FORT WORTH — Plans are in the works to break ground on the first free-standing Mi Cocina restaurant at Alliance Town Center by the end of the summer.
With construction planned to start in a matter of months, the restaurant is anticipated to be up and running in the first quarter of 2012.
Plans have been in the works for more than a year to bring Mi Cocina, which is part of MCrowd Restaurants Groups, to Alliance, said Michael Cox, MCrowd chief executive officer.
“It is one of the fastest growing areas of the DFW market,” Cox said. “It is amazing all of the things going on out there.”
The restaurant is going to be special, Cox said.
“We are just really excited about getting to build our first free-standing restaurant and to get the opportunity to really express ourselves,” Cox said. “It will be a very unique location, like all of our restaurants are.”
MCrowd officials don’t believe the new restaurant opening at Alliance will compete with the chain’s other 15 stores within the Metroplex.
Mi Cocina will add to the growing variety of restaurants in the Alliance Town Center, said Mark Miller, vice president of retail for Hillwood.
“I think we have done a really good job diversifying the different brands and different kinds of foods and then getting some of the better class of restaurants in there,” Miller said.
Some of the restaurants include BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Freebirds World Burrito, Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, Ha-Na-Bi Hibachi & Sushi, Kincaid’s Hamburgers, Olive Garden and Zoe’s Kitchen.
“They have all done very well out there,” Miller said.
But restaurants aren’t the only type of business to soon call Alliance home, Miller said.
“James Avery is building out their space right now … they’re under construction now and will probably take them until late summer to open,” he said.
The jewelry store will be located near the Mattress Firm and Jason’s Deli, Miller said.
The shopping center near the newly opened Kroger Market Place is also attracting new business and will soon include a nail salon, Great Clips, a dry cleaners and a dental office, Miller said.
“We are trying to provide everybody everything they need, from daily needs to the destination things that they go for once a week to once a month even,” he said