Grocery News

Healthy North Texas grocery store closes temporarily after fire

Ann's Health Food Center & Market in Waxahachie is temporarily closed due to a fire.

Sweet little healthy grocery chain Ann's Health Food Center & Market is temporarily down one store, after suffering a fire at its branch in Waxahachie.

According to the owners, the store experienced an internal fire in the early hours of the morning on December 16.

As a result, it will be closed "for an undisclosed amount of time" while it assess damages and begins restoration. The original flagship store on Zang Boulevard remains open.

Ann's Health Food Center & Market is an organic market owned and operated by the third generation of the Munchrath family. They've been considered a local staple in the natural foods and vitamins industry since opening their store in 1984.

Their merchandise includes pasture-raised meats, organic produce, vitamins and supplements, natural body care products, and a big selection of vegan and gluten-free items.

The Oak Cliff store has an in-house cafe and juice counter that serves a wide variety of foods including smoothies, soups, wrap sandwiches, and other easy to-go fare.

Their mission consists of good customer service and knowledgeable staff, with their mantra being, "Let our family of experts teach your family how to live healthy."

A spokesperson said that the Waxahachie store will be back open as soon as possible, and to stand by for updates.

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Sushi News

Fun conveyor-belt sushi restaurant debuts at McKinney mixed-use

Photo by Jakob Layman for Kura Sushi

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A Japanese-inspired restaurant that brings you sushi on a conveyor belt is now open in McKinney: Called Kura Revolving Sushi, it’s located at 8585 W. University Dr. #150 in the West Grove mixed-use development, where it debuts on April 25, with an opening party taking place all weekend from April 25-27.

"We are thrilled to open our sixth DFW location in McKinney, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the country with a population that's increasingly diverse and open to new culinary experiences," says Chief Development Officer Robert Kluger in a statement. "We believe the West Grove shopping center is the perfect place to share our authentic Japanese dining experience with this growing community."

Kura Sushi USA was established in 2008 and has grown to be the largest revolving sushi chain: Small plates of sushi and sides are placed on a conveyor belt that snakes around the restaurant, allowing customers to grab items as they pass by.

They have more than 100 menu items, including sushi, ramen, and popular Asian starters like edamame and wontons. Each item is charged separately starting at $3.45 a plate.

There are two conveyors as follows:

Revolving Sushi Bar. The primary belt that snakes through the dining area, with plates of sushi that are protected by the chain's Mr. Fresh ventilated sushi lid. They say it limits airborne exposure and has plate-tracking technology that monitors how long the item has been circulating, ensuring food remains fresh.
Express Belt. Referred to as the "sushi highway," the express belt is positioned above the primary belt and is used to deliver special orders.

Bikkura Pon Prizes
An integral part of Kura Sushi USA’s tech interactive dining experience, Bikkura Pon is a machine that dispenses prizes after customers dispose of their plates properly. A touch panel registers the number of sushi plates dispensed into the plate disposal slot. After five plates, a short animation plays; after every fifteen plates, a prize such as a keychain or phone mount pops out.

Kura has more than 550 locations in Japan, U.S., and Taiwan. There are 70 locations in 20 states and Washington D.C. McKinney is the sixth location to open in DFW; other locations include Carrollton, Euless, Plano, Frisco, and Fort Worth.

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