California-based Sul & Beans has opened its first dessert café in Texas, joining three other purveyors of sweet treats at NewQuest Properties' Frisco Ranch in far north Dallas.
The Korean café specializes in bingsoo (finely shaved ice with sweet toppings) and dessert toasts. Sul & Beans is situated alongside SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki, T-Swirl Crepe and 85° C Bakery & Café in the 99,747-sf development at 9292 Warren Parkway in Frisco.
"This has been a highly anticipated opening in the Frisco community. It rounds out the dessert options in the experiential dining and shopping that is available in Frisco Ranch," says Grace La, an associate with NewQuest Properties.
Sul & Beans was practically an overnight success following its launch in 2014 by Matt Kim in Los Angeles' Koreatown. Five stores are now open in California. More cafes will be coming to Texas in the future, according to La, Sul & Beans' tenant representative.
Bingsoo means "snow" in Korean. The dessert ice is so finely shaved that it has a snow texture and hence its name. The traditional treat was taken to the next level by Sul & Beans' founder, who uses organic ingredients and creative twists that appeal to Millennials as well as traditional bingsoo connoisseurs. The new sweet shop also offers pastries and beverages. The 1,031-sf interior too is a combination of old and new, resulting in a distinctive modern café inspired by the traditional Korean architecture of Hanok.
"With our developments at Frisco and Carrollton, we try to curate concepts that aren't in the market," says John Nguyen, a NewQuest vice president. "We really pitch Texas to West Coast and Asian brands because there's such a large demand from families who have moved here and yearn for something familiar."
In far north Dallas, 20% of the population is Asian and steadily growing. In the past five years, the Frisco-Plano corridor has emerged as a world-class employment center for Fortune 50, 100 and 500 companies, including the headquarters of Toyota Motors North America Inc. An estimated half-million people are or will be working within the 10-mile trade area of Frisco Ranch, which is located at the corner of Preston Road and Warren Parkway in the heart of Frisco's North Platinum Corridor, just 1.5 miles southeast of the Dallas Cowboys' world headquarters and training facility and the $1.5-billion Star entertainment district.
"The Sul & Beans concept adds to an already strong lineup of Asian-influenced restaurateurs and retailers that have landed in our development," says Nguyen, who along with Heather Nguyen, development partner, leases Frisco Ranch for the Houston-based developer.
SOUTH TEXAS SALE
O'Reilly Auto Enterprises has purchased 1.48 acres at FM 1764, west of Gulf Freeway, La Marque, from Yode Investments LLC. Brad LyBrand and Rebecca Le of NewQuest Properties represented the seller. Erik Ray of Independence Commercial Real Estate represented the buyer.
SOUTH TEXAS LEASE
Bay Area Liquors Inc. has leased 2,700 sf of retail space in Marketplace at Ninety-Six, located at the intersection of League City Parkway and Hobbs Road, League City, from NewQuest Properties. Rebecca Le and Heather Nguyen of NewQuest Properties represented the landlord in the direct deal.
NewQuest Properties, founded in 2001, is a privately owned, full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in development, land brokerage, leasing, tenant representation, investment sales and property management services. Headquartered in Houston, NewQuest owns a portfolio encompassing more than 60 retail and mixed-use projects valued at $2.2 billion and provides leasing services for more than 12 million square feet of commercial space in Texas, Louisiana and throughout the U.S.
