Calling Innovators Hear Ye Hear Ye

West Dallas restaurant incubator puts out the call for new ideas

Your restaurant could be here.

Photo courtesy of Trinity Groves

West Dallas incubator Trinity Groves has slots open for new restaurants, and is standing by to take your application now.

Tired of working for "the man"? Have you always dreamed about running your own business? Then act now! Here's your chance to finally show the world that unique restaurant or retail concept you think Dallas is missing.

Entrepreneurs who have an idea for a new restaurant or retail concept can pitch their vision and join the other 13 restaurants and retail shops already open at Trinity Groves.

Trinity Groves is the mixed-use restaurant and retail destination at the base of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in West Dallas founded by restaurateur Phil Romano.

Trinity Groves manager Bob Sambol says they're seeking Dallas innovators.

"Fostering innovation and providing an outlet for entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity through food has always been at the heart of Trinity Groves," Sambol says in a release. "Dallas is brimming with innovators and we are excited to further tap into that market and expand upon what Trinity Groves offers."

Trinity Groves partners with chefs and restaurateurs by investing in their concept and taking care of the back end of the restaurant business — payroll, paying bills, insurance, credit with vendors — while the owner focuses on food and customer service.

What they don't say is that, in return, you must hand over your first-born child, plus all rights to the concept in perpetuity, plus they get dibs on the best-looking center-cut steak you put out during each night's service. Just kidding. About the steak, that is.

Your idea doesn't have to be a restaurant — people can also submit ideas for retail shops like Kate Weiser Chocolate and Cake Bar, both now open at Trinity Groves. Or a bakery. Please someone, pitch a bakery. A bakery that does croissants and Danish and puffy little flatbreads topped with vegetables, like the ones they used to serve at Corner Bakery, when Corner Bakery first came to Dallas, before Brinker beat it down into the bland pulp it is today.

Phil Romano used to work for Brinker, once upon a time.

Those who want to apply can visit TrinityGroves.com/submit. There is a short form that asks for basic information like past experience and a description of the concept. Applicants can also share a video, resume, or pictures.

The partners will narrow down submissions and hold an event where finalists pitch their ideas.

dinner

Slider News

Beloved slider restaurant makes heroic comeback in East Dallas

Easy Slider

A beloved slider shop in Dallas has made a welcome comeback: Easy Slider, which once reigned in Deep Ellum, has emerged in a new space in east Dallas, at 3905 East Side Ave., where it's serving signature baby-burgers and other miniature sandwiches.

The new restaurant is a revival for owners Miley Holmes and Caroline Perini, who opened the original Easy Slider in 2017, before closing in 2023.

"We grew up as a business in those seven years," Perini says. "It wasn’t an easy decision, but we knew it was time."

Their new location is a former storage space they acquired in 2024, with the goal of centralizing their operations in one commissary location. Located just east of Deep Ellum, it's an evolving neighborhood settled by other concepts like Hey Koneko, Whiskeys, and Double Wide Bar.

Perini says they felt something was "bubbling" in the area that they wanted to be a part of.

"We love the idea of having such cool independent businesses around us," Holmes says.

Easy Slider was originally founded as a food truck in 2011, in the middle of a then food truck surge in Dallas. The food truck trend has leveled off, but Holmes and Perini have shown staying power and currently operate three food trucks which make weekly appearances: at Truck Yard on Wednesdays, Texas Ale Project on Thursdays, and Double D’s on Friday, as well as event catering.

They also expanded into the food hall world, first with an outpost at Harvest Hall, connected to the hotel Vin in downtown Grapevine from 2020-2022, followed by the opening of their current food hall concept at The Exchange Hall in downtown Dallas.

Their menu includes signatures sliders such as Sweet & Lowdown with Angus beef, bacon, goat cheese, and strawberrry jam; and the baby bella with a portabella mushroom cap, Roma tomato, mozzarella, and pesto — kind of like a Caprese salad in a bun. And they're bringing back a favorite tradition by doing a slider of the month.

This new location will also serve two items not available at their food trucks or The Exchange Hall:

“Tendies” chicken tenders basket ($12 or paired with a martini for $22)
a regular side smash burger ($10 for one patty, $15 for double patty)

They also have a brand-new cocktail menu with martinis, cosmos, and daiquiris, plus creative vodka, tequila, mezcal, rum, and rye cocktails. They'll host a happy hour Wednesday-Friday from 4-7 pm with $6 grilled chesses sandwiches, $8 Big Smash, cocktail specials and $1 off wells and drafts.

The new space seats 25 and features treasured decorations from their space in Deep Ellum. Orders are taken at the bar and brought to customers by servers.

One other new offering will be collaborations with start-ups such as Sommwich, a sandwich & wine concept created by Ben Reynolds, the current sommelier at Catch Dallas. They hope to do a different collaboration every month.

"We are going to mix it up and feature pop-ups with other local businesses," Holmes says. "We love the neighborhood vibe."

food-trucks openings