Omni Hotels Takes a Bite Off Bob's Plate

Will Dallas's convention center hotel get a Bob's Steak and Chop House? Fair question this morning, as Irving-based Omni Hotels -- which the city council tapped to operate the convention center hotel -- announced this morning that it has acquired a 50-percent stake in the brand name, with plans to "extend the steakhouse experience to additional locations in 2009" and beyond. Omni's already got two Bob's on its plate, in the Omni Tucson National Resort and the brand-new Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

Says this morning's release, "Additional locations at Omni Hotels as well as free-standing sites are also under consideration in top markets across the US." Adds Mike Deitemeyer, president of Omni Hotels, "Bob's is one of America's great steak houses, and it is a tremendous asset to our food and beverage portfolio as well as a wonderful dining destination for guests and locals alike." Incidentally, Bob Sambol still owns the entirety of his original Lemmon Avenue location; Bob's president Bill Lenox tells Unfair Park this deal does not affect existing locations that are independently owned.

"Omni bought 50 percent of the brand," he says. "And since I own the other 50 percent, I'll tell you this: They're awesome partners." As for our question at the top of this item, Lenox says there have been very preliminary talks about putting a Bob's in the downtown hotel, but there are myriad things to consider before that's done -- like first putting a shovel in the ground. "It's a possibility," he says. "But that's a long way down the road."