Construction of the Snooze at Casa Linda Plaza. (Photography by Jaime Dunaway.)
Construction on Snooze an A.M. Eatery at the corner of Buckner Boulevard and Garland Road isn’t looking good. The project, which started in late September, has drawn criticism from some neighbors who say the building is too close to the street and hides the surrounding architecture.
The brunch chain announced in September that it would open at the Casa Linda Plaza in the southwest corner, near Starbucks. An opening date is scheduled for summer 2020.
“We are so sorry to hear that neighbors are upset,” Snooze spokeswoman Becky Fairchild said. “We love our neighbors as our family. We are excited to bring Snooze to the community, and when we do that, we intend to ‘join’ the neighborhood.”
By joining the neighborhood, Snooze plans to give back and partner with local nonprofit organizations that will receive donations from opening events, she said.
Snooze is not building the restaurant. That responsibility falls to Edens, the real estate developer that owns the Casa Linda Plaza. The building would have been built with or without Snooze as the tenant, Fairchild said.
Soon after construction began, neighbors complained that the stand-alone building did not match the shopping center’s character. Its placement hides the list of businesses and blocks the red tile roofs designed in the Spanish Revival style.
That architectural feature, along with masonry walls, was carried throughout the building, which is one of the oldest shopping centers in Dallas. It opened just after World War II when the developer’s son returned from duty to help finish construction, according to the company website. It took years to complete, with the final phase opening in 1971.
The area where the restaurant is being built is zoned for commercial retail and requires a setback of only 15 feet. The City of Dallas cannot require the company to move the building or the sign, District 9 Councilwoman Paula Blackmon said.
“I have spoken with the owners of the building, and they are very aware of this issue,” Blackmon said in a Facebook post. “As a company, they are having internal discussions about this. I do believe they will do what is right for our community and protect the unique sign.”
Edens did not immediately return a request for comment. Check back with the Advocate for updates.
