Books and Food

You can drink wine at cool new-concept restaurant-bookstore in Plano

You can eat and read books.

Photo by BN

The new Barnes & Noble with the unique in-house restaurant that's opening at Legacy West in Plano has a date: November 10. This is a new-concept store combining a bookstore with a full-service restaurant called the Barnes & Noble Kitchen, which features shareable dishes plus wine and craft beer. The store is one of the new smaller-format prototypes being tested by the company.

"Legacy West is an innovative new development that makes it an ideal location for one of our new concept stores," says Barnes & Noble's CEO Demos Parneros in a release. "This store is part of our ongoing effort to test new concept stores. We are still learning from all of the new stores that we have opened across the country, and we are excited about the knowledge we have gained in these markets."

The Barnes & Noble Kitchen menu reflects the seasonality of local ingredients. Dishes include herb-rubbed chicken, pan-roasted salmon, a brisket hickory burger, hummus, and a cheeseplate. Chef Robbie Nowlin, who is leading the restaurant team, was previously at Boudro's Texas Bistro and Zinc Bistro & Wine Bar in San Antonio.

The Kitchen at Barnes & Noble Legacy West features indoor and outdoor seating, full-table service, plus the usual informal spots for coffee or glass of wine. Indoors seating includes a community worktable with easily accessible outlets. You can also sit at the bar or at a table with table service. The patio has large accordion doors, a large water fountain, and an outdoor bar.

Other cutting-edge features at the store include mobile devices that provide detailed information on all products, and self-serve kiosks throughout the store where customers can discover books and other products and locate them in the store through an interactive store mapping tool. Customers can also order and ship directly to their home.

Community events will include book fairs for local schools, signings, and storytimes, wine and food tastings, and intimate music events.

The store is in Suite G170 on 7700 Windrose Ave.

books openings

Brunch News

Dallas' venerable Dream Cafe to bring epic brunch to Richardson

Photo by Natalie Wolfe

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A Dallas favorite for breakfast and brunch is expanding to Richardson: Dream Café, celebrated for its healthy comfort food in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere, will open a location in Richardson's Core District at 520 Lockwood Dr., in the former Monkey King Noodle Co. space.

According to a release, it'll be open by "holiday season" for breakfast and lunch only; dinner service and a patio will follow in 2025.

Dream Café was founded in Dallas in 1985 on Knox Street by siblings Mary and Grady O’Brien, and moved to Dallas’ Uptown district at the Quadrangle in 1988, where it is currently located on McKinney Ave.

A second location opened at 6465 E. Mockingbird Ln. in 2015 by franchisee Christine Lott, who is also opening the location in Richardson.

Dream Café has grown to become a favorite brunch and lunch destination that emphasizes fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, offering a mix of American and international-inspired dishes that cater to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

The new Dream Café in Lockwood will feature an expansive dog-friendly outdoor patio and additional parking next to the Richardson water tower.

"The addition of Dream Café is a perfect fit for The Core District and the welcoming ambiance we aim to cultivate across the District," says Richardson City Manager Don Magner. "This new addition will fill a unique niche in the Lockwood Neighborhood, complementing our signature mix of lunch and evening destinations that draw people seeking fresh, memorable experiences."

Dream Café will join other restaurants in the Core District that include Kirin Court, Partenope Ristorante, and Lockwood Distilling Co.

"We are excited about opening a new location in The CORE District and look forward to getting to know our new neighbors there," said Dream Café co-owner Christine Lott. "The City of Richardson and Durkin Properties have been especially helpful in meeting our goals, and we look forward to opening day and becoming part of The Core District community."

"We continue to see interest in The Core District and particularly from locally successful small business operators looking for unique environments to open new locations," says Manasseh Durkin, president of Durkin Properties. "The mix of restaurants and retailers available there provides a draw for people across the region, especially for those looking to experience authentic cuisines and surroundings."

While the Dream Café and Durkin Properties have not requested economic development incentives for the project, the restaurant will be taking over the lease from the previous occupant which did receive incentives for renovation.

breakfast brunch openings