Eatzi's poised for growth againEatzi's poised for growth again

Ron Ruggless

DALLAS Eatzi’s Market & Bakery, which once boasted eight units before shrinking down to its original location, is growing again.

The gourmet home-meal replacement concept, created in 1996 by Philip Romano and Brinker International Inc., will be adding a second location in Dallas in late February.

Jay Valley, president and chief operating officer of Eatzi’s parent company EBG LLC, said the new store will go into a former gourmet-to-go market a few miles from the original Eatzi’s on Oak Lawn Avenue. The 4,600-square-foot space will be about the same size as the retail area at the original market, which is about 4,500 square feet, Valley said. Seating will be limited, as it as at the original location.

“We’ve done very well with this economy,” Valley said of the original location. “We’re home-meal replacement, and we do restaurant-quality with no tips and you take it home. People are working more to stay ahead or get ahead or to keep up. They are working more hours and not cooking as much, so they come in as many as two or three times a day to the Oak Lawn market.”

Valley joined Eatzi’s nearly 12 years ago after working at The Mansion on Turtle Creek. He worked in the Rockville, Md., market and then returned to Dallas as the corporate chef.

Eatzi’s at one time had eight units open in such markets as Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and Rockville, Md. By 2006, all but the original in Dallas had closed, and Romano, who had maintained a minority interest, and two other investors bought the Dallas store and the name.

“Customers weren’t responding to changes made under new management and the service and quality of the offerings began to suffer,” the company said in a statement. “Romano seized an opportunity to salvage his brainchild.”

Valley said Eatzi’s has been “simplified” and has better prospects for growth. “We want to stay in North Texas for a while so we can really keep our hands on it,” he said. “We want to make sure we get this one up and running – and running smoothly.”

The new location will include indoor and outdoor seating, and it will stock more than 100 wines for sale as well as cheeses and breads. “We will produce most of the product at our Oak Lawn operation,” Valley said.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].