Hot Dog News

Hot dog king Portillo's debuts new design at new location in Grapevine

Hot dogs are coming to town.

Portillo's

Chicago-style hot dog chain Portillo's is opening a new location in DFW, and it'll be the first of its kind for the chain. The restaurant is headed for Grapevine, at 460 W. SH-114, in the former Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, next door to Son of a Butcher, where it will open its doors on December 5.

According to a release, the location is the very first to feature the chain's "restaurant of the future" design comprising a smaller, more efficient footprint.

Most Portillo's are about 8,000 square feet (and some from the early days could go up to 10,000 square feet). The Grapevine location spans 6,250 square feet, with seating for up to 125 inside, and 40 on the patio. It will feature a Southwest Garage theme, and will also have their signature double drive-thru.

The menu will be the same: Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and two-layer chocolate cake.

Grapevine is not the only location in Texas to follow this new design: A similar location measuring 6,200 square feet is opening in Stafford, near Houston, as well.

Portillo's exteriorPortillo's

The driver with this smaller size is a greater emphasis on take-out and (probably) an effort not to pay so much rent.

Grapevine officials are enthusiastic about having the chain within city limits and what it says about the great city of Grapevine.

“The addition of Portillo’s to the more than 200 curated dining options in Grapevine is a testament to our city’s commitment to offering diverse and exceptional culinary experiences,” says Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate in a statement.

Portillo's made their first debut in DFW with a location at Grandscape in The Colony in January 2023.

The Illinois-based chain has six other locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Allen, Denton, and Mansfield. Grapevine will be the seventh to open. There are also plans to open a location in Grand Prairie.

Founder Dick Portillo opened the first Portillo’s hot dog stand in Illinois in 1963. There are now more than 90 locations across 10 states.

openings

Private Club News

Swanky for-members-only Copa Club and eatery set to open in Westlake

Copa Club

Cue the flamenco music – a new Spanish-inspired, members-only club is about to open in Westlake: Called Copa Club on the Canal, it's a private clubhouse, cardroom, dining, and entertainment destination that is part of the long-awaited Entrada development, near SH-114 and Davis Boulevard, opening in December.

Entrada encompasses 85 master-planned, mixed-use acres with architecture that emulates the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain. The project will include offices, retail, entertainment, hotels, and more than 300 residential units, including single-family villas, townhomes, and condominiums.

The Copa Club – which sits on Entrada’s winding, manmade canal – is the development’s first major attraction to open.

“The Copa Club is an all-in-one concept; a members-only destination for elevated dining, drinking, game watching, networking, member events, and private events,” says Matt Whiteley, director of brands for Hospitality Inspirado, the dining group behind the concept. “There will be one kitchen on site with a chef-driven elevated bar menu with globally inspired flavors. Likewise, the club's bar will serve modern and classic craft cocktails, as well as a large selection of top-shelf spirits.”

While there are different tiers of membership, memberships are open to anyone and are not exclusive to places of residence.

“We currently have members who reside in Westlake, Roanoke, Southlake, Grapevine, and Fort Worth,” Whiteley says.

Membership categories include Sporting, Legacy, Corporate, and Charter. Sporting is the most basic and includes entry to Copa’s Grand Game Room, where patrons can play professionally dealt card games (like Texas Hold ‘Em) and catch sporting events on TV. It also includes access to the club’s Diamond Bar for dining and craft cocktails.

Entrada development in WestlakeEntrada

Legacy memberships provide more amenities, including member events, guest passes, concierge service, access to the Legacy Patio on the canal, valet, and even home meal delivery depending on location.

The membership also includes access to several high-tone private rooms for hosting events, including the elegant Emerald Palm room, the Cellar & Humidor wine and cigar bar, the Shark Tank dining room featuring a built-in saltwater tank for sea life and sharks, and the Legacy Lounge, ideal for private game watching.

Charter memberships are the highest tier, only available for a limited time offering a locked rate and early access to the Club when it opens. Memberships at the Legacy and Charter levels will be capped.

Whiteley says membership goals are less about specific numbers and more about cultivating a “uniquely inviting ambience” for members and guests on a daily and nightly basis. Pricing is only disclosed to those who inquire.

They'll open a phase two of the Copa Club in a neighboring space, and the club’s sister concept, Hugo's Invitados – an elevated Latin-influenced restaurant whose flagship location is in Las Colinas – will open in 2025.

home-for-sale openings