Nation's Restaurant News reported yesterday that eatZi's will open two new spots in the 'burbs. The first will open on May 17 in Grapevine and will occupy 10,000 square feet "of freestanding retail space in a former Luby's Cafeteria site."
The Plano store will be a newly constructed 10,000 square-foot space in a development at Parker Road and the Dallas North Tollway.
Dallas restaurateur Phil Romano opened the original eatZi's location on Oak Lawn Avenue in 1996 and a second eatZi's on Lovers Lane in 2010. Romano also created the original concepts for Fuddrucker's and Romano's Macaroni Grill.
EatZi's Market and Bakery is a European-style eatery that offers high-end prepared meals "for the taking" from its chef's case and grill. EatZi's has in an-house bakery with more than 200 kinds of breads and pastries, as well as a deli with cheese and meats from around the world. They also have wine, unique finds from small vendors around the country, sushi, fresh cut flowers, chocolate, salads, sandwiches, breakfast, lunch and dinner; and their trademark opera music on the hi-fi.
EatZi's chief executiveAdam Romo told the magazine that his company is inundated with proposed locations from real estate developers from around the country, but they've been down that road: The company expanded nationally in the '90s only to shut down those seven operations. The intent is to keep things local for now.