- Atomic Pie
We learned in March that Atomic Pie (9660 Audelia, 214.553.5733) was opening its doors and filling our neighborhood with the enticing smell of crispy, delicious pies. Now we hear from co-owner Tim Cole that he and partners Chris Schwab and Craig Allen intend to expand into the space next door. Cole says the plan is to take over the space on the right, turning it into an L-shaped dining area to seat 40-50 people. Blueprints are being drawn, and the men of Atomic Pie are hoping to knock down the wall between the current and new spaces in June for a completed dining area in early July.
Lake Highlands resident Gene Martinez says he’s partnering with Tony Zhuta of Tony’s Pizza & Pasta to open Go 4 It Sports Grill in the former Blockbuster spot at Northwest Highway and Plano Road. Martinez says his vision for the new grill is “to be a place where families can go after football games … no more driving to other parts of town to grab a bite late at night.” Go 4 It Sports Grill will be open until 2 a.m., seven nights a week, and will serve American, Cajun and New Mexican fare (New Mexican because of Martinez’s El Paso roots and Cajun because of his prior restaurant experience with Shuck-N-Jive). The grill’s opening is tentatively planned for late June or early July.
Casa Linda Natural Grocers (9440 Garland, 214.321.4777) has officially opened in the former Casa Linda Theatre space and has left the historical theater’s marquee and facade in tact. “We wouldn’t think of changing that. Natural Grocers just put their sign in the marquee,” says Clay Evans of S.C. Companies (owners of the property). The new grocer, which keeps some unconventional hours (Monday–Saturday 8:56 a.m.–8:04 p.m. and Sunday 9:56 a.m.–6:06 p.m.), carries natural and organic foods. This is the Boulder-based company’s ninth store in Texas and third in the Metroplex.
The city of Dallas recently approved the use of approximately $2.4 million in TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds to bulldoze retail buildings in Lake Highlands Plaza, the southwest corner of Walnut Hill and Audelia, but the former Walmart Neighborhood Market and the strip of vacant retail on the southern side of the property haven’t yet been knocked down to make way for single-family residential homes. Regarding the retail-to-residential development of Lake Highlands Plaza at the southwest corner of Walnut Hill and Audelia, Mark Dann of Highland Classic Homes, LLC. (one of three builders on the project along with Nobility Homes and New Leaf Construction) tells us that the powers that be have been busy “going through city approval and the abatement process on the teardown of the buildings.” Dann suspects that the infrastructure for the development will be complete, at the earliest, by the end of the year, assuming all goes as planned. Pre-sales will begin soon, and Dann says “there are 17 lots averaging a bit over 10,000 square feet in size. An 8-foot brick wall will surround the subdivision, and the only way in will be off of Spring Branch … [the pricing] will most likely will be around $200,000-plus average per lot. The typical product will average in the 4,000-square-foot range with total pricing in the $700,000s on average.”
Café Silva (8499 Greenville, 214.494.1284) is now open at Royal Lane and Greenville Avenue near Royal Oaks Country Club. Co-owners and husband-and-wife team Masoom and Suraiya Khan serve homemade baked goods, coffee and teas in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. The tunes played are eclectic, and the Wi-Fi is free.
Now that the kids are out of school, take them to Eat The World (8530 Abrams, 214.340.3663) for happy hour … no, really. All summer long, Eat The World has “Happy Hour” with two-for-one scoops of Blue Bell ice cream every Monday-Saturday, 7-9 p.m.
The Cake Ball Company
Another sweet deal: The Cake Ball Company (10230 E. Northwest Hwy., 214.559.5788) celebrates its fifth birthday in August. Co-owner Robin Ankeny says “in conjunction with a fifth birthday party, we are going to have some new flavors rolling out … fun new flavors to look for include Jack Daniels pecan pie, salted peanut butter, s’mores and more.” Also, lemon, margarita-lime and piña colada are back for summer.
Merriman Park Automotive (6824 Walling, 214.348.6700) is celebrating 40 years in business at the same location. The family-owned business recently lost its founder, Joe Prestridge. The business will continue to be run by Prestridge’s wife, Jeanette, his son, Kevin, and master mechanic Jerry Hansen, who has been with the business for 31 years. Merriman Park Automotive is a full-service operation, offering everything from mechanical to collision repairs from 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday.
