Closure News

COVID and worker shortage shuts down Dallas caterer after 32 years

Melange Catering at Bayou City Art Festival Downtown's Art Heist

They had been one of Dallas' longest-running caterers.

Photo by Trish Badger

One of Dallas' longest-running and most cherished caterers is calling it quits: Two Sisters Catering, which has been a top caterer since 1989, is closing their catering business effective December 31.

They've already shut down their Two Sisters To-Go location at 2633 Gaston Ave., which closed December 24.

In a release, owner Connie Chantilis said the decision was due to issues arising from the labor shortage, supply chain problems, and other challenges and costs brought on by COVID.

Over the past 32 years, Two Sisters has carved out a niche as one of the most familiar and prevailing catering companies in Dallas, for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, reunions, and holidays.

The company is also well known for supporting nonprofit events and fundraisers such as Crystal Charity Ball, Junior League, Ronald McDonald House, Child and Family Guidance, and Big Thought.

"In the beginning, it was my sister Rosanne and I making box lunches, lemon bars, chocolate peanut butter squares and party food," Chantilis recalls on her Facebook page. "We've fed Presidents, Dignitaries, Rock Stars and had a great time doing it!"

"[But] nothing stays the same - change is our only constant," she says. "There have been more changes than we could have imagined and we weathered them all. However, It's been increasingly difficult to deliver the same quality that we expect consistently due to staffing issues, product shortages, and COVID. These issues have dramatically changed our industry and my perfectionist tendencies don't allow for a path where we can't deliver 110 percent."

Chantilis, who will pursue other creative projects, calls it an honor to be part of the community.

"We were blessed with amazing clients, and I am thankful for all of the support we have received," she says in a statement. "I am beyond grateful for the amazing staff that has made up the Two Sisters team over the years. I’ve made countless memories and relationships that I will always treasure."

The company is reaching out to clients who have 2022 events planned and will provide full refunds. Anyone with an unexpired Two Sisters gift card should contact the company by January 31, 2022, at info@twosisterscatering.com to receive a refund of any unused balance.

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Pizza News

Global Italian pizza chain 400 Gradi will close down Dallas locations

400 Gradi

400 Gradi pizza

A pizza concept from Australia is shutting down its presence in Dallas: Called 400 Gradi, it's a Neapolitan-style pizzeria that opened two locations in the DFW area — the original in downtown Dallas at 2000 Ross Ave., which is still open but will close in early 2025; and a second location in McKinney, which closed on December 31.

400 Gradi was founded by Johnny Di Francesco, a native of Australia and a regular on Australian TV shows such as MasterChef Australia, The Mentor, and Everyday Gourmet, who opened his first location in his hometown Melbourne in 2008. "400 Gradi" refers to the high temperature at which a thin-crust traditional Neapolitan pizza is cooked in a wood-fired oven.

The concept was brought to DFW by franchisee Igor Stevovic who opened the Dallas location in 2019 in what was then a seemingly up-and-coming building in downtown Dallas at a time when Neapolitan-style pizza was on an upswing.

That building still houses a location of the buzzy California-based sandwich restaurant Mendocino Farms, but it's now open weekdays only. Meanwhile, the building has added casual, low-priced tenants such as Shawarma Press and Firebirds Burrito.

Having a restaurant in downtown Dallas is not easy, and the pandemic has not helped that fact.

400 Gradi adhered to the guidelines of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. They used Neapolitan-style ingredients to make authentic pizzas, with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, olive oil, flour imported from Italy, and a special water from a company called Artisan H2O that replicated the water found in Naples.

They served a traditional menu of Italian dishes, ranging from fried calamari and arancini (fried risotto balls) to pizzas topped with prosciutto and spicy salami. Plus larger entrees such as risotto, char-grilled steaks, and lamb shoulder.

In 2021, Stevovic also opened Zero Gradi, a decadent gelato and dessert shop next to 400 Gradi in downtown Dallas. He opened the second location of 400 Gradi in McKinney in 2023, along with a second location of Zero Gradi.

Stevovic, who has many years of franchising experience, says it was time to part ways.

"I regret to say that we're phasing out 400 Gradi in Dallas," he says. "I think that the corporate strategy versus where we wanted to go were not overlapping."

For now, Zero Gradi will still be open, so you can still get their croissants, supremes, pastries, and gelato. And for those who loved 400 Gradi's food, there's at least a few weeks at the Dallas location to run down there like a maniac and get it before it goes.

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