Café Momentum’s Chad Houser tweeted a picture of the Katy Trail Ice House food truck parked outside of Pecan Lodge on Saturday with the message: “Hey @RobertWilonsky and @NancyNichols, look what’s parked outside Pecan Lodge today. Pretty classless.” ‘Natch Big Bob was “@viva_chato Hunh. Good thing I was l already headed that way to check in with @PecanLodge.”
Wilonsky reported an update on the escalating battle between Pecan Lodge owners, Diane and Justin Fourton, and DF Market Holdings, the private group now calling the shots at the Dallas Farmers Market. Wilonsky types:
Under the new ownership, Pecan Lodge’s status as the anchor of the enclosed, air-conditioned Shed 2 is tenuous at best.
That was never more clear than on Saturday, when the new owners allowed Katy Trail Ice House to park its barbecue truck in front of Shed 2 — and Pecan Lodge. The truck only sold brats and hot dogs, per an agreement with the market’s owners. And it certainly didn’t impact Pecan Lodge’s business: Between college football kick-off and the holiday weekend, Fourton was sold out around noon, before the Katy truck had opened for business. Still, between that and the folks selling barbecue out of a smoker planted in front of Shed 3 Saturday, the Fourtons certainly felt like someone was sending them a smoke signal.
I love Pecan Lodge and the Dallas Farmers Market and I love PL at the DFM. Currently, the Fourton’s are unsure of how their business will be affected once the construction starts on Shed 2. Until the Fourtons are confident their needs will be met, they are going to keep their decision-making to themselves. The Fourtons are smart people. Until they opened Pecan Lodge, they were successful management consultants. I don’t see anything wrong with DF Market Holdings allowing a food truck to sell hot dogs as an indication that they are showing disrespect for Pecan Lodge. Believe it or not, there are hungry people at the Farmers Market after Pecan Lodge sells out. DF Market Holdings is a private company and needs to make money. The Fourton’s will make the best deal for Pecan Lodge. And DF Market Holdings will do the same. We can only wait to see how it plays out.
