Thai Domination

Dallas chef's burgeoning Thai empire heads to Richardson's CityLine

Chef Eddy Thretipthuangsin continues his path toward Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant world domination, with plans to open two more restaurants, this time at CityLine, the new mixed-use project in Richardson.

Thretipthuangsin will open branches of Kin Kin Urban Thai and Bite City Grill at the new mixed-use project, according to a release from KDC, the project's developer.

"One of the goals for CityLine is to bring in a variety of dining options to meet the needs of a large and diverse workforce and hundreds of residents," says KDC VP Colin Fitzgibbons. "Under the creative leadership of Chef Eddy, both Kin Kin and Bite City Grill will provide great food with a bit of global flair."

This will be the fourth location for Kin Kin and the second location for Bite City Grill, which offers New American cuisine with a global influence. The first Bite City opened at Montgomery Plaza in Fort Worth in 2014. Its menu fuses some of Thretipthuangsin's Asian sensibility with steakhouse-style favorites such as filet and strip steak, alongside seafood and sides.

"Our guests at both Kin Kin and Bite are well-traveled, and they enjoy dining experiences," says Thretipthuangsin. "We feel that the corporate and residential opportunities at CityLine are a perfect match for our growth strategies."

Kin Kin is scheduled to open in the summer of 2015. It will be located in the base of Three CityLine at 1201 State St.

Bite City Grill will open in January 2016. It will be located in the ground floor of "Lot A," a 532-unit apartment building developed by JLB, across the street from Jaspers, on the southwest corner of State Street and Plano Road.

Marrying traditional family recipes from Chef Eddy's homeland of Thailand to his formal culinary skills, Kin Kin offers Thai dishes with an innovative twist. That means favorites such as pad Thai or tom kha soup alongside unique items such as a Thai burger or Thai Scotch egg. The menu is paired with Asian-inspired cocktails.

The first Kin Kin, serving authentic Thai food, recently opened in Fort Worth; Thretipthuangsin subsequently announced plans to open two more branches, one on Oak Lawn and another at Preston Forest in summer 2015.

CityLine is the 186-acre development featuring a dense mix of office buildings, apartments, restaurants, entertainment options and open space. The project will be home to State Farm and Raytheon, with Whole Foods as the retail anchor and Look Cinemas as the entertainment anchor. Previously announced tenants have included Kent Rathbun's Jasper's, Taco Diner, Modmarket, Luna Grill, Top Pot Doughnuts, Tom+Chee, Coal Vines, Fish City Grill, Hollywood Feed and a new yoga studio called Reef Point.

Chef Eddy: Coming to Richardson soon.

Photo courtesy of Kin Kin

Chef Eddy: Coming to Richardson soon.

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LOADS OF FUN

Chicks member Emily Strayer opens laundromat coffee cafe in Texas

Photo courtesy of\u00a0SOAP Laundry Lounge

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The Chicks' Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Emily Strayer is opening an unusual coffee bar concept: Called SOAP Laundry Lounge, it'll be a swanky laundromat and coffee bar opening in San Antonio.

According to a release, it'll open on December 4.

Strayer grew up in Dallas. She and her husband, musician Martin Strayer, are often on the road, but they purchased the building as a long-term investment in their adopted hometown. She envisioned the spot as both a neighborhood amenity and a community hub.

“SOAP was born from the idea that everyday tasks can be enjoyable,” Emily says in a statement. “I wanted to create a space that’s not just functional but inspiring, a place that brings people together and helps elevate how we live, even in the simplest moments, like laundry.”

The laundromat portion of the 5,500-square-foot building will feature 64 slow water, energy-saving machines — 28 washers and 36 dryers — outfitted with the Aquawing Ozone Laundry System, a hospital-grade sanitization technology that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.

In addition to self-service, SOAP offers a wash-and-fold option starting at $4 per wash. The laundromat uses a card-based payment system, which allows customers to load funds via cash, card, or EBT. The cards can be used throughout the concept, including the coffee bar.

The menu includes espresso drinks, teas, lemonades, and pastries alongside a few seasonal favorites like a Mexican mocha and a peppermint cold brew. With the complimentary WiFi, the concept almost functions like a coworking space.

Dallas is no stranger to laundromat-combination businesses: In the 90s, it was home to a beloved lounge in Exposition Park called Bar of Soap, which was a combination laundromat and punk rock bar, hosting both local and national name-brand touring bands.

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