Denton Dining

Denton restaurateurs open new rooftop spot overlooking downtown square

The Sunago Bell will have epic views.

Photo courtesy of Denton Main St Association

Denton's biggest restaurant group is opening another concept, this one on the top floor of the Wells Fargo building in downtown Denton. Called The Sunago Bell, it comes from the Radical Hospitality Group, owners and operators of such restaurants as LSA Burger Co. and Barley & Board in Denton, as well as Earl’s 377 Pizza and Bumbershoot Barbecue in Argyle.

RHG partners John "Sparky" Pearson, Earl Herrington, and Steve Watkins have signed a lease for the eighth floor of the building, which is located at 101 S. Locust St. Building owner Jack Bell, of Jack Bell Property Management, calls it a one-of-a-kind location.

"101 South Locust is one of those rare buildings that has earned itself a spot as a Denton icon," Bell says in a release. "I was originally drawn to this property with business dealings over the last dozen years as well as its one-of-a-kind location."

The building started out as First State Bank of Texas, which was based in Denton. Wells Fargo acquired the company in 2001. It was originally three stories tall, but five more floors were added in the '70s. It's a modest tan rectangle whose main asset is its location kitty-corner to Denton's Downtown Square.

The Sunago Bell is not exactly a name that trips off one's tongue. "Hey, let's grab a bite at The Sunago Bell." But according to a spokesman, "sunago" is the Greek word for gathering place. At the very least, it is more distinctive than names like "Market and Table" or "The Fish." Have you ever tried to Google The Fish? This job is so harrrd.

Currently under construction, The Sunago Bell will take up the entire eighth floor, providing unrestricted views to the north, east, and west. It has 5,500 square feet and will seat approximately 150 guests.

One cool feature they're adding is an elevator solely for use by patrons and restaurant staff. It'll be built on the east side of the building, providing guests with an exclusive entryway to what is promised to be the best view in downtown Denton.

There's no menu available yet, but the restaurant is expected to have Mediterranean-coastal influences, with a focus on seafood and inspiration from the cuisines in Spain, Italy, and France.

Pearson says he's very excited about the new concept. "Through this new venture, we will be introducing a new culinary adventure with a keen eye on design modeled with a concept that leverages the strengths of every member on our team," he says.

openings

French Food News

Dallas restaurant Frenchie debuts in former Corner Bakery spot

Frenchie

A French restaurant has debuted in an iconic Dallas space: Called Frenchie, it's a new concept from Travis Street Hospitality (Knox Street Bistro, Georgie) now open in North Dallas’ Preston Center Plaza in the former Corner Bakery space at 8420 Preston Center Plaza.

Described as a quintessential French brasserie — designed as a casual, everyday restaurant serving an all-day menu of lunch and dinner (with breakfast launching in the coming weeks) — it's a new direction for Travis Hospitality, who are venturing outside of their usual Knox-Henderson neighborhood, with their first venture without white-tablecloth service.

Frenchie is the natural evolution for founders Stephan Courseau and Daniele Garcia and culinary director, Bruno Davaillon, who have built a reputation on refined, French-forward restaurants like Knox Bistro, Georgie, and Le PasSage — tempering their French-born culinary heritage and fine-dining training with American sensibilities to create a more family-friendly concept designed for North Dallas’ premier mixed-use district.

"Frenchie is an American French restaurant made by French guys who are now in the American mainstream,” Courseau says in a release. "Frenchie represents the version of the French people we are today. It’s who we became over the years – authentic to who we are today."

Food and drink
The menu blends classic French comfort food with all-day versatility, featuring crepes, rillettes, quiche, poulet rôti, tartare de boeuf, salade Parisienne, and pâtes au pistou. In the morning, coffee and croissants. At lunch, burgers and onion soup. At dinner, steak frites and profiteroles dinner.

The wine list will feature small French wineries, while cocktails will include a "freezer martini" — custom bottled and pre-chilled by Travis Street Hospitality’s Executive Mixologist, Mario Martinez, exclusively for Frenchie.

Decor
The 4,000-square-foot restaurant will feature seating for 150 in the dining room and bar, and a 1,200-square-foot covered patio with an indoor-outdoor bar.

Decor will be grounded in the fundamentals of classic French bistros, with design details such as pewter bar tops, patinaed mirrors, brass sconces, rattan chairs, and rows of banquettes.

Audience
The goal will be to become an everyday destination for families, parents, office workers, and shoppers at the Preston Plaza Center.

Founded by Stephan Courseau and Daniele Garcia, Travis Hospitality has been on the dining scene since 2013 with the debut of Le Bilboquet. This was followed by the opening of Knox Bistro, Georgie and The Georgie Butcher Shop (2019), Rose Café at Le PasSage and Le PasSage (2024).

openings