Hotel News

Dallas chef Stephan Pyles to concept restaurant for MCM motel in Stephenville

They call it The Seeker.

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A motel in the works in Stephenville, Texas, has drafted the services of a well known Dallas chef: The Interstate Inn, which will debut in summer 2024, will make that debut with a restaurant called The Seeker, to be conceptualized by chef Stephan Pyles.

The Interstate Inn will open in the former Caravan Inn, a historic property in Stephenville that's being renovated by Mod Motels, the lodging company from Texas entrepreneurs Lisa Lennox and Kirk and Cathy Bonner, into a boutique, luxury, mid-century modern, 33-room motel, with a full-service restaurant, the abovementioned The Seeker.

Lisa Lennox, the visionary behind the motel's transformation and the restaurant's concept, says in a statement that they're thrilled to introduce The Seeker with Chef Stephan Pyles to the growing community of Stephenville.

"Our goal is to share the love of food and create an experience where guests can savor the ambiance of the motel while enjoying innovative and delectable dishes that showcase the best of Modern Texan Cuisine," Lennox says.

They hope the project will revitalize the spirit of American motoring and revolutionize the dining scene in Stephenville, 105 miles from Dallas and 78 miles from Fort Worth. Maybe they can convince Stephenville to change its name to Stephanville, to match the unusual spelling of Pyles' first name. Just a thought.

Pyles has been an indomitable force in the world of Southwestern cooking earning him the esteemed reputation of pioneer and gamechanger.

He'll bring his signature Modern Texas Cuisine steeped with influences from his upbringing in Big Spring, as well as flavors and heritage from cultures around the world.

“Working with Mod Motels and Lisa Lennox’s family perfectly intertwines my past with the present," Pyles says in a statement. "Its destinations are right on trend in a market where Americans are moving beyond the big cities and enjoying small town life again as locals, vacation homeowners, nature lovers, or travelers preferring the open road."

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Supermarket News

Tom Thumb debuts 2 new supermarkets in the Dallas area

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Venerable supermarket chain Tom Thumb is celebrating the opening of two new stores in the Dallas area.

Sanger
A new Tom Thumb opened in Sanger at 1413 W Chapman Drive in Sanger on December 12. The long-awaited store spans 50,000 square feet with tens of thousands of items plus more than 1,000 local products.

The store features a bakery, deli, meat & seafood, produce, and floral, as well as an in-store Starbucks coffee kiosk, pharmacy in store plus drive-thru lane, and Drive-Up-N-Go grocery pick-up.

“We are so excited to open this Tom Thumb for the Sanger communities," says Division President Bill Neve in a statement. “Tom Thumb is excited to showcase our full-service grocery store and fresh new items that customers in Sanger will love."

Sunnyvale
On December 17, a Tom Thumb will open in Sunnyvale at 3400 N. Belt Line Rd. The first 300 shoppers will receive a bag of groceries, and all shoppers will enjoy the incredible deals and sensational offerings.

The Sunnyvale store is slightly larger, spanning 59,000 square feet, but with a similar lineup of bakery, deli, meat & seafood, produce, and floral. The store will also feature an in-store Starbucks coffee kiosk, pharmacy in store plus drive-thru lane, and Drive-Up-N-Go grocery pick-up. The Sunnyvale in-store Starbucks kiosk is the first for Tom Thumb to offer mobile ordering in addition to in-store ordering.

Division President Bill Neve says that they're "incredibly grateful to the town of Sunnyvale for their support of this new store and have been looking forward to meeting our newest customers and welcome them into their Tom Thumb!"

Store details
Store details include:

Prepared foods: Sushi made in-store, full-service salad case, hot line offerings, 400-plus cheese and charcuterie items, and what they call "the best fried chicken in town"
Bakery: Bread baked daily, deserts, five-star cake decorator on staff, in-store fried doughnuts, and exclusive items such as Christie’s cookies and Blue Bell ice cream cakes
Floral: Texas grown poinsettias for the holidays, bouquets, and arrangements, FTD service, balloon bar
Meat & Seafood: USDA choice and prime beef, organic and grass-fed, plus seafood purchases steamed at no additional charge
Wine and Beer: More than 1,000 wines and 85 local Texas craft brews

Starbucks coffee baristas are ready to make customers’ favorite beverages whether they are hot or cold, including Nitro and Cold Brew, along with Starbucks brand pastries.

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