Public transportation powers an economic engine that produces returns and creates jobs.
From 2022 to 2024, the 37 development projects near DART light rail stations created a total of 9,422 new jobs and $724.2 million in wages for workers in the region.*
*Source:
6
PLANOMAGAZINE.COM | editor@planomagazine.com
sales@planomagazine.com | 214.560.4205
PRESIDENT Jehadu Abshiro | COO Alessandra Quintero
EDITOR Alyssa High
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | Lisa Petty
DESIGNERS Jynnette Neal | Lauren Allen
DIGITAL EDITOR Cloi Bryan
SALES Frank McClendon | Brandon Rodriguez | Prio Berger | Catherine Pate | John Lynch
Dearest gentle reader,
The season turns once more, ushering in a fresh chapter for the ton — and for Plano. As spring makes its entrance, so too does a wave of change across our city. Redevelopments signal new beginnings. A storied shop takes its final bow. Polished plates arrive at new tables. It is a season marked by both fond farewells and eager anticipation.
Taken together, these stories reveal a city in motion: entrepreneurs taking brave steps, creatives shaping identity and longtime favorites making room for what comes next. Plano, it seems, is embracing spring with both grace and grit.
As always, it is our privilege to document these moments — the grand developments and the quieter transitions alike. Whether you are savoring new flavors, reflecting on cherished places or discovering local talent for the first time, we hope this issue invites you to look closer at the people and projects shaping our community.
So pour yourself something refreshing, find a sunny corner and allow us to escort you through the latest chapter of Plano’s unfolding story.
And a reminder: Our annual competition returns this spring. Cast your vote for your favorites across all categories online in April, with winners announced in July.
Yours in curiosity and community,
Alyssa High-Coronado
Editor
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COLLIN CREEK
The City is in its redevelopment era, we’ve been hearing for the last few years. Poised as an exemplar of said era, the Collin Creek Mall redevelopment was celebrated by City Council, developers, the Chamber of Commerce and those with fond memories of the once-filled shopping center.
Opened in 1981, Collin Creek Mall was a staple destination for Plano residents throughout the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s. Those who grew up in the area during that time remember back-to-school shopping at retailers like Sears and Sanger Harris, or grabbing a slice from Sbarro in the food court. Beyond the surface, it served as a symbol of growth and progress as our young community came of age. In 2019, however, Collin Creek Mall shuttered as newer destinations like the Shops at Legacy and Watters Creek drew crowds and tenants away.
Plano City Council approved a multi-year billion-dollar plan from Farmers Branch-based Centurion American Development Group that same year. Following COVID-era delays, ground was broken at the 100-acre site bound by Plano Parkway, 15th Street, Alma Road and I-75, in 2021.
“Collin Creek will provide one of the premier mixed-use redevelopments in North Texas, right at the Southern gateway to our city,” said Plano Mayor John Muns on the day.
Upon completion, the new Collin Creek will be comprise of 1.3 million square feet of office space, 35,000 square feet of restaurants and retail storefront, and 3,000 single-family, multi-family, and independent living residences, surrounded by eight acres of city parks and 1.6 miles of walking and running trails.
Yet, development is slow to appear. Five years after beginning, all to be found is a near-complete single-family community. A total of 500 single-family homes are set to be completed; 400 lots have been delivered to builder partners as of February. The remaining lots are projected to be delivered by March 31.
Centurion American has partnered with three homebuilders including Ashton Woods, DRB Homes and Mattamy Homes. Each builder is offering brownstone-style townhomes of two or three stories with attached garages. Homes which range from 1,500–2,400 square feet, are currently priced at about $470,000.
“The developers promised the surrounding businesses that the mall would be opened early last year ... but I've seen
zero progress on the malls and only building on the residential,” one Facebook commenter noted. “Maybe they planned to use funding from renting out those homes to pay for the mall development. Seems like nothing is as promised and it looks like trash from both sides. The businesses on the 75 side and the homes on the Alma side.”
Errors in initial floodplain modeling led to a multi-year delay in drainage construction. While construction on the residential part of the plan began in 2023, an analysis of the drainage in the area was approved just last June.
A 1,976-space parking garage was finished last March. According to the City, a trail connecting 15th Street and the Collin Creek mall site known as the Chisholm Trail Extension is estimated to be completed this summer.
With parking, streets, parks and vertical construction for retail and mixed-use buildings set to be already completed or near completion by now, progress still seems slow yet.
Some residents note that much of the work needing to be done, including the parking garage and drainage, is underground and therefore not likely to be visible. Others say the project is comparable to North Dallas’ Valley View Mall redevelopment project, also known for the near-decade it has been since the mall emptied, full of promises to eventually redevelop.
Still, projects like this are often slow. Plans for Legacy West began in 2013, and the shopping center opened in 2017. Granite Park opened its first tower in 1998 and is still developing, with the sixth tower opening in 2023 and another “coming soon.”
No timelines have been announced for vertical retail or office construction. Until that changes, Collin Creek’s redevelopment remains largely residential, leaving nearby businesses and residents waiting for the commercial center originally promised.
Storyby Lisa Petty& Alyssa High
GET TO KNOW A LOCAL LEADER
GENE DILLARD, COLLABORATIVE ARTS OF PLANO PRESIDENT
Story by Alyssa High
Photography by Lauren Allen
Before audiences take their seats or exhibitions open to the public, much of the coordination that supports Plano’s arts scene has already taken place. As president of Collaborative Arts of Plano, Gene Dillard works with local arts organizations, artists and community partners to help facilitate collaboration and communication across the city’s cultural landscape. His role centers on supporting shared initiatives, fostering connections and contributing to the organizational framework that underpins arts programming in Plano.
But Dillard’s work with the arts community doesn’t begin or end with CAP. He’s been a longstanding artist in the area for decades, owning Rail Station Studios and making headlines with his portraits.
WALK US THROUGH YOUR PROFESSIONAL HISTORY. HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN AN ARTIST BY TRADE?
At an early age, I developed an interest in the creative arts. This included visual arts and writing. In high school, I discovered there was one career path that was a blend of the two: advertising. And, a path that came with predictable income. From that discovery, I never looked back. College resulted in a degree in a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the University of Texas and an advanced degree in fine art from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. My career in advertising started with a bang. I was hired by McCann-Erickson, the largest ad agency in the world, to work on the Exxon account, the largest company in the world. I then landed in Dallas to work for the largest ad agency in Dallas on a number of their national accounts. My decades-long career in advertising included working with over 20 Fortune 1000 brands and several ad agencies, including my own. Brands I served include Borden, Kraft Foods, Holiday Inn, Exxon, Conoco Phillips, Sara Lee, JP Morgan Chase, Frito Lay, Schlotsky’s, Tyson’s, Sky Chefs and many more. All along the way, I kept a hand and interest in fine art. I gradually moved from the world of “commercial” art to focus on fine art. However, today I continue to work for several advertising and graphic design clients.
WHAT DREW YOU TO PORTRAITURE?
Portraiture was a natural for me in two ways. Business-wise, it is unique in that commissioned portraits are guaranteed to be paid for. Something that landscape artists and others don’t experience. In that sense, there was the familiar “commercial” aspect to it … an assignment, a deadline, parameters and a budget. But beyond that, I find tremendous pleasure in the collaboration with my subjects. I paint primarily from life sittings where I get to know the personality and character of the sitter. Then there is the joy of converting their likeness and character to a canvas with all the colors in the universe. Great fun.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO PLANO?
I’ve been a resident of Plano for over 40 years. My career in advertising was centered in Dallas, so Plano was a good choice for a great place to live. Our children benefited from the great school system, as did my wife, Louise. She taught in PISA for 20 of our years here. We have witnessed enormous changes in Plano over the years. At all stages, it has remained a dynamic and wonderful community.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE PAINTED AS A COMMISSIONED WORK? OR ARE THERE ANY THAT COME UP AS AN INTERESTING STORY?
Two of my favorite commissioned pieces relate to the experience of painting them … the past and current Mayors of Plano. I counted it a privilege to have been able to paint these important City of Plano leaders. They both graciously posed for me in my studio several years apart. The experiences were most enjoyable. As in all cases, my subjects chat with me when posing, often sharing passages from their life stories. The relaxed environment was very helpful in capturing their personality and character. Mayor LaRosiliere’s was a somewhat informal seated pose. He was very specific in how he wished to have his clasped hands depicted. Mayor Muns’ pose was a bit more formal standing pose. I was pleased with the results, as were the mayors.
WHEN DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH COLLABORATIVE ARTS OF PLANO (FORMERLY THE PLANO ARTS COALITION)?
Originally, I began participating with CAP (then Plano Arts Coalition) early in its founding as a representative of Plano Art Association, one of the founding member organizations of PAC. I served as president of PAA for three years starting in 2018. CAP emerged as an important force for all the arts in Plano, and I viewed it as a concept worthy of participation.
WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO GO FOR PRESIDENT? WHAT DOES BEING PRESIDENT OF CAP MEAN TO YOU?
I was honored to be approached by the CAP Executive Board in 2024 and asked to consider standing for the presidency. Although anxious about the scale, scope and responsibility of such a position, I was impressed with the leadership team’s commitment to support the organization. I have found the role challenging. When you think about 25 arts organizations, all led by very strong personalities, it has been said that leading such a group is like herding cats, but in this case, lions, tigers and jaguars. To me, it is an honor to help advocate for the arts in Plano and assist the CAP members in enhancing their offerings to the community.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN PLANO?
Plano has a vibrant arts community. There is much going on that goes unnoticed, unfortunately. Last year, the Cultural Arts Commission listed up to 1,000 arts events in the city by organizations that are funded in part by the City of Plano. The City of Plano is generous with its grant program for the arts. The future holds much promise for advancing the strength of the arts community. The Cultural Arts Plan, initiated by CAP and developed by the City, can make a huge impact as it is executed. The need for more spaces for performance and exhibitions is a major issue that hopefully will be part of future advances. The creators of the arts, performance and visual, have inherent momentum that will continue, but the city and its citizens will need to recognize the needs they have for support.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
J. Alexander's offers eight sushi dishes (left). Their slow roasted prime rib (middle) is an aged Midwestern beef with au jus and smashed potatoes for $44. The Mardi Gras Pasta (right) contains linguine, crawfish, shrimp, andouille sausage, bacon, red peppers, green peppers and Cajun alfredo sauce for $29.
A southern steakhouse
J. ALEXANDER’S RESTAURANT MAKES
NORTH TEXAS DEBUT IN PLANO
Story by Lisa Petty
Photography by Kathy Tran
Brand-new at 3980 Dallas Parkway, J. Alexander’s is now serving its crowd-pleasing take on elevated American fare in Plano.
Launched in Nashville in 1991, the brand now encompasses 38 locations across the country, including Texas outposts in San Antonio and Houston. Marking the first J. Alexander’s in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, this addition to the local landscape made an entrance with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 28.
“Texas represents real opportunity for us, and Plano is the right place to begin in North Texas,” says G.J. Hart, CEO of SPB Hospitality, which also counts Krystal, Amada, Village Whiskey and Stoney River Steakhouse within its brand portfolio. “The market continues to grow, and we see strong alignment between the community and the brand.”
The menu hits a sweet spot for Plano palates, combining elements of a classic steakhouse with approachable Southern favorites and internationally-influenced dishes. All are served within a sleek, well-appointed dining room or atop the polished bar.
Starting with steaks, J. Alexander’s hand-cut filet mignon with béarnaise ($51) and New York strip ($49), feature aged certified Angus beef and melting maître d’ butter. Exclusive to Plano, regionally-inspired menu items include slow roasted prime rib ($44), the hardwood-grilled Texas redfish ($36) and seafoodand sausage-studded Mardi Gras pasta ($29). A starter of bacon-topped deviled eggs ($13) and the barbecue baby back ribs ($33) entree also speak with a Lone Star accent.
J. Alexander’s mini-menu of sushi rolls includes popular California and Rainbow Rolls
The Thai Kai chicken salad includes mixed greens, peanuts, wonton strips, cilantro vinaigrette and Thai peanut sauce. ($19)
“Texas represents real opportunity for us, and Plano is the right place to begin in North Texas.”
($15-18), as well as Crispy Rice ($21) with spicy tuna, Fresno peppers, green onions and unagi sauce. A range of craft cocktails, zeroproof mocktails and specialty martinis round out the drink menu, as well as an extensive wine list showcasing regional selections and popular vineyards. With entree prices ranging from about $20-50 including sides, the menu and setting at J. Alexander’s combine to suit both special occasions and weekday meals.
Of special note, in conjunction with its local debut, the restaurant also made a $5,000 donation to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County. The nationally-recognized nonprofit operates two facilities in Plano and McKinney focused on multi-disciplinary assistance for victims of abuse and neglect.
“This support ensures children and families in Collin County can access resources and protection during some of the most difficult moments they face,” says Erica Stanley, chief advancement officer of Children’s Advocacy Center. “We’re deeply grateful for the generosity that allows our work to continue.”
J. Alexander’s , 3980 Dallas Parkway, 214.427.4341, jalexanders.com
The avocado bomb, which contains ahi tuna and a crab salad, is served with crispy wontons on the side. ($21)
PUZZLES OF COLOR
TURNING A HOBBY INTO WORKS OF ART
Story by Alyssa High | Photography by Amani Sodiq
Puzzles of Color aren't just an activity — each puzzle is designed to be hung as art. The company even sells puzzle glue and puzzle preservation kits to help you do so.
For Ericka and William Jones, puzzles are more than just a family activity. They’re a way to display art, share history and celebrate diverse experiences.
Ericka didn’t set out to be a small business owner. After graduating from the University of Houston in 2010, she worked as a hotel event planner for a few years before becoming a process manager for Capital One. Ten years into that job, Ericka started a new venture — Puzzles of Color.
“My family has been doing puzzles together since I was a child, but we had a hard time finding puzzles with diverse art,” Ericka says. “So years later, when I got back into puzzles as an adult, I suggested that a friend of my brother who is an artist should turn her work into puzzles and the idea grew from there.”
Ericka started the business with her younger brother, William.
“He is an extremely talented graphic designer. He created our logo and does all of our packaging, branded merchandise and social images,” Ericka says. “Working with him is such a joy because it keeps us close. We talk multiple times a day. I know what's going on in his day-to-day and vice versa. We both have kids now, and that's super fun to have these little ones just running around the office. I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.”
The Joneses find artists through social media, self-submission, customer suggestions and events they attend.
Puzzles range from $10 for a 200-piece to $33.99 for a 1,000-piece. Styles range from abstract to historical and cartoony to editorial. The shop also sells puzzle glue, encouraging customers to keep the puzzles as art after finishing.
Puzzles of Color was part of 2024’s Legacy West Small Business Cohort, a program that works with small businesses in the area to provide resources, mentorship, education, retail opportunities and co-working days.
“It was really fun! We got to meet some great business owners who I am still friends with to this day. We also had great educational sessions to help operate our business and monthly pop-ups at their cabins,” Ericka says. “It gave us the chance to experience what it would be like to own a retail space.”
In December, the Joneses hosted a Black Joy Market, featuring Black-owned businesses at Plano-based nonprofit My Possibilities. After attending similar markets in the Houston area, Ericka wanted to bring the concept to North Texas.
“As a company that is constantly vending at other markets, we really wanted to create that opportunity for others, particularly in the north Dallas area, because many of the business owners that we meet are based up here, and we are constantly having to drive down south for events,” she says. “We realized that if we are doing that traveling, likely a lot of our customers are doing the same. So we wanted to provide a venue for families to kick off the holiday season and support small Black-owned businesses.”
The market was hectic, Ericka says. The team — which consists of just six people, four of whom have full-time jobs — had just come off working a booth at the State Fair of Texas.
“It took a lot of late nights and sweat and tears to pull it together. But we made it happen! The day of the event, my face was so sore because I was literally so happy at how it turned out,” she says. “The vendors were happy, the turnout was good, and we are going to make it even bigger and better next year.”
All puzzles come with a playlist of music that inspired the puzzle, available on Spotify. The Puzzles Of Color Spotify also includes podcast episodes with interviews with each artist.
PLAN
In Plano ISD, students access world-class pathways from PreK through graduation.
Families can choose the specialized path that best fits their child’s needs, from early language experiences to rigorous college-credit and career-focused options designed for real-world success.
Dual Language Immersion Program (Elementary): Bilingual, biliterate learning beginning in the early grades
International Baccalaureate (IB) PreK–12: Cohesive pathway that builds inquiry, global awareness and academic depth
Advanced Placement, Dual Credit & OnRamps: Challenging coursework with opportunities to earn college credit in high school
Health Sciences Academy & Wildcat Collegiate Integrated pathway to earn an associate degree alongside a high school diploma
Electrical Engineering Academy: Specialized program leading to 50+ college credit hours while exploring engineering
Academy High School: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM)-focused curriculum with hands-on, project-based learning
Career & Technical Education (CTE): Career-aligned programs leading to industry certifications, with expanded offerings coming soon to a new state-of-the-art CTE Center
Virtual Academy Program: Flexible 9–12 virtual learning option launching in 2026–27
MAR 1 DIVINE CONSIGN PLANO SPRING 2026 SUNDAY, 12 P.M., 2000 E. SPRING CREEK PARKWAY, FREE SPRING/SUMMER CONSIGNMENT EVENT OFFERING GENTLY USED CHILDREN'S AND MATERNITY CLOTHING, TOYS AND MORE.
7
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MAR 5
THURSDAY, 6:30 P.M., MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO, 6455 DALLAS PARKWAY, $175 ENJOY BITES, BEVERAGES, AUCTIONS AND FUN TO SUPPORT HENDRICK SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION.
PSO CHAMBER CONCERT SERIES: UP CLOSE
MAR 5
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MAR
7PLANO METROPOLITAN JUNIOR JUBILEE -
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MAR 8 THE
DROWSY CHAPERONE SUNDAY, 3 P.M., GENESIS CHILDREN'S THEATRE, 3100 INDEPENDENCE PARKWAY #324B, $17 A HILARIOUS, HIGH-ENERGY LOVE LETTER TO CLASSIC MUSICALS.
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MAR 28
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MARCH
PERFORMING ARTS REPERTORY
NORTH TEXAS
APR 3
THEATRE'S HELLO, DOLLY! FRIDAY, 7:30 P.M., WILLOW BEND CENTER OF THE ARTS, 6121 W. PARK BLVD., $25 A MEDDLESOME MATCHMAKER ARRIVES IN NEW YORK SET ON FINDING A MATCH AND MAKES BROADWAY HISTORY. APR 4
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APRIL
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APR 11
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DALLAS COUNTRY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, 11 A.M., HAGGARD PARK, 901 E 15TH ST., $5 ENJOY LIVE PERFORMANCES, VISUAL ARTISTS AND A FOOD & DRINK GARDEN. APR 23 CYRANO
THURSDAY, 7:30 P.M., COX PLAYHOUSE, 1517 H AVE., $10 A WITTY, SKILLED SWORDSMAN AND POET IS SECRETLY IN LOVE WITH ROXANE.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
CHAMBERLAIN BALLET’S
APR 23
SATURDAY, 2 P.M. & 4 P.M., ROBINSON FINE ARTS CENTER, 1800 ALMA DRIVE, $5 FAMILY BALLET SERIES PRESENTS THE CLASSIC FAIRY TALE WITH TCHAIKOVSKY’S ICONIC SCORE. APR 24 LEGACY OF LOVE FRIDAY, 11 A.M., RENAISSANCE DALLAS AT PLANO, 6007 LEGACY DRIVE, $150 LUNCH AND CONVERSATION WITH PROJECT RUNWAY'S TIM GUNN TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S HEALTH.
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WHOLE-BODY INTELLIGENCE LEADING
After more than a decade on the West Coast, Ritish Patnaik is bringing his work — and his company — back to North Texas.
Patnaik, a Plano native, Plano ISD grad and Stanford-trained scientist, has established the headquarters of Curve Biosciences at Pegasus Park, signaling a major vote of confidence in the region’s rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem. The move comes as Curve recently announced a $40 million funding round to support the rollout of its Whole-Body Intelligence platform, which uses tissue-based data and blood testing to improve chronic disease monitoring.
When Patnaik left Texas in 2012 to pursue his Ph.D. at Stanford University, North Texas lacked the infrastructure needed to launch and scale a biotech company, a press release stated. More than a decade later, he says the landscape has shifted.
While the company still operates in California, we chatted with Patnaik to discuss moving the headquarters to North Texas.
GROWING UP IN PLANO SCHOOLS, IS THERE ANYTHING (A TEACHER, CLASS, CLUB, PROJECT, ETC.) THAT INSPIRED YOUR INTEREST IN BIOTECH INNOVATION?
Cathy Bambenek, my 10th-grade chemistry teacher and science fair coach, was a huge influence for me to pursue science and further hone in on biotech. We’re still in touch.
PLANO-RAISED RITISH PATNAIK IS RETURNING TO DFW WITH CURVE BIOSCIENCES
Story by Alyssa High
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE CURVE BIOSCIENCES?
I’ve seen friends and family take ineffective medicines for years and develop further stages of their diseases because their physician didn’t have accurate disease monitoring tools. Blood testing is highly compliant for this type of monitoring, and I wanted to develop the next generation of blood tests for my loved ones.
HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE TECHNOLOGY TO READERS WHO MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE INDUSTRY?
We create blood tests that measure the health of your organs so that your doctor can add treatments to prolong your life. We create these tests by discovering particles in the blood that are unique to your disease or organ and not seen anywhere else in the body.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BRING THE HEADQUARTERS TO NORTH TEXAS?
Everything. North Texas is home. It’s where I grew up, first became interested in science, and where I see myself building the future of blood testing.
IS THERE ANYTHING I HAVEN’T ASKED ABOUT THAT READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU/CURVE BIOSCIENCES?
Our team is fantastic, and they’re looking forward to building Curve across Texas, California, and the rest of the United States.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Photo courtesy of Ritish Patnaik.
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