Foxtrot Announces Reopening of Two Dallas Locations in January

As business closures go, Foxtrot's sudden shuttering in April caught employees and customers by surprise. Hastily written signs appeared in windows, and employees told customers to finish their coffees outside as everyone was locked out.

In all, more than 1,000 employees at 33 Foxtrot locations in Chicago, Dallas, Austin and Washington, D.C., were let go immediately. No severance or separation pay programs were announced, and some staff were even told to leave their tips behind. We may not be the final authority on such matters, but such chicanery ranks pretty low on our list.

This summer, Foxtrot announced it would attempt a comeback. Naturally, the internet hasn't forgotten the company's previous behavior. As the Observer's Aaren Prody documented in October, Foxtrot left behind a laundry list of unpaid vendors. Despite attempts to whitewash negative comments from social media, many people didn't seem thrilled that Foxtrot would attempt to reopen after giving the shaft to former employees and suppliers. A class-action suit by former employees is underway.
Foxtrot merged with Chicago-based Dom’s Market Kitchen & Market in late 2023 and formed a new company called Outfox Hospitality. Outfox had raised over $100 million to expand the brand before things suddenly turned sour last spring. In May, Outfox sold $2.2 million worth of restaurant equipment and intellectual property in a hastily organized online auction to a newly formed company, Further Point Enterprises. At the helm of Further Point is Mike LaVitola, who originally co-founded Foxtrot with Dallas native Taylor Bloom in 2014.

So, Foxtrot's former corporate overlords are gone, and the company is being run by a firm helmed by one of the original founders. All should be good, right? Just how long potential customers will recall the negative memories remains to be seen, but Foxtrot has announced that two Dallas-area locations will reopen next month at 3130 Knox St. and 6565 Hillcrest Ave.

"We are delighted to welcome our Dallas neighbors back to our newly reopened locations on Knox Street and in Snider Plaza, University Park," said Bloom in the press release.
Both Foxtrot stores will roll out revised food and beverage options like panini sandwiches and salads, as well as an array of baked cookies. Patrons can also expect a new line of breakfast tacos such as borracho bean, brisket guisado and grilled veggie tacos, according to the release.

Right now, Foxtrot's website appears to be little more than a list of brands the stores will carry, along with locations in the Chicago area that have already reopened. The link to the Foxtrot careers page is also light on Dallas-specific info, and we can only guess that restaffing might be a challenge. The lone Dallas role posted is for a comptroller, with a hybrid remote location in Chicago or Dallas. Let's hope that comptroller finds a way to pay the outstanding bills if things go south once again.

Better yet, perhaps the return of cofounders LaVitola and Bloom can restore some luster to the Foxtrot's tarnished reputation. We're certainly open to seeing what they do with a new lease on life.

Foxtrot Cafe & Market, 3130 Knox St. and 6565 Hillcrest Ave.