The hits keep on coming at Legacy Hall, the food hall in Plano: The Box Garden, which is the facility's outdoor patio and entertainment venue, has added two more concepts to its lineup of vendors, including one that specializes in shaved ice and another whose focus is tequilas.

According to a release, the two newbies are Hawaiian Shaved Ice and Lunazul Tequila Bar. Doesn't that sound so summery? They join three others already announced, for a total of five spots, which are as follows:

Idol Time Tiki Bar. Serving updated and alluring versions of classic tiki cocktails.

Hawaiian Shaved Ice Stand. Think bright, sweet flavors, mounds of fluffy white ice, and splash in your favorite spirit.

Stillhouse Lounge. A little taste of Texas in a glass, Stillhouse's cocktails are crafted with the Texas heat in mind. One presumes they contain ice.

Lunazul Tequila Bar. All of the juices at this tequila bar are fresh squeezed daily. The margaritas are slightly tart and a little sweet.

Unlawful Assembly Outpost. Enjoy signature and seasonal beers at the ground floor outpost of the Box Garden. If you want limited releases or collaborations from the Unlawful Assembly Brewery, haul yourself up to the third floor Taproom inside Legacy Hall.

Jack Gibbons, president of The Food Hall Co., enlisted bar veteran Sean Conner to conceptualize the menus for Idol Time Tiki Bar and the Hawaiian Shaved Ice Stand.

Conner worked with Gibbons and Front Burner Restaurants, LP to develop the bar programs for Whiskey Cake and Mexican Sugar, before opening his own brands. That alone might be enough, but Conner has uniquely relevant experience: He's an actual native of Hawaii.

"I was excited when Jack told me about this opportunity because I knew that I would get to use my background as a Hawaiian native and share my love for the tiki lifestyle," he says in a release. "Tiki is more of a lifestyle or state of mind. With this as inspiration, I created a mix of classic and original tiki cocktails designed to transport guests to a place where troubles are far and sandy beaches are near, even if it’s only for the length of a drink."

The Box Garden is constructed out of reclaimed shipping containers and boasts a 600-square-foot event stage and massive LED screen that hosts live music, sports watching, festivals, holiday parties, and culinary events.

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The Melting Pot fondue restaurant dips into Allen for 3rd DFW location

Photo by angela pham on Unsplash

Fondue is fun.

A new fondue restaurant has bubbled up in Allen: The Melting Pot has debuted its newest location at 935 Watters Creek Blvd N.

According to restaurant representatives, it opened Monday, August 10. A grand-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials will take place August 19.

Allen marks the cheese-pleasing chain's 94th restaurant in North America and its third in Dallas-Fort Worth, after locations in Addison and Arlington.

The Allen restaurant is led by franchisees Tracie and Dan Greene, residents of nearby Lucas who are transitioning into the hospitality industry after successful careers in other sectors, a release says. Tracie was most recently CFO and part-owner of a marketing agency, while Dan brings extensive experience in HVAC and commercial remodeling.

"We’ve been looking for the right opportunity to work together, and as lifelong fans of The Melting Pot, this felt like the perfect fit," Tracie says in the release. "Our goal is to create a warm, inviting space where the community can slow down, reconnect, and celebrate special moments over great food."

The Melting Pot's menu offers a variety of fondue cooking styles and unique entrées, plus cheese fondues, salads, fine wines, spirits, and chocolate fondue desserts.

The Allen restaurant will showcase a "Melting Pot Evolution" initiative, focused on modernizing the guest experience, the release says. There will be focal candle walls, spacious booths for group dining, an intimate "Lovers Lane," a full-service bar, and private event room for celebrations.

Founded in 1975, Melting Pot has offered a fondue dining experience for more than 50 years and is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The company is poised for growth, with the goal of expanding to 140 restaurants in North America, officials say.

Allen is part of that growth.

“Tracie and Dan are exceptional additions to our Melting Pot family," says John “JC” Crawford, CEO of The Melting Pot, "and we are confident they will have a lasting positive impact on the Allen community."

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This story originally published on May 5, 2026 and has been updated with opening date and details.

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