Welcome to SideDish’s weekly dispatch of need-to-know News Bites, from quiet closures to opening updates and everything in between, including coronavirus-related intel.
A Steaming Cup of Fresh, Hot Caffeine News
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, an international brand with seven coffeehouses already in Texas, has three North Texas locations in the works. The first two, both open now, are in McKinney and Northlake. A Farmers Branch spot is slated to open early next month. The Northlake and Farmers Branch outposts are franchised by New Orleans natives who wanted to bring a taste of home to Dallas, from king cake lattes to the quintessential chicory-accented dark roast drip. Another coffee chain from out of town, Dutch Bros., is looking at a 10-location DFW expansion, reports Eater Dallas. No specifics about the where or when have been released yet,
More Japanese Noodles Ahoy
If you haven’t yet ventured to Marugame Udon in Carrollton, the first outpost of the Japanese noodle chain in Texas that arrived last summer, there is another on the way. This time the udon-focused restaurant will land in Dallas proper at 5500 Greenville Avenue in Old Town Village. It officially opens on January 19. Find its signature Sanuki-style udon noodles—thicker with a bouncy chew—alongside a menu of tempura, robata-grilled meats, and various katsu sandos.
Village Bakery Co. Opens a Knox District Location
Co-founders Clint and Kim Cooper launched their boulangerie biz back in the early 2000s, opening their first artisan bakery in 2012 and another in 2015 with co-owners Seth Bame and Mark Plunkett. Now, Village Bakery Co. will grow again with a new retail location at 4539 Travis Street in the Knox District, where you’ll find the French breads and pastries for which the bakery is known.
The Drinks Industry Hopes Cocktails To-Go Become Permanent
As the 87th legislative session begins this week, Texas lawmakers are pushing to make cocktails to-go a permanent offering via House Bill 1024 and Senate Bill 298. It’s a move the bar and distilled spirits industry hope will help businesses survive economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Greg Abbott allowed Texas restaurants and bars to sell cocktails and small amounts of alcohol to-go since last March on a temporary basis, which was later extended indefinitely. In June, Abbott said he supported making such services permanent, according to the Texas Tribune.
