Popular Hot Dog Chain Crave Plans Dallas Expansion

Welcome to AM Intel in the time of coronavirus, a round-up of the city’s newest bits of restaurant-related intel. Follow Eater on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date details on how COVID-19 is impacting the city’s dining scene.

Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ plots Texas takeover

Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ, a popular chain based in Long Island, NY, is continuing its Texas expansion in spite of the coronavirus, with two spots planned for the DFW area, the Houston Chronicle reports. The restaurant, which is known for its all-beef hot dogs, barbecue bowls and chili, has weathered the Covid-19 pandemic fairly well thanks to its self-serve beer wall, spacious dining rooms, and lowering of franchise fees to encourage expansion. In addition to the two Dallas locations, Crave is also plotting restaurants in Odessa and Austin. Two Houston-area locations are already open. Opening dates for Dallas locations have not yet been announced.

Cambodian eatery Kamp Fire returns with take-home meal kits

Kamp Fire, the promising Cambodian restaurant that opened briefly in Downtown last year, has returned, this time with meal kits meant to showcase the country’s cuisine and staple spice mix kroeung, according to D Magazine. Kamp Fire’s downtown brick-and mortar opened in August 2019, but wasn’t a right fit, and closed just a few months later. But chef Kevin Top wants to make sure Metroplex residents still have access to Cambodian cuisine. Now he’s running a pop-up and selling kits that include dishes like fish amok, steamed in banana leaves; four-day fermented sausage; or roasted corned sprinkled with Kampot pepper. Kamp Fire’s next pick-up date will be August 9 and will focus on seafood. Diners can learn more details by following the pop-up on instagram or Kamp Fire’s website.

Longtime Uptown sports bar Christie’s has shuttered for good

Christie’s, the McKinney Avenue sports bar that has been hosting game-watching parties for nearly 30 years, has closed for good, CultureMap reports. The neighborhood hangout struggled following the first wave of bar closures under Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s plans to stop the spread of coronanavirus. Owner Ashton Christie, whose father Richard first opened the bar in 1991, told NBCDFW that Christie’s landlord was demanding rent and that the bar was unable to weather the second shutdown, which began in late June.