Dallas Blog

Wow...what a great local industry icon.

Is there anyone in the DFW area that has NOT eaten at a Brinker's restaurant.

So many years, and so many great memories...

And for any of you "jaded" people that view the Brinker chain as just stamped out impersonal generic places to eat, those of us that have lived her for a long time, watched the chain start as "something different and special"...and of course with time and growth some of that personal edge does go away...but...

To build something that successful and large from a single restaurant...is absolutely outstanding !

My condolences to the family and friends...

Oh yeah...one more rambling thought...I did business with one of the chains several years ago...and got to know some of the people and the culture that was maintained at corporate made me admire the company that much more.

I'm sure there's an alternate view of all of this, but outside looking in...it was always impressive, professional, and top notch.

Rest well Mr. Brinker...I'll hoist a beer at Chili's and admire your work !

Bless his heart, he will be missed. I think I'll also find myself at a Chili's today to hoist a beer. Fine idea, George K.

As the line goes in ‘Death of a Salesman’, today, “Attention must be paid”……

The name Norman Brinker is one that is iconic to longtime Dallasites or those who care to acknowledge the unique breed of men and woman this town has spawned.

From the days when he opened ‘Brinks’ on Gaston in East Dallas, still standing and now a washateria (For those who grew up in the wrong places, that means laundromat) through his first Steak and Ale on Lemmon Avenue to Chili’s and beyond, this man gave birth to franchised restaurants and changed the face of America. But more to today’s point, he was a fine and good man. My childhood friend Margaret Valentine was his personal assistant from day one throughout his entire career. Decades. It was, in this lifetime, her only job. And she spoke of him in terms of his honor and candor and open-heartedness and intellect in ways few of us hear about hallowed relatives, let alone a ‘boss’.

I wish and hope that more people today can tip their head and say ‘well done’ to a genuine American original who was a died-in-the-wool Dallas Texan.

GeorgeK- My sister works at the corporate office over on 635 handling media publications and I can assure you, the corporate culture inside is very much as you describe from the outside looking in.

Brinker was an innovator in a business with too many imposters. I salute him and his creativity in bringing us great establishments over the years.

I worked at Chili's as a server, bar tender and a cook on and off for seven years. That gig helped me pay for college and while there I waited on Norm Brinker three times. He was personable, friendly and a good tipper. My condolences to the family and friends. Dallas has lost an icon.