Future Ellen’s site at Casa Linda Plaza. Photography by Renee Umsted.
Editor’s note (Jan. 20): A previous version of this story inaccurately said that a certificate of occupancy had been issued for the new restaurant; a CO is still pending. Since this story was published, we have received additional details from Ellen’s co-founder Joe Groves and have posted a new story, available here.Â
Plans of the all-day brunch restaurant Ellen’s to open a location in East Dallas were announced in April 2021.
Housed in a new building at Casa Linda Plaza, at the Garland Road-N. Bucker Boulevard intersection, the restaurant was taking the place of Snooze, which announced in September 2019 it was going to open there. In November 2020, a spokesperson for Snooze said the chain was canceling its plans.
For the better part of two years, neighbors have been wondering when Ellen’s, which has locations in Allen and Downtown Dallas, is going to open its doors in Casa Linda.
We have been following the progress. In January 2022, we spoke with Andy Anderson of Restaurant Properties Group, who told us that the restaurant was waiting on building permits from the city to finish out the restaurant, which was then in shell condition. Once those permits were received, Anderson said it would take about four months to finish construction.
According to city records, a certificate of occupancy application was approved for Ellen’s at 1211 N. Buckner Blvd. in June 2022.
The Advocate has made multiple attempts since last year to get an update from Anderson, but he has not returned our calls.
We have also tried to get in touch with Ellen’s and one of its co-founders, chef Russell Mertz, to get an update on the East Dallas location. To date, we have not received a response.
The project superintendent, Richard Bullinar of Fort Worth-based Cooper Jensen Contractors, tells the Advocate they are waiting on gas for the building, and it should take about a week.
Here’s what we can see from the street, without trespassing on the construction site.
There’s a sign on the door that says “Get excited! Looks what’s coming soon: Ellen’s.”
Lights are on inside the building.
A temporary fence is still in place, blocking off part of the parking lot at the shopping center.
We will continue to monitor progress on Ellen’s. Keep checking with the Advocate for updates.
