Arlington mayor’s second fine-dining restaurant features cigar patio, a unique location
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross dreamed of opening another fine-dining restaurant in his city before he was mayor, but the pandemic put those plans on the back burner — until now.
In February, Ross, in partnership with Champions Club Texas, will open his second fine-dining restaurant called Hearsay Arlington in Choctaw Stadium, the former home of the Texas Rangers.
Champions Club Texas is a project by Knighted Ventures — a California-based hospitality and entertainment company — aimed to create hospitality destinations in Texas.
At first Ross wasn’t sure if he wanted Hearsay Arlington to be in a stadium.
“I took my architect, we went and looked at the space and when we walked through it we were both, at the same time, like ‘This is the right space’,” he said.
The restaurant, which will have a lounge and cigar patio, will be located in the spot previously occupied by a TGI Fridays. The menu will consist of high-end Southern cuisine.
Hearsay is Ross’s second fine-dining restaurant, the first being Mercury Chophouse Arlington located at 2221 E Lamar Blvd. in Arlington.
While the American Dream City has a plethora of casual dining locations, Ross said there are few fine-dining options for residents.
“We need that type of place in Arlington where people can go and really enjoy themselves and have an upscale time with fine dining, a real nice band and all those types of things, “ he said.
Hearsay Arlington diners will enter under a black canopy reminiscent of a New York-style restaurant. Ross said the 10,000-square-foot space has a Prohibition era design with chandeliers and lit glass features.
“You will not recognize that you’re inside a stadium when you get into this place, it’s just stunning,” he said.
Hearsay Arlington diners will get to enjoy live blues and jazz music in the restaurant’s lounge. Cigar aficionados can indulge in a smoke or two on the restaurant’s 3,000-square-foot rooftop bar and patio. Ross said the names of the restaurant and cigar patio, called The Chambers, are nods to his law background.
Every aspect of Hearsay Arlington has been part of Ross’s vision from the beginning.
“I like my cigars, smoking cigars, sipping a little bourbon and I’ve owned a restaurant now for about five years and I thought ‘How can I combine these things and do it in a way that’s gonna be good for Arlington, good for a restaurant and all of that stuff,” he said.
The grand opening for Hearsay Arlington is scheduled for Friday.
“There’s nothing like this place anywhere in Texas that I’m aware of,” Ross said. “It’s really a unique place.”
This story was originally published January 18, 2023 at 11:45 AM.
