Bob Whoopeecat Stephenson has been involved in Cool River since the original 22,000-square foot restaurant opened in October, 1998. “I helped developed it with Steve [Harnett], Gene [Street] and Tristan [Simon] in January of 1997,” Stephenson said. “I did a dinner party at Steve’s house with prospective investors like Jimmy Jackson and George McCloud.” Harnett, the creator of Cool River, passed away in November, 2011.
Stephenson, also a competitive poetry slam artist, turned in his notice and is opening FnG Eats in Keller. He has taken over the 3,600-square food City Hall Restaurant space in the Art House development of Keller Town Hall Center with plans to develop an “American comfort cuisine grill.”
Stephenson will remain at Cool River, which is now operated by CRO, until the end of the month. “Cool River has evolved (as we all should) over the years,” Stephenson said. “I just wanted to step back in to a more intimate setting that’s community driven. Steve Hartnett was a big supporter of me moving out on my own. I wish he could see how this one turns out.”
