The torches along the stairway to the former Canyon Cafe space at 5000 Post Oak Blvd. are not part of the plan for the southwestern grill’s northern replacement, Dallas hockey owner Tom Gaglardi’s Canadian fusion chain Moxie’s. Renderings of a potential remodel for the space (submitted as part of a variance request for Post Oak Centre) show the whole staircase missing, and depict the restaurant’s footprint spreading out as it adds part of the ground floor of the shopping center to the original restaurant space. The drawings depict an entrance canopy to the south of the development, and a new 2-story covered patio to the eastern side of the building, edging close to Post Oak Blvd.:
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Another view peeks at the restaurant in place through the pair of chrome arches like the ones that currently span the street next to the pedestrian crossing half a block north of the intersection of Post Oak with Westheimer Rd. The plans in the variance request show those arches shifted south to frame the current crosswalk location. A boxy representation of the BBVA Compass building looms in the background, next to that empty field where a Loews might go:
The aerial view submitted with the variance application shows the extent of the planned patio addition, set back some 6 feet from the edge of the shopping center’s property line; the arches are also shown shifted south, along with some adjustments to existing curb lines:
A potential crosswalk cross section shows 2 palm trees on the grassy strip immediately next to Post Oak; the bulk of the current landscaping (including 2 existing palms) would get the boot to make way for the patio:Â
- Previously on Swamplot: North-of-the-Border Grill Swapping Into Southwestern Canyon Cafe’s Former Spot; Canyon Cafe Shutters along Post Oak Blvd. as Bankrupt Sports Authority Prepares To Do the Same
Images: Canyon Cafe (top photo), Swamplot inbox (variance notice photo), 5G Studio Collaborative (renderings)
I’ve been to the Downtown London location. And for some reason I feel like I’ve been to another, though I think maybe that was just conversations with friends who have been to Calgary locations.
Decent to good food, though London’s location is an awesome preservation/conversion of a bank building. For food, think of a stepped up version of the typical casual chain fare. They’d compete with a decent chunk of Landry’s holdings in a lot of ways.
My friends in Canada regard their local Moxie’s as a sort of douchebag segregation and containment facility. Specifically, the upstairs waitresses all wear what basically amounts to stripper outfits, and anyone who isn’t an affluent-looking man (or even better, a group of them on a “business” lunch) gets seated downstairs, probably to wonder why their mediocre meal costs so much.
Nice that they’re putting some effort into the building renovation though.
Sid-I can see some of your friend’s perspectives. I was there with a cousin and a graduating pharmacist or doctor’s group, and they had an outdoor patio that suited a large group well. But I did think there were parts that came across as trying a bit too hard to be trendy and potentially bro-ish friendly.