Sherman, Texas-based Douglass Distributing reopened its remodeled Lone Star Food Store in Denison, Texas, in October 2015 with an enviable collection of new merchandising areas and a new foodservice concept.
The site was expanded from 2,400 square feet to 6,300 square feet without ever closing the store.
About 600 square feet is devoted to a proprietary Tex-Mex concept named Mi Taco, which offers burritos, tacos, salads, nachos and quesadillas made to order. Tortillas are freshly made on-site.
“What is nice is we can roll out this concept within different store layouts,” said Lone Star CEO Diane McCarty. “We believe this is a concept that could be implemented into areas as small as 500 square feet, assuming there is adequate kitchen space in the back.”
What the Experts Say
The tendency of many when acquiring an existing store is to “put lipstick on a pig.” That is not what Lone Star Food did in its Denison store. The entire store got a long overdue facelift. The chain used the opportunity to breathe new life into a tired old store with a great palate of materials combined with an innovative approach to foodservice. A mock food truck greets customers to Lone Star’s latest offering. The design approach in the case of Mi Taco is fun and delicious. —Mike Lawshe, president and CEO, Paragon Solutions