Luby's lifeline

High-profile Texas restaurateur could save Luby's with aggressive new move

Could Luby's live on?

When Luby's announced a plan of "liquidation and dissolution," the cafeteria chain's long-term prospects for survival seemed pretty dim, but a faint flicker of hope remains.

In a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (reported first by the Houston Chronicle), the company revealed it has entered into a confidential agreement with Luby's CEO Chris Pappas that could lead to his acquiring the company.

The document explicitly states that Pappas has been granted access to financial information only for the purpose of potentially making an offer for some portion of the company's assets. Pappas has not made an offer, and, even when he does, the company is not obligated to accept it.

Still, Pappas is one of the company's major shareholders, holding 18.43 percent of the company's shares. His brother, Harris Pappas, owns an additional 17.86 percent of the company's shares, per the filing. Their holdings include approximately 1 million shares owned by Pappas Restaurants, the Houston-based restaurant juggernaut they own together.

When Luby's announced the liquidation plan earlier this month, the company said it expected to realize between $92 and $123 million for its holdings, which also include the Fuddruckers chain and the real estate many of its restaurants occupy. At the time, Chris Pappas said the plan provided for the possibility that "well-capitalized owners" could maintain the restaurant's operations. As the co-owner of one of Houston's most successful restaurant groups, he would certainly qualify.

Whatever the future holds, 80 Luby's and Fuddruckers locations remain open. Diners who want these establishments to remain in business might want to consider patronizing them to demonstrate to Pappas and his brother than they're worth acquiring.

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Matcha more

Kissa Matcha brings premium tea and soft serve to DFW's Asia Times Square

Photo courtesy of Kissa Matcha

Kissa Matcha uses ceremonial-grade green tea sourced from Japan for its soft serve and frozen desserts.

A matcha makeover has happened at Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie: Kissa Matcha opened June 1 at 2625 W Pioneer Pkwy. #210, as a refreshed version of the former Meccha Matcha, which had occupied the Grand Prairie space in 2020.

The new dessert shop specializes in unique matcha drinks and soft serve. A release says it is bringing “a more authentic and elevated matcha experience to the area.”

Inspired by Japanese recipes and techniques, and utilizing ceremonial-grade matcha sourced directly from a small farm in Okabe, Japan, the menu is both creative and colorful.

Alongside their signature rich ube soft serve — which features a half-and-half swirl — the menu highlights drinks that aim to be “nostalgic and globally inspired.” These include:

Matcha Biscoff Latte
Matcha Ube Cream Latte
Matcha Strawberry Latte

The café also serves drinks like the Ube Boba Cloud, Matcha Banana Cream Latte, and Dulce Horchata Matcha Latte, offering a playful and modern approach to traditional tea beverages.

Drinks are served in floral cup sleeves inspired by Japanese aesthetics and the meaning behind “Kissa” — a term traditionally associated with Japanese tea cafés centered around connection, conversation, and quality tea experiences.

An assortment of iced matcha specialty drinks from Kissa Matcha, served in custom floral cup sleeves. Photo courtesy of Kissa Matcha.

Kissa Matcha utilizes up to 8 grams of authentic, ceremonial-grade matcha per serving, a significant upgrade from the typical 3 to 5 grams found in standard drinks. The increase delivers a remarkably rich, bold, and velvety flavor profile. Customers can also choose from different grades of matcha powders and flavor intensities based on their personal preferences.

The concept comes from Joseph Be, who has worked in the food and beverage industry since he was a teenager. As a passionate matcha enthusiast, he noticed that while the Dallas-Fort Worth culinary scene was diverse, it lacked a dedicated space showcasing high-quality, authentic matcha. To fill this gap, Be traveled to Japan to study authentic tea culture, sourcing methods, and traditional preparation techniques.

“We have curated a menu that embraces the local palate, introducing innovative, Texas-inspired matcha flavor combinations that keep our offerings contemporary, exciting, and refreshing,” Be says.

He cites the evolution of the DFW matcha scene and a “desire to become more hyper-local, refined, and premium” as the reasons behind the rebrand from Meccha Matcha to Kissa Matcha.

“Our goal is to bring a little bit of Japan to DFW while making matcha approachable and exciting for everyone,” says Be. “We use traditional matcha whisking techniques alongside high-quality, ceremonial-grade ingredients to create drinks and desserts that feel authentic, creative, and memorable.”

Kissa Matcha is open daily from 11 am-9 pm, with extended hours until 9:30 pm from Friday to Sunday.

asia times square frozen dessert grand prairie matcha drinks soft serve openings