Coronavirus News

Dallas produce company that sells to chefs only is doing pop-ups for us

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A Dallas produce company that previously sold directly to restaurants only is now taking their wares to the public.

FreshPoint Dallas is the local office of one of the largest distributors of fresh fruits and vegetables in North America, and is doing occasional pop-up sales of its fresh fruits and vegetables including one on Thursday April 2 at Trinity Groves.

Their event at Trinity Groves will run from 4-7 pm, with two "boxes," one fruits, one vegetables, $20 each. They'll sell them curbside so you don't even need to leave your car to purchase. Present a receipt from any Trinity Groves restaurant and you get a complimentary item.

The Veggie Box contains:

3 heads Romaine Hearts
1 stalk Celery
1 lb White Mushrooms
2 bunches Broccolini
2 pc Green Bell Peppers
2 pc Red Bell Peppers
2 lb Grape Tomatoes
3 pcs Yellow Onions
5 lb Russet Potatoes

The Fruit Box contains:

4 Avocados
1 bag Red Seedless Grapes
5 lb Oranges
5 lb Granny Smith Apples
2 lb Bananas

FreshPoint usually works with regional and national foodservice customers such as catering, restaurants, and schools. They also supply grocery stores and other wholesale suppliers, mostly with gourmet-style items.

The company dates back to 1865, and is currently owned by Sysco.

District manager Shane Lovell says this is definitely a new enterprise, during these lean coronavirus times.

"We have opened the market to the retail side," Lovell says. "We did two last week and have a couple more planned. Right now, they're in various We're working with some of our customers who are open to the idea, and who have a place where we can park trucks, plus good exposure and good foot traffic."

One thing that makes their fruits and veggies special is that they've only been handled by shippers.

"It's not as picked over as what you might find at a supermarket," he says.

In addition to the pop-ups, people can also order items and pick them up at our warehouse, Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm, and Saturday from 8 am-3:30 pm.

"We've got a grocery list with about 75 items that customers can choose from," Lovell says. "They can email us a form, and we'll package it up and bring it to your car."

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Got the goat

Rodeo Goat fires up its crave-worthy burgers for new Allen development

Photo courtesy of Rodeo Goat

Rodeo Goat's 'Hatch Me if You Can burger,' offered during Hatch chile season.

Popular Fort Worth-born burger chain Rodeo Goat is joining the growing lineup of Allen's new Sloan Corners complex.

According to a release, the burger joint has signed a lease for a location in the mixed-use development from Billingsley Company at the southwest corner of SH-121 and US-75.

Opening date is still TBA.

Rodeo Goat is known for its creative house-ground burgers, hand-punched fries, craft beer, and casual, industrial-style atmosphere.

The menu includes more than 20 signature burger selections including the popular Bodacious Burger (American cheese, bacon, crispy onions, grilled jalapeños pickles, smoked jalapeño mayo, bodacious BBQ sauce); the Blue Jeans Burger (double smash patty, melted blue cheese, applewood smoked bacon, grilled jalapeños, crispy onions strings, whipped blue cheese, 501 steak sauce); and the Inspector Clouseau (double smash patties, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, black peppercorn aioli and French onion pan sauce on an onion bun). The “Hatch Me if You Can” burger is a popular choice during Hatch chile season, which just concluded in August.

The extensive drink menu offers domestic and imported brews with a large selection of “mostly” Texas craft beers and a quirky cocktail menu featuring signature concoctions such as the B-L-TX, blackberry lemonade spiked with Texas whiskey, and the “Moontang” with Firefly Moonshine, Tang and “other things.”

A popular happy hour, AKA "Rodeo Time" offers drink and food specials - like $6 margaritas and 1/2 off queso - each Monday through Friday.

Rodeo Goat was founded by Dallas restaurateur Shannon Wynne and partners Keith Schlabs and Larry Richardson, with its first location opening in Fort Worth in 2012. A second location followed in Dallas’ Design District, where Rodeo Goat became part of the neighborhood’s restaurant resurgence.

The brand has since expanded across North Texas, with current locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Plano, Addison, Denton, Rockwall, and Cypress Waters. There's also one in Houston.

Wynne, the founder, has a close relationship with Billingsley Company, the release notes. He currently operates four restaurants at Billingsley’s Cypress Waters development: Rodeo Goat, Flying Fish, Flying Saucer, and Miriam Cocina Latina. The Allen location will be the group’s fifth restaurant in a Billingsley development.

Rendering of Sloan Corners' 121 retail corridor.Photo courtesy of Billingsley Company

The Allen restaurant will have prominent visibility from SH-121, an intersection that sees more than 300,000 vehicles a day, the release notes. It will be part of the development’s Bravo Park area, which is planned as a central gathering space with trails, green space, public art, dog parks, and pickleball courts.

“Rodeo Goat is exactly the kind of restaurant we want at Sloan Corners: local, fun, distinctive and already loved by people across DFW,” says Lucy Burns, partner at Billingsley Company, in the release. “We have a wonderful relationship with Shannon and his team at Cypress Waters, and we’re thrilled to grow that partnership at Sloan Corners. With the visibility along SH-121 and everything happening around Bravo Park, Rodeo Goat will be a fantastic addition.”

Rodeo Goat will join several other food and entertainment concepts planned for Bravo Park, including Mexican Bar Company, Flat Grounds Coffee, and City Futsal.

Sloan Corners is envisioned as a major mixed-use destination spanning Allen and Fairview, with office, residential, retail, dining, parks, trails, and other outdoor amenities. The first phases in Allen include more than 180,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and nearly 4,000 multifamily residences, with future office development also planned.

“We place a lot of value on bringing authentic local favorites into our developments,” Burns says in the release. “Rodeo Goat brings that energy naturally.”

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