Hooters Here

Original breastaurant motorboats its way to scenic North Texas harbor

Hooters hits the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard.

A new-style Hooters will open in late fall on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard. The restaurant reflects a new prototype introduced in 2013 with a more modern, minimal atmosphere, including more open space.

The Hooters is going next-door to the Flying Saucer on the Lake, a prime piece of real estate with a lakefront view.

Hooters senior VP Mark Whittle says that while the new prototype reflects an upgrade in atmosphere, the service mode will remain the same.

"Hooters is pleased to bring Texans a brand-new location to enjoy our delicious wings, burgers, seafood, and world-famous Hooters Girls hospitality," he says. "We can't wait to serve up customers with the new Hooters prototype restaurant, which includes casual comfort seating, fun and sleek finishes, and top-of-the-line AV for sports viewing."

This branch will inject extras to capitalize on the outdoor space.

"The new restaurant on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard will also include two large bars, featuring 40 draft handles and a wide assortment of craft beers and cocktails," he says. "One bar is for our inside guests, and there is a second to service the extra-large patio fronting Lake Ray Hubbard, which will have seating for over 120 guests."

The new prototype has high ceilings, bigger windows, and more open space. The company debuted the new look in Slidell, Louisiana, which also boats a 165-inch video wall, a quartet of 70-inch TVs, and 55 TVs mounted throughout.

An application was also made for a Hooters in downtown Fort Worth, in the City Place complex on Throckmorton Street; the chain is eyeing One City Place, one of the three buildings being developed in the former Tandy Center, the headquarters of RadioShack from 1976 until it closed in 2005. The building sat vacant until it was purchased by Spire Realty in 2011.

A Hooters spokeswoman said she could not confirm the Fort Worth location.

Two other restaurants have previously been reported going into the complex in Fort Worth: a second location of Wild Salsa, the downtown Dallas Mexican restaurant, and its burger sibling, Chop House Burger. Both come from the same restaurant group, DRG Concepts, and are still under construction.

openings

Ice Cream News

Global gourmet ice cream chain debuts in U.S. with 2 Dallas-area shops

Dumont Ice Cream

An ice cream concept from India has made its U.S. debut, right here in Texas: Called Dumont Creamery & Cafe, it's a ice cream chain founded in Hyderabad that now has two locations in the Dallas area.

Their first location was Frisco, which opened at 1951 FM 423 at the end of 2023; a second location opened in late October in Coppell at 1535 S. Belt Line Rd. #160.

Dumont was founded in 1999 by brothers Vivek and Bhashkaar, and currently has 23 locations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada listed on their website.

Bringing the concept to Texas are local franchisees and friends Sai Sashank and Tarang Tirumala, who moved to the U.S. in 2005 to attend college.

Both have successful consulting careers, but craved a taste of home.

Ice cream is the centerpiece at Dumont with more than two dozen flavors, ranging from gourmet to classics to flavors boasting global influences: from Italian-inspired sorbet to a New Zealand-inspired honey ice cream called "hokey pokey."

There is vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip — but also unique options such as cake and jam, an ice cream with a vanilla base, bites of cake, and spiced jam; and kheer, a coconut ice cream studded with dried fruits and nuts — a nod to the kheer rice pudding that's one of India's favorite desserts.

A single scoop is $4. They have cups and a cute version of waffle cones: shorter and fatter than usual, to provide a greater ratio of ice cream-to-cone.

In addition to ice cream, they have a beverage program with coffee and espresso drinks such as lattes, plus boba tea. There are also special drinks like falooda — an exotic Indian milkshake with rose syrup and vermicelli — as well as limited-edition drinks like iced kheer, a cool beverage version of that same popular rice pudding dessert.

Both locations are spacious, bright, and clean, with pale green banquettes at Frisco, and pale blue chairs and tables at Coppell. Both feature an astronaut theme with statues and framed photos and cartoons on the wall. The Coppell location also has a mural dedicated to great moments in Coppell history.