Your Expert Guide

Knox District: How the Katy Trail and its local gems dazzled this resident

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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When Melissa Frantz-Ellerman, Global Real Estate Advisor with Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, moved to the Knox area in 2020, it didn't take her long to fall in love with this Dallas neighborhood. Coming from a 26-year real estate career in Atlanta, she now sings the praises of the Knox District to her friends, family, and clients.

"I love the sense of community in this area, the small-town feel in the middle of a large metro area," Frantz-Ellerman says. "Plus there's the Katy Trail, lots of local restaurants and shops, and it's adjacent to Highland Park."

Knox Street is a vibrant lifestyle destination, offering a unique and elevated vision with more than 80 shops and restaurants — all just steps away from the Katy Trail.

"From chic retail brands to one of Dallas’ most exciting dining scenes, the undeniably energetic and outgoing Knox Street neighborhood is where live, work, and play seamlessly converge," she says. "A curated collection of the trendiest names in fashion, home decor, and wellness are anchored by truly distinct local boutiques and eateries that have continued to welcome generations of patrons."

Frantz-Ellerman describes this energetic area as welcoming, manicured, and safe — so safe, in fact, that she sold her son, a 2021 SMU graduate, a townhome right in the heart of the Knox District.

Frantz-Ellerman offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in the Knox District. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Distinct dining is at the core of Knox Street's vivacious culture, posting an extremely elevated collection of revered restaurants and cocktail bars, each bringing individuality and an unparalleled experience.

"From the moment I moved to Dallas, I fell in love — and, frankly — right at home with The Charles," she shares.

Since then, Duro Hospitality has opened several restaurants that she frequents, including Mister Charles, situated in the center of Knox. It has been a big success, Frantz-Ellerman reveals, given its location was the iconic former Highland Park Pharmacy.

"I love how they preserved the historic facade on the outside while the interior boasts opulent design, indulgent French and Italian dishes, elevated cocktails, and rare wines," she says.

Other new and notable restaurants recently opened include Anchor Sushi Bar, Green Point, and Le Bloom.

"My most favorite is Rose Cafe, located in The Terminal," she shares. "I love it so much that I went three times the first day, and I now frequent it almost daily. It's a warm and inviting all-day cafe filled with creativity and community spirit, inspired by the elegance of a blooming rose garden. I love how it opens up to the trail, and I usually run into someone I know — it feels like a home away from home."

A multitude of other cuisines abound, including classic French fare at Le Bilboquet and Toulouse, exceptional American fusion at RH Dallas' rooftop restaurant and Georgie by Curtis Stone, masterfully crafted Italian cuisine at Taverna, and a taste of classic Tex-Mex at Doce Mesas. At Grange Hall, chef Julian Barsotti will be opening a new restaurant, Caffe Lucca, in early 2026.

Order freshly baked pastries and hand-crafted lattes to-go at Village Baking Company or enjoy a leisurely al fresco dinner, all just steps from your home. Another option for sandwiches, pastries, and coffee is Georgie Butcher Shop — "everything you love about Georgie, just in a smaller package!" says Frantz-Ellerman.

The Katy Trail Ice House, which sits right along the Katy Trail, is not to be missed. Considered by many to be the best patio in Dallas, this spot is an Austin-style beer garden with tree-shaded tables and 50 beers on tap. "Did I mention it's very dog-friendly, too?" Frantz-Ellerman says. "It is a spot everyone must experience."

Where to play
Dallas' most walkable shopping and dining district is located between prestigious Highland Park and Henderson Avenue, less than three miles from downtown, offering a premier destination for locals and guests to explore and experience along the iconic Katy Trail. A curated collection of the trendiest names in men's and women's apparel, interior design, and wellness are anchored by bespoke local boutiques and restaurants that have continued to welcome generations of patrons.

Whether shopping at Mashburn, Vince, Bardot, or the recently opened Kith, or seeking interior design inspiration at Restoration Hardware, Serena and Lily, and Crate and Barrel, a vast selection of unique lifestyle brands and businesses are around every corner.

From luxe gifts at Grange Hall to Dallas' most acclaimed fitness studios and personal care destinations, including the recently opened Jones Road Beauty, a refreshing sense of place and the warmest of welcomes can be discovered when strolling down tree-lined streets boasting a thoughtful mixture of preserved historic facades, innovative architecture, and charming courtyards.

“I love the ease and encouragement of a healthy lifestyle here," Frantz-Ellerman says. "It’s so easy to just hop on the Katy Trail for a quick run or a long bike ride. My husband and I take long rides on the weekend, shorter ones during the week (with my dog strapped in my basket), and walk to our weekly Wednesday night reservation at our first-date spot, Taverna."

A host of new wellness concepts have joined the neighborhood, among them Alive and Well and O2 Dallas, the latter of which is a pilates, yoga, and retail concept from Aspen.

"In a large city like Dallas, access to the Katy Trail, shopping, restaurants, and the overall charm of the Knox Street area is a special gift and one of the most alluring qualities of the Knox District," says Frantz-Ellerman, who recently served on the Katy Trail 5K committee. "So pair that with your home being right in the middle of it, and life is good!"

Where to live
This area has an eclectic mix of townhomes, single-family homes, and apartment/condo buildings, making it an ideal spot for every stage in life. Frantz-Ellerman lives with her husband, who builds custom homes in the Park Cities, in a home just steps from the Katy Trail.

A new era is on the horizon with Knox Villas, a limited collection of 12 luxury, single-family, three-story residences with private outdoor spaces and terraces. Buyers will be drawn to the private outdoor spaces, elevators, and garages, Frantz-Ellerman says.

One of Dallas’ most ambitious Knox Street projects is a mixed-use development that will feature an Auberge Resorts Collection Hotel and Residences, restaurants, retail, luxury rental building, a boutique office building, and a new park space. In it will be the first Texas location of Sant Ambroeus, the iconic Milanese restaurant that's also popped up in Palm Springs, Aspen, and The Hamptons.

"It will be amazing to have its world-class dining options, from a morning cappuccino to a celebratory dinner, right here in this special neighborhood," says Frantz-Ellerman.

Whether you're an SMU grad like Frantz-Ellerman's son, just building your foundation in Dallas, or an out-of-towner looking for the perfect spot to start the next chapter, the Knox District has something for everyone, and Frantz-Ellerman has the passion, experience, and bespoke service to get you there. If you see her on the Katy Trail or along Knox Street sporting her Sotheby's swag, be sure to stop her for a chat about her favorite neighborhood in Dallas.

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Melissa Frantz-Ellerman lives, works, and plays in the Knox District. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email mfrantz@briggsfreeman.com, or call 404-791-3686.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Hop on the Katy Trail or escape to your own backyard retreat.

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Downtown News

Historic West End Dallas mixed-use complex gets familiar new owner

Courtesy

Market Ross Place

A historic building in Dallas' historic West End has a familiar new owner: Five Smooth Stones, a real estate company that specializes in renovation, just acquired Market Ross Place, a mixed-used combination of three buildings located at 1701 N. Market St.

Five Smooth Stones is led by Owen Hannay, Dallas native and West End enthusiast who first began investing in the neighborhood in 2000, and is now making a return to the historic area to breathe in new life.

“We have had a lot of success in the West End over the past 25 years but, like many other districts, it tends to be cyclical, so we find ourselves with a lot of opportunity to improve the West End — again," Hannay says in a statement.

Market Ross Place consists of three buildings connected by a five-story atrium, comprising four restaurants and office space totaling approximately 142,000 square feet. It was built in 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hannay also bought three retail buildings across from Market Ross, a parcel that includes the Museum of Illusions; the former Gators restaurant; and a building containing Mas Tacos and Cannon Bakery. He also bought the West End Parking Garage, which includes 35,000 square feet of retail and more than 650 parking spaces on six levels.

These acquisitions closed in March 2026.

Hannay, who also owns Dallas ad agency Slingshot LLC, first began investing in the West End when he acquired the Awalt Building at 208 N. Market St. in 2000. He went on to buy other West End properties such as a three-building portfolio at Elm and North Record streets, giving him one of the largest stakes in the neighborhood, with ownership of nearly one quarter of the 1 million square feet of office space in the area.

Over the years, Five Smooth Stones has purchased and renovated almost 1,000,000 square feet of historic office and retail space in The West End.

One of their most high-profile purchases was the Landmark Center, the six-story building at 1801 N. Lamar St. that was formerly a regional center for the FBI and also served as the first office HQ for CultureMap Dallas when the site launched in 2012. Five Smooth Stones bought it in 2004, renovated it, sold to Argus Realty Investors LP in 2006 — then bought it back again in 2023.

The Landmark Center is one of many properties in the West End that has undergone multiple ownership changes, bouncing from local companies like Five Smooth Stones to institutional companies — often with less than ideal results.

“When we sold our holdings in the West End in 2015, office occupancy in the district was probably over 90 percent," Hannay says. "We intend to get there again by proving that businesses want high-quality, well priced, centrally located historic space that exists in a genuine neighborhood that provides a human scale to live in, work in, and play in."

To that end, Five Smooth Stones has signed several new lease agreements in the Landmark Center, as well as facilitating the comeback of Ellen's Restaurant into its old space at Market Ross.

The new office tenants at Landmark include:

The Law Offices of Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP, a leading law firm, leasing almost 16,000 sq ft
HighLevel Inc., a marketing technology company with 15,700 sq ft on the fifth and sixth floors
Benchmark Group Architects, with 7,500 sq ft on the first floor
The Houston Room, an event venue occupying 6,000 sq ft on the fourth floor

… along with several smaller tenants including Corgan Architects Model Studio, Wildcat Investments, Cravens Brothers, JF Depetris, Jr., CPA and Collabridge Solutions, Inc.

The new leases bring The Landmark Center to more than 50 percent occupancy, with additional build- to-suit leasing opportunities available ranging from 2,000 to 30,000 sq ft.

"I believe that the leases we have already signed are indicative of demand,” Hannay says.

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