Description
Southlake, in northeast Tarrant County situated along State Highway 114, was named Community of the Year in 2006 by the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association. Southlake is noted for its thriving business district, town square and downtown brownstones. The school district is highly-rated and its football team has dominated area teams, winning several state titles the past few years. Schools and location draw residents, as well as a low crime rate. The city is pretty much built out and it is now focusing attention on green initiatives. If residents plant a tree along their streets, the city pays half the cost. Forbes named Southlake the richest community in the country in December, 2008.
Southlake Real Estate
History
The first land within present-day Southlake was homesteaded in 1866. Settlers from Dade County, Ga., founded White's Chapel Church, which is located at Southlake Boulevard and White Chapel Boulevard, in 1871. The town of Southlake incorporated in 1956 and officially became the city of Southlake in 1965. The city grew rapidly in the 1980s.
Demographics
• Population: 26,224 (as of 7/07 per city-data.com)
• Median age: 36.7 (in 2007 per city-data.com)
• Median household income: $152,287 (in 2007 per city-data.com)
• Crime stats: (For 2007, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety) no murders, 4 rapes, 2 robberies, 6 aggravated assaults, 88 burglaries, 435 thefts and 16 auto thefts.
• School information www.southlakecarroll.edu
• Top employers: Sabre Holdings and City of Southlake
Southlake Real Estate
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Independent and chain restaurants alike are finding Tarrant County to be a hot market for dining
By BARRY SHLACHTER
While staff put finishing touches on his new restaurant, Cat City Grill, Vance Martin weighed the relative merits of opening 24 hours after Valentine’s Day.
In this grim economic climate, what’s remarkable is that Martin, owner-chef of Lili’s Bistro just down the street on Fort Worth’s Magnolia Avenue, is expanding his business horizons at all.
And he’s not alone.
Another Magnolia restaurant, Scampi’s, is enlarging its serving area and adding a bar. And new to the Tarrant market are the Cowtown Diner downtown and Wildwood Grill in Southlake, not to mention out-of-town ventures like Cooper’s barbecue, from Llano, opening in the Stockyards. From Austin comes Mandola’s, moving into Arlington, and El Arroyo, in southwest Fort Worth. Add to that Dallas concepts expanding to Fort Worth, like Tillman’s Roadhouse near West Seventh Street.
BJ’s, a California chain featuring beer from Houston’s Saint Arnold microbrewery, added area restaurants at North East Mall in November and yet another at Alliance Town Center.
Houlihan’s, a more refined version of the 1970s chain, is back with geographically wide-ranging dishes in a casual-dining restaurant at Arlington Highlands.
Closings too
But for all the openings, the economy also claimed victims in Dallas-Fort Worth’s ever-more-competitive environment, which boasts a full-service restaurant for every 299 households.
Luby’s, the iconic Texas chain, closed four unprofitable cafeterias around Tarrant County last fall, while in December, Dixie House Cafe pulled out of its downtown location previously occupied by Bennigan’s, which had abandoned all its company-owned stores in summer 2008. Fuego’s was a summer flame-out.
In recent weeks, Ocean Rock, Aventino’s and Ovation served their last meals, unless someone takes over the moribund operations and resurrects the names.
"As an undercapitalized independent we were unprepared for a wobble, unable to withstand the [economic] sting," Mike Musgrove told the Star-Telegram after shutting down Ovation on the west side after 3 1/2 years. He hopes to find a buyer who can reopen it.
Derrick Paez of Aventino’s told a similar tale.
"Between my father and myself we ran out of capital," Paez said of a difficult year. "We made it happen for 11 months and didn’t think we would be closing down over the Christmas break. My daughter’s cancer had a relapse, and we just had enough."
His family planned to make good on about $500 worth of gift cards sold before the closing, said Paez, who acknowledged that the restaurant expansion and slick, New York-inspired makeover he orchestrated two years ago were out of step with local tastes.
"My vision didn’t match up with the marketplace," he said.
In downtown Fort Worth, restaurant receipts dropped 9.8 during the second quarter of 2009, the latest figures available, according to Downtown Fort Worth Inc., citing the Texas comptroller of public accounts.
While staff put finishing touches on his new restaurant, Cat City Grill, Vance Martin weighed the relative merits of opening 24 hours after Valentine’s Day.
In this grim economic climate, what’s remarkable is that Martin, owner-chef of Lili’s Bistro just down the street on Fort Worth’s Magnolia Avenue, is expanding his business horizons at all.
And he’s not alone.
Another Magnolia restaurant, Scampi’s, is enlarging its serving area and adding a bar. And new to the Tarrant market are the Cowtown Diner downtown and Wildwood Grill in Southlake, not to mention out-of-town ventures like Cooper’s barbecue, from Llano, opening in the Stockyards. From Austin comes Mandola’s, moving into Arlington, and El Arroyo, in southwest Fort Worth. Add to that Dallas concepts expanding to Fort Worth, like Tillman’s Roadhouse near West Seventh Street.
BJ’s, a California chain featuring beer from Houston’s Saint Arnold microbrewery, added area restaurants at North East Mall in November and yet another at Alliance Town Center.
Houlihan’s, a more refined version of the 1970s chain, is back with geographically wide-ranging dishes in a casual-dining restaurant at Arlington Highlands.
Closings too
But for all the openings, the economy also claimed victims in Dallas-Fort Worth’s ever-more-competitive environment, which boasts a full-service restaurant for every 299 households.
Luby’s, the iconic Texas chain, closed four unprofitable cafeterias around Tarrant County last fall, while in December, Dixie House Cafe pulled out of its downtown location previously occupied by Bennigan’s, which had abandoned all its company-owned stores in summer 2008. Fuego’s was a summer flame-out.
In recent weeks, Ocean Rock, Aventino’s and Ovation served their last meals, unless someone takes over the moribund operations and resurrects the names.
"As an undercapitalized independent we were unprepared for a wobble, unable to withstand the [economic] sting," Mike Musgrove told the Star-Telegram after shutting down Ovation on the west side after 3 1/2 years. He hopes to find a buyer who can reopen it.
Derrick Paez of Aventino’s told a similar tale.
"Between my father and myself we ran out of capital," Paez said of a difficult year. "We made it happen for 11 months and didn’t think we would be closing down over the Christmas break. My daughter’s cancer had a relapse, and we just had enough."
His family planned to make good on about $500 worth of gift cards sold before the closing, said Paez, who acknowledged that the restaurant expansion and slick, New York-inspired makeover he orchestrated two years ago were out of step with local tastes.
"My vision didn’t match up with the marketplace," he said.
In downtown Fort Worth, restaurant receipts dropped 9.8 during the second quarter of 2009, the latest figures available, according to Downtown Fort Worth Inc., citing the Texas comptroller of public accounts.
Robson Ranch
Margaret Scribner specializes in Robson Ranch Homes. Robson Ranch is a retirement community for active adults interested in enjoying a luxurious lifestyle, while maintaining affordability.
Robson Ranch is a great place to retire, and has tons of fun amenities and activities for the active adult from golf to parties and charity events.
Situated on a beautiful stretch of wide-open land, within a few miles of historic downtown Denton, Texas, Robson Ranch is offering a lifestyle as big as Texas. It is an ideal location away from the big city life yet within easy reach of family, friends, jobs and favorite haunts in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Here you will find the values and roots of a small town combined with the sizzle of the big city. It is the best of both worlds.
Located within a half hour of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Robson Ranch is the best-selling active adult community in North Texas. It is attracting people who appreciate tradition, fun, relaxation and friendships; people who want more from life, not less. In fact, it was voted one of the nation’s best retirement places by Where to Retire magazine. From neighborhood barbecues to dining at the Grill, new friendships are easily formed because your neighbors are just like you.
Do more. Learn more. Be more. It’s all here. Imagine waking up and going for a brisk walk or bike ride through the community, head to the Grill for a tasty lunch with friends and wrap up the day with a sunset libation in the Lounge. Other days you’re hitting the tennis courts in the a.m. or a golf game scheduled for the afternoon. Or maybe you’ll try your hand at basketball in the multi-purpose gymnasium.
Robson Ranch Real Estate
Robson Ranch is a great place to retire, and has tons of fun amenities and activities for the active adult from golf to parties and charity events.
Situated on a beautiful stretch of wide-open land, within a few miles of historic downtown Denton, Texas, Robson Ranch is offering a lifestyle as big as Texas. It is an ideal location away from the big city life yet within easy reach of family, friends, jobs and favorite haunts in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Here you will find the values and roots of a small town combined with the sizzle of the big city. It is the best of both worlds.
Located within a half hour of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Robson Ranch is the best-selling active adult community in North Texas. It is attracting people who appreciate tradition, fun, relaxation and friendships; people who want more from life, not less. In fact, it was voted one of the nation’s best retirement places by Where to Retire magazine. From neighborhood barbecues to dining at the Grill, new friendships are easily formed because your neighbors are just like you.
Do more. Learn more. Be more. It’s all here. Imagine waking up and going for a brisk walk or bike ride through the community, head to the Grill for a tasty lunch with friends and wrap up the day with a sunset libation in the Lounge. Other days you’re hitting the tennis courts in the a.m. or a golf game scheduled for the afternoon. Or maybe you’ll try your hand at basketball in the multi-purpose gymnasium.
Robson Ranch Real Estate
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
