Goodbye Grocery Store

Tom Thumb plans exit from Highland Park Village

Tom Thumb at Highland Park Village will close in the next 12 months.

Courtesy photo

Those who’ve gotten used to picking up a gallon of milk after a spin through Chanel, Hermes or Jimmy Choo will have to rethink their grocery shopping strategy: Tom Thumb has announced that it is moving out of Highland Park Village sometime in the next 12 months.

In a release, the company said it’s exploring opportunities for a new location to replace the Highland Park Village store, and this decision allows Tom Thumb “to focus on its larger footprint stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.”

“We have enjoyed being in Highland Park Village over the years, but the store is small and outmoded by today’s supermarket standards, with no opportunity for onsite expansion,” said Tom Thumb president Paul McTavish. He also noted that Tom Thumb has a bigger store about one mile west at Inwood Road and University Drive.

McTavish went on to say the company is looking for a larger location in the surrounding area. The existing store is only 18,500 square feet, compared to the current average store size of 46,000 feet.

Parent company Safeway, which unloaded some stores last fall, announced earlier this week it is in “ongoing talks” about a potential sale but refused to comment further.

“Tom Thumb has been an excellent tenant and great neighbor for us,” said Stephen Summers, managing director for Highland Park Village. “We understand and respect their decision to leave Highland Park Village to better compete in this marketplace.”

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Seafood News

Dallas chef brings seafood to Trinity Groves via Pesca restaurant

Pesca

Pesca Trinity Groves

A veteran Dallas restaurateur has a new seafood restaurant at Trinity Groves: Called Pesca Coastal Cuisine and Cocktails, it’s in a space with seafood history, in the former Amberjax Fish Market space at 3011 Gulden Ln. #107. According to a release, it opened on December 13.

Pesca comes from Jesus Carmona, owner of the taqueria Milagro Tacos and Argentinian restaurant Chimichurri. Carmona is among the lucky restaurateurs in Dallas who've been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and he was also on Good Morning America’s taco cook-off.

The menu includes fish grilled or a la plancha, plus spicy shrimp shooters, oysters Rockefeller, tuna crudo, crab croquettes, chowder, shrimp enchiladas, linguini frutti di mare, and lobster rolls.

They also offer desserts, such as Florida Key lime pie and coconut cream tarts, plus cocktails and a selection of beer and wine. Prices range from $6 for a cup of soup to $29 for salmon succotash.

The design features natural wood tones, ocean-inspired hues, and nautical accents, plus bold elements, pops of color, and playful twists.

“I designed this space and menu to invite people to experience my variations of delicious coastal dishes,” says Carmona in a statement. “Pesca will provide new food options for West Dallas, a community very close to my heart.”

Carmona, originally from Mexico City, began his career at the age of 12, working in the family business. Carmona earned his food and beverage degree from Miami Dade College and he attended the San Francisco Culinary Academy. He has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

“Jesus has provided Dallas communities with quality restaurants and food experiences, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Trinity Groves,” says West Dallas Investments partner Sam Romano in a statement. “Pesca allows him to show us his talents with coastal cuisine - something that is not currently being offered in West Dallas.”

downtown closings