John Wayne News

Dallas restaurant group adds Asian to mix with Norman's on Oak Lawn

Torching action at Norman's Oak Lawn

Samantha Marie Photography

An acclaimed Dallas hospitality group is debuting a new concept: Called Norman's Japanese Grill, it's an Asian restaurant from Duro Hospitality (The Charles, Sister, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), coming to the Oak Lawn neighborhood at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave. where it'll open on August 1.

According to a release, Norman’s is a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill influenced by the Duro founders' admiration for Japanese food and culture. Duro co-founders Chas Martin and Benji Homsey have a long-shared love for the cuisine and culture of Japan, frequently seeking out restaurants from the region for inspiration and enjoyment.

At the heart of the restaurant is an open kitchen that brings two cooking traditions together: a large Argentinian-style wood-fired grill and a traditional Japanese charcoal robata. The menu will include sashimi, handrolls, and playful nigiri from an "irreverent" raw program, balanced by skewers straight off the charcoal robata and larger cuts of meats from the hickory wood-fired grill.

Get ready for the first million-dollar quote:

“If John Wayne were to open a Japanese restaurant this would be it,” says Chas Martin. “Incredible quality, yes, but not stuffy. Norman’s is all about that space in between elegance and ease—and making it feel like a true neighborhood spot where people can drop in often.”

Big spread from Norman'sSamantha Marie Photography

Located in the former Homewood, the restaurant from chef Matt McCallister which closed in 2023, the 3,100-square-foot space has seating for 70, including a 7-seat sushi bar, with an additional 35 seats available on the outdoor patio featuring an indoor/outdoor bar. One standout design element is the sunken bar, a subtle detail often seen in traditional Japanese interiors.

The design is by See’s Design, led by Duro Hospitality Partners Corbin and Ross See, who were inspired by the aesthetic duality of the American West and post-war Japan, and who've created an atmosphere that’s lived in, collected over decades with a restrained color paletteof bone, tobacco, sumi ink, oxblood, and indigo, evoking both kimono dyes and cowboy boots.

Get ready for the second million-dollar quote:

"Think Kyoto ryokan meets Marfa bunkhouse," says Corbin See. "The materials are worn-in and layered: blackened steel, hand-planed wood, lacquered finishes, and vintage textiles. The interiors of Norman’s feel like a personal collection—curated over time by a man who once carried a leather-bound journal and a Nikon rangefinder.”

I mean, come on, do these guys deliver or what.

Not unlike a Hollywood film, the restaurant has a "backstory": Norman’s is based on a story about a WWII veteran from Texas, who was stationed in Japan during the postwar U.S. occupation. There, Norman fell in love—with the country, its cuisine, its craft, and most importantly, a woman. This neighborhood spot is a Wes-Anderson inspired homage to his extensive travels and nostalgic memories of his Texas roots.

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Coffee News

Italian brand Lavazza Coffee opens training facility in Dallas

Lavazza

Lavazza Coffee

A coffee brand from Italy has planted a stake in Dallas: Lavazza, founded in the northern Italian city of Turin in 1895, has opened a state-of-the-art training center in Dallas, at 1722 Routh St. #960, where it will serve as a hub for coffee enthusiasts throughout the Southwest.

Dallas is the newest outlet in Lavazza's coffee training network, joining locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, West Chester Pennsylvania, and Toronto — part of their expansion across high-growth markets in the U.S., and its mission to elevate coffee culture globally. (They're also doling out endorsement dollars in commercials featuring Steve Carell and John Krasinski.)

The facility is equipped with espresso, brewing, and coffee innovation equipment, and will serve Lavazza partners, industry professionals, baristas, and distributors. They'll offer hands-on training, SCA certification, menu development, and emerging coffee trends.

Lavazza already partners with many respected hospitality groups and culinary destinations in Dallas including Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Coury Hospitality Group, Al Biernat's Steakhouse, and Vandelay Hospitality.

In October 2025, Lavazza also began serving coffee on flights by Fort Worth-based American Airlines — further strengthening their connection to the North Texas market. The facility will enable Lavazza to provide closer, more consistent support to these partners and help elevate their coffee programs through continued training and collaboration.

Lavazza has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today they're one of the leading players on the global coffee scene, with a portfolio of top brands that lead their respective markets, such as Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merrild, and Kicking Horse.

In a statement, Lavazza North America president Hossam Ashraf says that "Dallas has an incredible energy and an ever evolving coffee scene," while Lavazza North America Marketing VP Daniele Foti says that Dallas is great, and we must concur.

"As one of the fastest growing hospitality and culinary markets in the country, Dallas represents a tremendous opportunity for Lavazza," Foti says. "Our investment in this new Training Center demonstrates our commitment to the region and to the partners who bring the Lavazza experience to life every day. Dallas is a city of innovation and high standards, and we are excited to deepen our roots here."

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