New restaurant to open soon in Dallas

A Dallas couple is working to turn Ratchford Tire into a family friendly sandwich, ice cream and coffee shop.

According to owners Blythe and Will Bayrd, Front Porch and Provisions is set to open in six weeks.

The Bayrds met in the restaurant industry.

Will Bayrd said he, “fell into cooking,” as a way to pay for college, but ended up working his way up to head chef at one of his first restaurants and decided to commit to culinary school.

After school, Bayrd went on to work at several fine dining restaurants in Charlotte until he eventually met Blythe while working at Vivachi, a now-closed Italian restaurant.

The pair say they have always discussed owning a restaurant, and finally have the opportunity to bring one to life.

When Ratchford Tire went up for sale after occupying 140 N. Gaston Street in Dallas for 65 years, Blythe Bayrd’s father purchased it and began quietly making renovations to the front of the building in the hopes that the space might serve as the perfect location for the Bayrds to fulfill their dream of owning a restaurant.

After looking at several locations in the area, including the Dallas Jail before it was purchased and renovated, the couple decided to look at the former auto shop and found the perfect space for their gourmet sandwich shop.

The Front Porch and Provisions sandwich shop will offer sandwiches, burgers, salads and southern sides.

In a second dining area near the kitchen, the couple also plans to sell coffee and ice cream.

The shop also has a small vendor market, which is currently selling products from Dallas Lavender Farm, local soaps, jams, honey and more.

Although the restaurant will not open for several weeks, the vendor market is already open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Bayrds said that nearly everything in the restaurant, from menu items to the decorations on the wall, are locally sourced.

Menu-wise, the restaurant will source its beef from Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Asheville. Chicken will come from Springer Mountain Farm, and both produce and bread used in the recipes will be locally sourced.

The couple plans to sell ice cream from Riverbend Creamery in addition to desserts made daily by a local baker.

The couple said they are looking forward to opening their restaurant and serving Dallas.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: When will this new Dallas restaurant open for business