Tenants at Shops at Willow Bend to leave by end of month, but two restaurants will stay

“With what’s coming you just have to hold on and work and make it through all of this,” said George Stergios of Knife Steakhouse.

PLANO, Texas — The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano is closing, with the last items leaving the mall as the property moves toward redevelopment. The tenants have been told to vacate by the end of August. But two restaurants are staying put.

Mexican Bar Company and Knife Steakhouse are the last two businesses standing as the rest of the property prepares for demolition.

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“We made it through the toughest part,” said Brian Dunne with Mexican Bar Company. “When I go into business, I expect to be successful.”

Both restaurants signed 20-year leases in 2018 and plan to remain through 2038.

“What’s missing is the traffic, the visibility, people tend to forget about you,” said George Stergios with Knife Steakhouse.

The two restaurants have tried everything to remind customers they are still open. They’ve also heard plenty of predictions about the mall’s future including the large amount of media coverage about the struggling mall.

“I don’t wanna count. It would take a lot of hands and the violin music in background,” laughed Dunne.

Mexican Bar Company serves Mexican food with a French flair, while Knife Steakhouse is known for high-end steaks dry-aged in an on-site vault.

Both owners are looking ahead to a planned redevelopment that could bring a Dallas Stars arena, hotels, apartments and a new restaurant district to the area. That transformation is not expected until around 2030, but they believe the restaurant scene could develop sooner.

“For us it’s about the restaurants growing and the restaurant district,” said Dunne.

“Survival between now and then is growing with the property,” said Stergios. “With what’s coming you just have to hold on and work and make it through all of this.”

For now, they’re relying on regular customers, events and private parties. And, after years of uncertainty, they say the property finally has a clear direction.

“Now it’s not a rumor. And now you know it’s coming. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel finally,” said Stergios.

“In 2031, they’re gonna say ‘you’re a genius!’ But it’s been a long road to get here,” said Dunne.

Both restaurants signed their leases in October of 2018 and it lasts through 2038. Demolition plans haven’t been finalized and both owners do not know what existing infrastructure will come down. Both are excited at the prospect of being at the “gateway of the arena.”