Something new — or something Newk’s — is coming Tarrant and Denton

Newk’s Eatery, a Jackson, Mississippi-based chain with one of those sprawling menus that challenges us indecisive types, announced Tuesday that it plans to open seven locations in Tarrant and Denton counties.

The release more specifically says that Newk’s has a development agreement wth a new franchisee team to “agreement to open seven locations in Fort Worth and surrounding areas.” The first location could — emphasis on could — open as early as the first quarter of 2018 in north Fort Worth; another could open in Denton by the end of 2018. Other target dates and locations have not been announced.

Newk’s already has locations in Frisco, Irving and Plano. The Irving location, in the Cypress Waters development, is a short drive from Grapevine. It’s described as “elevated fast casual” with signature dishes such as “Newk’s Six-Cheese Pimiento and Bacon Mac and Cheese” — that’s one item — “[and] a signature white BBQ sandwich.”

Newk’s is big on its mac and cheese — there’s a whole menu section devoted to it — and the “white” in the BBQ sandwich comes from the color of its sauce, plus it’s a chicken sandwich that includes Ammerländer Swiss cheese, so it’s not really for Texas BBQ purists, but hey, there are a whole bunch of other sandwiches. And pizzas. And “featured items.”

There’s also a selection of cakes, brownies and “crispies” — think Rice Krispy-treat-style desserts — including a photogenic iced lemon cake. There are also grab-and-go and catering options. Everything is prepared in an open kitchen, so you can get a little show if you’re so inclined and get the right seats.

The franchisee team consists of two father-son duos: restaurateurs Hooshang Naghad and his son Cyrus, with “capital and counsel” from Alan Ribble and his son Conner Ribble.

Naghad, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute of New York, founded Park Place, a fine-dining restaurant in Texarkana, in 1979, according to the release. Cyrus has been working with him for 17 years.

According to the release, the Ribbles have been “investors in real estate for over 30 years.”

Newk’s, founded in 2004, has been expanding rapidly in the past year, crossing the 100-restaurant mark and entering 10 new markets, per the release.

For updates, follow Newk’s on (deep breath): Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and/or YouTube.

This story was originally published August 23, 2017 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Something new — or something Newk’s — is coming Tarrant and Denton."