The all-in construction cost is still being fine-tuned, but more than $2 million will go into the interior finish-out alone for the 126-seat restaurant, according to Hogue, who signed a 10-year lease for the restaurant spot and patio at 1717 Main St. He says construction is slated to begin by November. "We are going to build a brand that will be part of Downtown Dallas and an institution," says the owner of Hogue Enterprise Co.
The plan to add a high-end restaurant to the 60-story landmark's roster has been in the making seven of the eight years that its gatekeeper under two owners has been in charge of leasing. The deal will light a 5,750-sf restaurant space for the first time in one decade.
"We really wanted a high-end restaurant. There was some interest before, but not the quality that we wanted," says Don Dowell, the tower's long-time leasing agent who transitioned to Cushman & Wakefield of Texas Inc. at Metropolitan's behest after it bought the trophy. "He [Hogue] has the right vision. He is a successful restaurant operator and has a really good following of people."
Hogue's specialty fares are Dallas Fish Market, which is one block from Comerica Tower, and Go Fish Ocean Club, which relocated and just opened last week near the Galleria mall in North Dallas. Go Fish launched in 2005 and Dallas Fish Market in 2007.
"This building itself is a trophy. What we're looking for as owner is to provide as many amenities as we can to our tenants and that's where we add value," says Steve Korn, CFO of the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Real Estate. "It's a true amenity by putting the Dallas Chop House into our building. It's not only for our tenants, but the Downtown as well."
Hogue is a local entrepreneur and self-made man who's "very creative and qualified," Korn stresses. "We're very pleased to have him opening in the building."
 Chop House Interior |
Hogue says the new chop house will be a cut above steakhouse competitors, featuring an aging case to produce its own prime, a "steak library" of books about the cuisine and the region's first Kosher station. It also will have valet parking and 150 designated spaces in the tower garage. The interior design will include a custom fireplace and open kitchen while the menu will sport a catering service for the tower's high-powered tenant mix of financial institutions and law and accounting firms. "I believe there's a built-in business in there," Hogue says. Dallas' 5G Studio Collaborative LLC is the project architect.
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