BBQ News

Baker's Ribs will open location in East Dallas on hallowed foodie ground

Baker's Ribs coming to East Dallas.

Courtesy photo

A Dallas address that was home to one of the city's top restaurants has a new tenant: The space at 601 N. Haskell Ave. previously occupied by the acclaimed Petra and the Beast will become a new location of Baker's Ribs, the small Dallas barbecue chain.

A Baker's spokesperson confirmed that they would be opening a restaurant there in early 2024. "Hopefully by January," he said.

3-4-2024 UPDATE: Baker's Ribs is now open at 601 N. Haskell Ave. serving breakfast tacos, lunch, and dinner.
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The opening marks a return to central Dallas for Baker's, who'd previously had a location in Deep Ellum for 31 years. They closed that location at 3033 Main St. in 2018 after selling off the property; it's now home to a bank.

Founded in 1988 by pit master Joe Duncan, Baker's is known for its St. Louis Cut pork ribs and brisket, smoked over hickory and served with warmed BBQ sauce. Sides include herbed dill potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, fries, and fried okra.

They're also noted for their fried pies, sold out of a separate stand inside the restaurant, in options such as chocolate, pecan, peach, and cherry, plus savory options like brisket.

Baker's started out on Buckner Boulevard, before relocating to Commerce Street in Deep Ellum, then moving again to Main Street. There was also once a Baker's on Greenville Avenue; that location moved to Northwest Highway in 2013.

When they shuttered Deep Ellum, they expressed their desire to return to the area, stating that they were seeking a location in the same area near downtown. Mission accomplished.

Duncan said in an email that he also liked that it was near the Baylor Medical Center complex where it is sure to become a lunch destination for hospital and medical personnel.

There are currently six locations, with four in DFW: Northwest Highway, Mesquite, Garland, and Weatherford. (A location in Grapevine was forced to close after a fire in 2019.) Joe Duncan also has a side project called Kearney's Feed Yard, a sprawling backyard restaurant in Sunnyvale that opened in 2019.

Petra chef-owner Misti Norris left Haskell Avenue in August after five years in the space to find bigger digs. She moved to 1901 Abrams Rd., a space previously occupied by Lakewood Smokehouse.

So Petra moved into a BBQ place, and now a BBQ place takes over the old Petra space.

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Burger News

Jakes Burgers returns to East Dallas with location on Greenville Ave

Jakes

Behold: Jakes Burger

An iconic burger is coming to Dallas' Greenville Avenue: Jakes Burgers and Beer, the Dallas-based chain featuring burgers, fries, and beer, is opening a location at 4925 Greenville Ave., at the Energy Square development.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in the fall.

Known for their double-patty burgers served on signature poppyseed buns, Jakes was founded in 1985 by hamburger guru Jake Keller of Keller's fame, and preceded the "better burger" trend by making a burger that was better than fast-food, with attention to detail like hand-cut fries.

They were also ahead of their time on other now-popular trends such as a big selection of beer, which they serve in giant 18-ounce frosty schooners; and a firm commitment to patios, which have become an essential accessory.

The chain has since grown to 12 locations (soon to be 13) across North Texas, including Addison, Lake Highlands, Frisco, Flower Mound, and Sundance Square in Fort Worth.

They were acquired by MAD Concepts Group in 2021, at which time they began expanding their reach, upgrading their design, and evolving their menu. MAD Concepts Group creates and operates restaurant concepts such as Jakes and Tacos & Avocados.

The Jakes Greenville menu will feature stacked burgers, fries, and seasonal favorites. The location will feature an indoor-outdoor space and full bar, with design touches that are unique to the location; no two are exactly alike.

"Jakes has always been about great food and drinks, amazing service, and a friendly, energetic environment," says Carter Wilson, Founder of Blue Plate Network, the group overseeing real estate strategy and development for this project. "Energy Square offers the ideal location for this next chapter—a vibrant, walkable destination where work, life, and dining intersect."

The restaurant will open in the former Grub Burger Bar space and marks a return for Jake's to East Dallas, where they had a location at 2422 N. Henderson Ave. for a decade until it closed during the pandemic in 2021. (That location is now home to Mayer's Garden.)

"Greenville Avenue remains one of the city’s most iconic spots for the best dining, nightlife and the arts," says MAD Concepts Group operating partner Kendra Shier. "For us, this is more than just a new location, it’s a homecoming, a return to our roots in a neighborhood full of historic charm."

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