Sandwich News

Dallas sub shop saved by new owners closes at new location after 6 months

Sandwich from Great American Hero.

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A ballyhooed sub shop has met its untimely end: Great American Hero, a onetime institution on Lemmon Avenue that had been around for nearly 50 years before undergoing a change in ownership in 2022, has shuttered its relocated location at 6216 Retail Rd. after six months.

A representative for the shop confirmed that the location had closed ~~at the end of May~~. Correction: The restaurant closed in early June.

It's an abrupt ending to a year-long saga during which the shop changed hands, then relocated with a plan for a big expansion.

Great American Hero was a quirky landmark in its neon-vivid house at 4001 Lemmon Ave. where it served cheap-but-good cold cut sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and Italian meatball subs.

The shop was presided over by colorful owner Dominic Oliverie, who built a following as much for his quirky personality and convenient location as his food - although that is not to give the food short shrift, as Oliverie was famous for going to the farmers market to pick up fresh ingredients.

In 2021, Oliverie decided it was time to cash out and put it on the market, where it remained in flux for a year thanks to issues with the location. He eventually sold the property to developer Leland Burk, and it's now home to Shug's Bagels.

Separately, he sold "the concept" to Danny Wilson and Jacob Cox, two club owners and entrepreneurs who bought the name and menu with an eye towards franchising.

"The trademark and the name are phenomenal," Wilson said at the time. "It's a Jersey-style sandwich shop but with better ingredients than the competition. We're going to keep the same product, but are going to take the brand marketing of concept in a little different direction."

They opened the new location in November 14, in a former Del Taco's at Timber Creek Crossing Center - a location that was not easy to find.

The shop was also not easy to recognize, with a black-painted brick exterior and red-white-and-blue signage. Maybe shoulda gone with the neon yellow.

In recent months, online reviews noted a decline in quality and offerings, with fewer ingredients available to add to the sandwiches, and disappointment over the quality and selection of bread.

But the representative said they were still hoping to open new locations in the future.

closings

Uptown Dallas News

Michelin favorite Dallas restaurant opens new location in Uptown

WBTS

Scallops at Written By the Seasons

Opening day has arrived for a new restaurant in Uptown Dallas: Written By The Seasons, an indie farm-to-table restaurant, has debuted at The Quad, at 2681 Howell St., where it's open for dinner and weekend brunch, serving seasonal fare.

This is the second location of a restaurant that was founded in Bishop Arts in 2021 — a restaurant that also just earned a recommended from the new-to-Texas Michelin Guide.

Written is owned by Brenton Phillips with his wife Hailey Nutt and Dallas native Tripp Russ, and is known for its rotating seasonal dishes, showcasing fresh ingredients with a creative twist.

The Quad's executive manager director and partner Ramsey March described it as "one of our favorite restaurants in Dallas," stating that "the restaurant has a devoted following in the Bishop Arts District, so we’re excited that Brenton and Hailey will be exporting their special brand of hospitality to our project in Uptown."

The resaurant was one of more than two dozen restaurants across Dallas-Fort Worth that earned a nod from the first Michelin Guide awards in Texas, which were bestowed in November 2024. They were one of 20 DFW restaurants that made the "Recommended" list, a lesser designation for restaurants that don't qualify for a star rating, but still good! (And at least Michelin got their name right. Zing!)

Typical dishes include:

kimchi pancakes
coconut braised baby carrots
cod with sweet potato puree
scallops with risotto
pistachio pavlova

Decor-wise, the new location boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, not unlike the Bishop Arts location; but unlike Bishop Arts which is bright and airy, the Uptown location is outfitted in dark woods, dark marble, and low lighting. There's also a personal touch, with family photos on the walls.

Written by the Seasons is one of a slate of new restaurants opening at the Quad, which recently re-opened after a massive makeover.

The property originally had plans for seven on-site eateries slated to open in fall 2024, including Two Hands, an all-day café; LDU, an Australian coffee bar; Domodomo, a chef-driven dock-to-table concept; Mamani, a modern European fine-dining restaurant; Crushcraft, Thai street food concept; and Bread Club, an upscale bakery.

uptown openings