The Fate of Snuffer's Cheese Fries

Snuffer's burger empire gets new owner but Pat Snuffer receives consolationprize

Snuffer's is famous for cheese fries.
Photo courtesy of Snuffer's
There are six branches of Snuffer's around the Dallas area.
Photo courtesy of Snuffer's

After a mere three months, the financial arrangement surrounding Snuffer's between restaurateurs Mike Karns, of Firebird Restaurant Group, and Pat Snuffer has come to its tragic end. Karns will walk away with six suburban Snuffer's, but Pat Snuffer will keep the original branch at 3526 Greenville Ave.

The two restaurateurs announced the severance in a pair of press releases hastily issued within five minutes of each other, which emphasized the outcome differently.

Karns announced that his takeover was to keep the concept afloat; Snuffer cheerily announced a new concept named after himself.

Snuffer's decline began in March 2013 when the company filed for bankruptcy. Karns intervened in July to rescue Snuffer's with a financial stake, by taking over its bank note and thereby becoming the company's new lender.

But apparently Snuffer continued to not pay his bills.

In a November 21 release (at 5:53 pm), Karns announced that the bankruptcy court ruled that Firebird could take over Snuffer's six locations. "Had the note been held in the hands of the previous lender and there was a foreclosure, the brand could have faced a liquidation and complete closure. It is Firebird's desire to protect the Snuffer’s brand and ensure that it not only survives, but thrives," Karns' release read.

On the same day, at 5:49 pm — beating Karns' release by four minutes — Pat Snuffer sent out one of his own, announcing that Snuffer's Restaurants Inc. had "ceased operations" with the launch of a new "individually owned and operated restaurant" concept with his son Mike, called Pat's Burger & Cheddar Fries.

"The new concept will be a casual neighborhood spot offering traditional burger joint fare," said the release, with an opening date described as "soon."

Snuffer knocked the building down in April to initiate a total rebuild. The exterior is complete. The restaurant's Facebook page originally forecast the reopening as Thanksgiving. But a construction worker onsite predicted that the opening would not take place for another month or two.

unspecified

Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

openings