Downtown News

Big restaurant changes at Statler Dallas Hotel include a new Primo's

Inside these walls, big changes are going down.

Photo courtesy of the Statler

Dramatic changes are happening on the dining front at the Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas, including a brand new restaurant and a second location of an iconic Mexican restaurant from Uptown.

The newbie is an Italian-American restaurant called Sfereco and it will open in the former Ramen & Bao space adjacent to the Statler. This is a brand new entity from Refined Hospitality Concepts (RHC), a subsidiary of Centurion American, the company belonging to developer Mehrdad Moayedi, who also owns the Statler. RHC operates Primo's MX Kitchen & Lounge, Dallas Proper, Bourbon & Banter, Scout, Over Easy, Fine China, Waterproof, and Nosh Bistro.

Also opening at the Statler: Primo’s MX Kitchen & Lounge. It will go into the spot at the Statler currently occupied by Fine China, which will shutter on March 9, IE today, though it will live on via catering events, Fooda events, and occasional pop-ups.

A release says that reconcepting Fine China had already been in the works, and Primo’s was deemed the perfect fit "for the festive atmosphere at the Statler." The two new restaurants will open summer 2020.

Primo's MX Kitchen & Lounge recently re-opened its Uptown location — successfully, says Refined Hospitality Concepts COO Robert Hall.

"Primo's opening has been such a success in Uptown so we're excited to bring that energy and excitement to downtown Dallas,” Hall says. "Extending the Primo's brand to this space at the Statler allows us to meet the growing need for private dining space with the food and cocktails for which Primo's is known and loved."

Hall says he drew inspiration from New York City, "where it becomes clear that American Italian is its own cuisine," he says.

For corporate chef Ryan Carbery, it's an homage to his childhood days working in his family's restaurants. "I can remember so vividly the sights and smells of my dad's pizza and pasta restaurant, and how it really brought people together," he says.

Sfereco will follow a quick-service model, where you order food at a counter and eat at communal tables. A full-service bar will include beer, wine, and craft cocktails, including some Italian-inspired drinks.

Sfereco's signature dish will be the meatball, in beef, pork, chicken, and even vegetarian options. They can be ordered solo, or in bowls, or on pizza, or in pasta.

Chef's favorites include

Sfereco Meatball with house-made pork-beef-veal grind, spaghetti, pomodoro, parmiggiano-reggiano, and basil
Pesto Pasta with basil pesto, parmiggiano-reggiano, and pine nuts
Short Rib with polenta, tomato sauce, and parmiggiano-reggiano
Jimmy’s Italian Flatbread with Jimmy's Italian sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and basil

They'll also do an American Italian theme on that most important meal of the week, brunch.

Sfereco and Primo'x MX will join the hotel's other three dining spots: Overeasy, the casual all-day restaurant; Scout, the fun-and-games bar on the hotel's ground floor; and Waterproof, the glamorous bar on the 19th floor of the hotel.

downtown

Downtown News

Mom-and-pop Italian grocery in downtown Dallas closes after a year

Ari's

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A buzzy grocery store in downtown Dallas has closed: Ari’s Pantry, the small local chain specializing in Italian groceries and to-go foods, has closed its location in the heart of the Central Business District at 1800 Main St.#124.

A statement from the owners called it "a difficult decision." The closure is effective July 15.

"We are truly grateful for the welcome Ari's Pantry received from the downtown Dallas community. You have supported our business and shared in our passion for Italian food and hospitality. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our Downtown Dallas location effective today," their post said.

The closure comes a little over a year since they opened in May 2025.

Downtown was the third location for the small mom-and-pop market, which debuted in Winnetka Heights in December 2023 to fulfill owner Ari Lowenstein's passion for all things Italy, with pastas, gourmet goods, dried foods, produce, plus meals for dining in or to go.

They opened a second location in Trinity Groves in 2024, which is currently marked on their website as "closed for the summer," although it does not list a re-opening date. Lowenstein was unavailable for comment.

The downtown location was originally a joint venture between Lowenstein and Alan Kearney, a downtown enthusiast who owns businesses nearby such as The Crafty Irishman and Patrick Kennedy's Irish Pub, as well as Cannon's Corner Irish Pub in Oak Cliff. However, Kearney withdrew from the store after it opened.

To accommodate the needs of downtown workers and residents, Lowenstein added a coffee shop and gelato stand. It was open for coffee at 7 am and until 9 pm, with a dining area where customers could have wine and cheese.

The location at 1800 Main St. seems to be in a favorable spot, surrounded by residential buildings and hotels such as the AC Hotel and Statler Dallas. Who has not spent a night in a hotel and longed for a market nearby with snacks and wine? It's also across the street from Neiman Marcus, whose imminent closure in September has provoked some pearl-clutching about the prosperity of downtown. But the downtown population does not always support local businesses.

Ari's was not the first to find the location challenging: It was previously occupied by the well-mounted Berkley's Market, which closed in 2024 after six years in the space.

The owners stated that they would "continue focusing on our locations in Coppell and Bishop Arts as we look ahead to the next chapters of Ari's Pantry," before thanking "every customer who stopped in for coffee, lunch or gelato, picked up dinner, discovered a new favorite ingredient."

downtown closings