• Mattito’s Tex Mex Cocina restaurant owner, Dallas native Jeff Frankel, recently made a big announcement in a video on his company’s website (mattitos.com). Frankel is expanding his local chain of award-winning Tex Mex restaurants to include a third location at 7778 Forest (formerly a Black Eyed Pea), located near Central Expressway between Dickey’s and Schlotsky’s. The new Mattito’s is scheduled to open on Sept. 1 — exactly 30 years to the day after, and right next door to the space where he opened his first restaurant. The brightly painted, 5,500-square foot space will have a menu similar to those of the other two locations in Uptown and Frisco. The new restaurant will also include a banquet hall and a spacious 1200-square foot patio.
Bringing Frankel’s story full circle, some Lake Highlands residents may remember when I Love Yogurt occupied part of the Forest Lane restaurant row nearly 30 years ago. Frankel conceptualized and opened the yogurt and sandwich shop, the first of many restaurant and bakery ventures, the summer before his freshman year of college.
Dallas-based Which Wich? is also opening up a new restaurant on the same block (between Chipotle and Office Depot) soon. The popular sandwich chain was started by another young local restaurateur, Jeff Sinelli. Sinelli is best known for opening, franchising and eventually selling Genghis Grill (original location in Old Town on Greenville). The first Which Wich? opened in downtown Dallas in 2003, and at present 100-plus restaurants have been franchised in 14 states.
The Majestic Liquor Store on Greenville near Walnut Hill has closed. Majestic Liquor Stores filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition earlier this summer in an effort to restructure its debt. The company, one of the area’s oldest and largest liquor store chains, owns and operates 45 stores, of which they claim “most will stay open”.
• Cindy and Scott Causey started Dallas Digital Studios, a multimedia company specializing in video production, event videography, video photo albums and website design/hosting for more than 10 years. They have lived in Lake Highlands for the past 20 years (Cindy Causey is a LHHS ’70 graduate), and the couple is a fixture at football games and school functions.The dynamic duo recently announced they have outgrown their home-based biz and are opening the LH Media Center in Skillman Plaza at the intersection of Audelia and Skillman, around the corner from El Fenix and next to Burger Spot. Visit lhmediacenter.com to find out more about the services the Causeys offer.
• On a side note, earlier this year Cindy Causey (cindycausey.com) was recognized by the RISD Excellence in Education Foundation as Lake Highlands High School’s Literary Luminary. With six manuscripts under her belt, Causey is a published author who started penning her first piece of work in 1992 when she discovered a lack of Christian-based materials concerning the church and the environment. Four years later, Judson Press published “Cherish the Gift: a Congregational Guide to Earth Stewardship” (projects, lessons and sermons for churches). Shortly thereafter, Causey began writing romantic fiction. Published by The Wild Rose Press, “A Different Drum” and “A Hot Time in Texas” came out last year in May and August, respectively. Check out Causey’s blog (cucausey.blogspot.com) where she chronicles her journey to publish her latest manuscript and write her new novel.
• Longtime Lake Highlands resident Bernadette Anderson has amassed thousands of hours monogramming equipment in her home on Crestwick, not to mention stitched her way to many lasting friendships and satisfied customers along the way. Owner and operator of home-based monogramming business Sew B It, Anderson is a popular resource for many neighborhood folks looking for customized gifts and gear. Customers can order monogramming for pre-purchased items (uniforms, Christmas stockings, heirlooms, woobies, etc.), or shop from items typically kept in stock, including tote bags, lunch bags, hand towels, robes and spa wraps, pillow covers, nap mats, back packs, duffles, burp cloths, baby blankets and bloomers. Whenever possible, Anderson’s inventory includes goods from other local vendors and home-based businesses. Call 214.348.4602 or email bbbanderson@sbcglobal.net for more information on monogramming rates or to make an appointment to stop in and shop.
