Burger News

Cult California Fatburger chain opens first Dallas location in Allen

People who like burgers say they're pretty darn good.

Courtesy photo

One of California's most beloved burger chains has landed in Allen: Fatburger, a chain founded in Los Angeles more than 70 years ago, has opened a location at 820 W. Stacy Rd. #620 in the Allen Premium Outlets, where it's part of a co-branded concept along with Buffalo's Express, a chain that specializes in wings.

According to a representative from the company, the Allen location opened on August 30.

Fatburger is known for its juicy, built-to-order burgers. Founder Lovie Yancey was a trailblazer in the realm of toppings transforming a burger into a meal, beyond the usual lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, with bacon, eggs, chili, jalapenos, and onion rings.

Over the years, they've become a favorite destination in Hollywood for celebrities and athletes.

For their national expansion, the chain has partnered in a co-branding concept with Buffalo's Express, a fast-casual chicken wing chain founded in 1985 in Roswell, Georgia. The two are currently co-branded with more than 70 Fatburger restaurants.

The two-in-one dining experience serves options from both restaurants:

From the Fatburger menu, patrons can order burgers paired with a variety of different styles of French fries. In addition to its famous burgers, Fatburger also makes Impossible Burgers, turkey burgers, chicken sandwiches, and milkshakes with 100 percent real ice cream.
From the Buffalo's Express menu, patrons can order bone-in and boneless wings with sauces that include Scorchin, Carolina Fire BBQ, Asian Sesame, Coconut Jerk, Honey Garlic, and Sweet Bourbon BBQ. Wings are accompanied by celery, carrots, and blue cheese, ranch or honey mustard dressing.

Fatburger made its Texas debut in June 2020 when it opened its first location in North Richland Hills and drew lines around the block.

In addition to Allen, they're also opening a location in Arlington,1807 N. Collins St. #101 which for now is still "coming soon."

Dallas-Fort Worth loves to get excited about new concepts and over the years has lined up eagerly for out-of-towners such as Steak N Shake, Krispy Kreme, and In 'N' Out, but these concepts pale (especially the completely average In 'N' Out) next to Fatburger, which is actually maybe worth getting in line for, if in fact you like to wait in line, which a lot of people do.

The new location will be open daily from 11 am-8 pm.

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Candy News

Retro candy shop Grandpa Joe's makes Texas debut in Flower Mound

Grandpa Joe's

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

A sweet new shop is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth: Called Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop, it's an old-timey candy store with rare and nostalgic sweets, and it will make its Texas debut with a store in Flower Mound, in a former medical office at 650 Parker Square.

According to a release, it will open on Thursday, January 22 at the whimsical hour of 4:05 pm.

Grandpa Joe's was founded in Pittsburgh in 2012 by Christopher Beers, a former F&B professional, and currently has 22 locations across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, West Virginia, Minnesota — and now Texas.

Each store features a massive selection of candy: From caramels to chocolates to freeze-dried to fudge to bubblegum to hard candy to gummies to jelly beans to licorice, you get the idea. Much candy.

Beyond the usual M&Ms and candy bars, their unique niche is a category called "Nostalgic and Retro Candy," with items dating back a century, catalogued by decade. For example:

1920s has Charleston Chews
1940s has Turkish Taffy and York Peppermint Patty
1970s has Bottlecaps
1990s has Twix bars

Their other trademark is their $5 "candy buffet," in which you take an empty box and fill it with candy from rows and rows of bins on the wall.

In addition to nostalgic candy, they also feature new treats trending on TikTok, bulk candy, and gourmet chocolates, as well as non-candy items such as toys, games, and old fashioned glass-bottled sodas in more than 350 varieties.

According to VP of marketing & brand development Kate Speer, the Flower Mound shop will be a 4,340-square-foot space which will also offer ice cream, milkshakes, and floats — not something that all of their locations offer. Art on the walls will reference Flower Mound and Texas.

It's pitched as a family-friendly destination where customers can explore thousands of treats, gifts, and curiosities: from socks to mugs to magnets to gag gifts.

“We’re incredibly proud to bring Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop to Texas,” says founder Christopher Beers in a statement. “Opening our first store in Texas and our furthest west location yet is a big milestone for us. Flower Mound is a great community, and we’re excited to build something special here that families and visitors can enjoy for years to come.”

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