Deli News

Gourmet market Ari's Pantry to open in Dallas' Trinity Groves

Loaded shelves at Ari's Pantry

Ari's Pantry

A new gourmet grocery is coming to Trinity Groves: Ari's Pantry, the market launched in Oak Cliff by husband-and-wife Ari and Amy Lowenstein, will open a second location in West Dallas’ Trinity Groves, with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 30.

Located at 3011 Gulden Ln. #119 in the space that was once home to Potato Flats who remembers them, the Trinity Groves store will offer: pasta, olive oil, vinegars, preserves, candy, bread, crackers, cheese, meats, pizza dough, fresh pasta, housewares, cocktail ingredients, novelty kitchen gadgets, spices, prepared foods, fresh pesto and Ari’s own tomato sauce.

“We are excited to open our newest location at Trinity Groves joining the great businesses already there and the wave of new ventures opening in the development,” Ari Lowenstein says in a release. “With this location we will reach a new audience in West Dallas and be closer to our customers coming from downtown and the north.”

The couple opened their first location in Winnetka Heights at 1307 ½ W. Davis St. in December 2023 to fulfill Ari's passion for all things Italy. The idea was a small Italian food store with recipe-ready staples, with a hyper-local vibe. It has since blossomed into a general-purpose gourmet stop.

In addition to the food staples for sale found at their Bishop Arts location, Ari’s Trinity Groves location will also include a commercial catering kitchen that will enable them to provide full-service catering, prepared meal pick-up, pasta classes, and private dinners.

“Amy and Ari bring something new and special to this development as our first partner to offer consumer packaged goods made by people and companies outside of Trinity Groves,” said Sam Romano, Partner at West Dallas Investments, parent company of Trinity Groves. “They are part of the vision we have for the future of Trinity Groves that will combine innovative, up and coming chefs and restauranteurs with lifestyle and entertainment options like pickleball, bocce ball, popup events, arcade game play and additional retail partners.”

The Ari's empire doesn't stop here: Their goal is to open multiple locations "in all corners of DFW and beyond," and that includes a location in the Cyprus Waters community in Coppell, slated to open in spring 2025.

downtown openings

Taco News

Popular Dallas family-owned taqueria breaks ground on new location

El Paisa

Tacos, tortas, and more from El Paisa Taqueria.

A Dallas taco success story is bringing its tacos to Carrollton: El Paisa Taqueria, a small family-owned chain founded in 1988, will open a location at 1912 Parker Rd., in a new small center next to a RaceTrac at the corner of North Josey Lane.

Construction has just begun and it's slated to open by May 2025 — long in the works, after it was first announced in 2023.

El Paisa was founded by Roberto Velasquez, a Mexican immigrant who missed the food and flavors from Jalisco where he grew up. He launched a taco cart in front of a liquor store on Harry Hines Boulevard, where he developed a following for super cheap breakfast tacos, $1.85 a pop. El Paisa is now a chain with 10 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth in Garland, Lewisville, Bedford, Colleyville, and Fort Worth.

Carrollton is an established market more than familiar with El Paiso, which opened its first Carrollton location in 2006, up the road at 2008 N. I-35. But the new location will be significantly bigger at 3,500 square feet, and will also feature a drive-thru.

In addition to breakfast tacos, they do breakfast burritos, breakfast tortas, and various egg combos: chorizo & eggs, bacon & eggs, scrambled steak & eggs.

Their menu is extensive and the food is authentic, featuring tacos with lengua (tongue), barbacoa, carnitas, and cactus leaves. But they go well beyond tacos: nachos, sopes, tostados, and a section called "Panchos favorites" that includes flautas and Papas Locas — basically loaded fries, topped with queso. Pancho refers to Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary who is a favorite brand motif for the chain.

Velasquez is now assisted by his family, including his son Jose Velasquez, who currently leads day-to-day operations. He says this location will have a lot more space and a lunch service program designed to be quick and easy to understand.

"We're trying to limit options so we can cater to that 30 to 40-minute lunch," Jose says. "So, we're putting something there, like McDonald's and Chipotle, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner combos to make it a little easier and faster. We'll have seasonal items throughout the year as well."

Jose has also helped create an online presence, so important these days, with a fun profile on Facebook that engages with fans, such as the recent post about this location's groundbreaking, seeking input on what customers will order on opening day.

"Lunch Plate with Barbacoa and corn tortillas, please make the menu the same across all locations,” one commenter shared.