Sugarbacon Gets a Buddy

McKinney's Sugarbacon renders a small spinoff restaurant where sandwiches rule

New McKinney spot Butcher Board will build on the successes of its big sibling Sugarbacon.

Photo courtesy of Sugarbacon

McKinney's Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen is sprouting a little buddy. Called Butcher Board, it will occupy a space adjoining its big sibling, where it will serve sandwiches and to-go foods. It also will have a fun sidewalk patio.

The team is the same, with the management executed by Johnny Carros and the kitchen overseen by chef Jon Thompson, who describes the menu as "simple, chef-driven sandwiches."

"It's all about hand-carved large roasts," Thompson says. "We'll have roasts like porchetta on display on a butcher board, and you can see the show of the guy carving it for your sandwich."

Although the model will be quick-serve, a la Chipotle, the sandwiches will be minimally garnished, Thompson says.

"It's not the assembly line of toppings, but instead chef-driven fully created sandwiches that you can watch be hand-carved," he says.

There'll also be a signature side that utilizes an ingredient from Sugarbacon.

"At Sugarbacon, we do a lot of smoked pork belly where we render out the pork lard, and we've been using that to make potato chips," he says. "So these are smoky lard-fried potato chips."

Butcher Board will sell beer and wine, and maybe some breakfast tacos. Design-wise, the space will have a minimalist feel, but the patio out front will feature vintage 60-year-old Texaco pumps; there used to be a gas station there at one time.

Thompson says they're building on the success of something they've witnessed at Sugarbacon. "Every time we do a sandwich as a special, it kills it," he says.

openings

Tres chic

Buzzy cafe chain Maman takes its French pastries to new DFW suburb

Maman

Maman is coming to 1161 E. Southlake Blvd. in the Park Village shopping center.

A cafe chain from New York is introducing its fancy French fare to Southlake: Maman, a celebrated spot with coffee and brand-name pastries, will open a location at 1161 E. Southlake Blvd. in the Park Village shopping center.

The cafe will reportedly begin construction on the existing 2,571-square-foot space in early October, with a planned opening in late January 2027.

Park Village confirmed the news in a Facebook post.

"Something délicieux is coming to Park Village! Maman is officially on the way, and work is already underway on its new space," the post said. "Known for its charming atmosphere, French-inspired favorites and beloved coffee and pastries, Maman will soon bring a little taste of France to Southlake."

Southlake is the brand's first Tarrant County location and sixth Dallas-Fort Worth cafe.

Founded in New York's Soho in 2014 by partners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte, Maman has grown to about 60 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

The company made its Texas debut in November 2025 with a cafe at The Plaza at Preston Center in Dallas, followed by a Lakewood location that opened earlier this year and a Plano location that opened in August. Another location is planned at Fields West in Frisco, as well as in Dallas' Casa Linda Center.

Maman cafes are open during daylight hours with coffee, breakfast and lunch: espresso drinks, tea, and pastries such as croissants, kouign maman, Bundt cakes, tea cakes, and cookies. Heartier breakfast and lunch items include quiche, a breakfast bowl, chicken Caesar wrap, and Mediterranean steak sandwich.

Their drinks can be elaborate with rarefied ingredients; for example, a vanilla honey butter latte with sweet corn foam and cornbread crumbs, or a salted tahini honeycomb latte.

The Plano location just opened with a few local exclusives, including:

Magnolia Sweet Tea Fizz: Cold-steeped magnolia bud tea with Topo Chico, Texas wildflower honey syrup, lemon, and mint.
Lone Star Cinnamon Bun: A cinnamon roll topped with vanilla glaze and a signature pastry star.
Salted Caramel Pecan Pie Roll: A pastry swirled with salted caramel, vanilla, and toasted Southern pecans.

Beyond the cafe operation, they have expanded into a lifestyle brand, selling merchandise in the culinary, design, and entertainment spaces; there's also a cookbook, Maman: The Cookbook, All Day Recipes to Warm Your Heart.

Martha Stewart's Caramel Cheesecake Sugar Bun at Maman. Photo courtesy of Maman

They're also known for brand collaborations such as the Martha Stewart pastries created together by Stewart's test kitchen and Maman co-founder Elisa Marshall.

Seasonal, limited-edition Martha Stewart menu items for fall include a Caramel Cheesecake Sugar Bun filled with cream cheese mousseline and salted caramel; an Apple Cider Donut Cake made with apple cider and fall spices; and an Oatmeal Raisin Sandwich Cookie with cream cheese frosting; a Chicken Salad Club with spiced cranberry chutney; and a Creamy Tomato Soup & Three-Cheese Grilled Cheese sandwich.

Known for its French provincial-inspired interiors, Maman's cafes feature vintage furnishings, wood accents, and the brand's signature blue toile details. These furnishings have made Maman a favorite for bridal showers, luncheons, and celebrations.

The Southlake opening follows another high-profile debut of a new upscale restaurant: Hudson House, which officially opened Monday, September 14 at 1131 E. Southlake Blvd., in the former RA Sushi space next to Gloria’s.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

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