Benbrook EDC announces restaurant redevelopment at West Park Corner, reviews January finances and holds closed session

Kent Williams, president of the Benbrook Economic Development Corporation, announced at the Feb. 25 regular meeting that the EDC has partnered with the Mad Concepts Group and the Blue Plate Network to bring new restaurant concepts to a redeveloped corner in West Park Corner. “We are excited to formally announce our partnership with the Mad Concepts Group and the Blue Plate Network,” Williams said, announcing plans to bring “Jake's burgers and beers and tacos and avocado restaurants” to Benbrook.

The announcement follows more than a decade of work to prepare the intersection for redevelopment, including the acquisition of four separate properties to create a shovel-ready corner. Williams credited current and past EDC boards, EDC staff and city staff with helping clear impediments and make strategic investments to attract family-oriented, locally owned restaurants.

EDC Director Jessica James presented the monthly financial report for the period ending Jan. 31, 2025. James told the board the EDC received $177,566.37 in revenue tied to the 0.5-cent sales tax for January. She reported checking account funds of $2,903,660.85 and a tax pool account balance of $4,112,369.55, which she described as total liquid assets of $7,016,030.40. James said interest earned for January was $19,609.72 and the franchise payment was $1,093.36, bringing total reported revenue collections for the month to $198,269.45. She reported current expenditures of $32,484.87 and an encumbered project balance that, together with operating expenses, amounted to $3,083,955.87; she gave a total fund-balance figure of $3,932,074.53 as of Jan. 31, 2025.

During routine business, the board approved the Jan. 21, 2025, regular meeting minutes. The motion to approve was made by Ms. Melton and seconded by Dr. Ackerl; the president announced the motion passed.

Before moving into closed session, Williams said the board would meet in executive session “pursuant to the provisions of the open meeting law, chapter 551, Texas Government Code, in accordance with the authority contained in section 551.072, deliberations regarding real property, and section 551.087, deliberations regarding economic development negotiations.” The board reconvened at 8:06 p.m.; Williams said no action was necessary following the executive session and adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m.

The announcement signals a step toward the EDC’s long‑term goal of attracting locally owned, family‑oriented restaurants to Benbrook. The partnership and the project remain at the negotiation and implementation stage; the meeting recorded no formal approvals or contracts related to the restaurant development during the Feb. 25 session.