FRISCO, Texas — This story was initially published by our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal. Read this article and more North Texas business news here.
A handful of new eateries are on their way to The Star in Frisco as standout developments in this part of Collin County continue to attract high-profile retail and restaurant tenants.
A restaurant and Japanese bar, Wabi House, is slated to open at The Star at the end of May, marking its third location in the Metroplex. The restaurant is expected to have its soft opening May 27, with a grand opening expected May 31.
Rachel’s Kitchen, a cafe and casual eatery, is also slated to open sometime this month, bringing more lunchtime options to the district.
And a new burger spot from local celebrity chef Dee Lincoln, who already operates a steakhouse in The Star District, is coming in mid-June. The restaurant will include a bar offering local beer and spirits on tap as well as a selection of wines.
With these latest additions, the retail component of the development is 95% leased, said Amy Pratt, director of real estate at The Star. There are only two spots still available: one at the Lincoln Experience Center and another small retail space.
Needless to say, leasing has been strong at The Star, Pratt noted. Since first opening in August 2016, the facility’s retail district has grown into a leading shopping destination in North Texas.
Pratt attributed that to her team’s ability to find the right mix of tenants, especially after the pandemic, which put a damper on some retail plans. In a "drastic change" during 2019 and 2020, her team employed a more aggressive strategy to bring on tenants that were well suited for the community and had a wide appeal.
"Do we have the right retailers and the right restaurants and are they in the right spot?" Pratt said of her team’s strategy. "[It was matter of] taking that time over the last three years to really make sure that we have the ones to make this district successful."
The Star was developed in a unique partnership between the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco and Frisco Independent School District. In addition to the Cowboys facilities and retail space, it has office towers, apartments, an Omni hotel and more.
At the start, The Star was largely branded as the 91-acre headquarters and practice facility for the Dallas Cowboys — a place people can tour and get to experience where the iconic NFL team trains for most of the year. It's still known for that, but is also "so much more," Pratt said, with an emerging identity all its own.
“You can come into the Star for everything. You need a gift, you want to shop, you want to eat, you’re with family, you’re on a date,” she said. “You can spend all day here.”
Recent additions to The Star District include sports bar Sidecar Social, its second location outside of Addison, and collectibles store Cards in a Box. Both opened in September. French restaurant and bistro La Parisienne opened at The Star in March 2023.
Other tenants include J.Hilburn and Ascension Coffee.
The operators of Sidecar Social have been great partners to The Star, Pratt said. The lively social bar and lounge hosts live music shows and cooperates with the leasing team to drive traffic to the facility.
“We're not just looking to fill the space and to have someone pay rent,” Pratt said. “We want to make sure it's the right fit for them for their business to make it successful.”
In addition to retail and restaurants, The Star has also introduced a number of community events, including wine walks, supper clubs, live music shows and movie nights meant for the whole family.
Ford Center, The Star’s football practice stadium, also serves as a community gathering spot, like when it hosts Frisco ISD high school graduations or school football games. It can hold up to 12,000 people.
It can also host entertainment, like later this month when it welcomes the Academy of Country Music Awards for the second time — the event is expected to bring thousands of guests and hosts performances from some of the genre's top artists, including Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton.
