Coal Vines Goes National

Image courtesy of Coal Vines

​Five-year-old Coal Vines is going national. After a successful licensed launch in Kansas City, Missouri, the bistro concept operated by Nick & Sam's partners Joe Palladino and Phil Romano, has its eyes set on more Texas locations and a national expansion.

CoalVines Over Texas LLC, which is licensing the brand from Palladino and Romano, is ready to open additional bistros in Austin and Sugarland, besides the already completed location at The Shops at Legacy in Plano. "In addition to these locations," licensee Larry Klinghoffer confirms, "we are planning to open an additional seven units over Texas." Although focused on the Dallas, Austin, and Houston areas, he says, "we hope to find some great locations in other parts of the state."

Expect to find Dallas bistro fare even further away than Texas and Missouri, though. "Once we have achieved our goals in Texas, we hope, in partnership with Mr. Palladino and Mr. Romano, to take Coal Vines to other states," Klinghoffer says, "either in agreements with other restaurant groups or with outside investors."