February 08, 2017

Well-known Dallas Barbecue Family to Open Restaurant in Complex Connected to Texas Rangers' Ballpark

Fastballs aren't the only thing that will be smoked in Arlington in 2018.

When the $250 million Texas Live! Development opens in 2018, it will include Lockhart Smokehouse, one of the most well-known barbecue companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the developer, The Cordish Companies, announced Wednesday.

Lockhart will join an already-announced concept by Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host Guy Fieri and a brewery from Granbury's Revolver Brewing.

"We know how much of a tradition barbecue is in Texas," said Cordish spokesperson Cari Furman. "And with Texas in the name of Texas Live! we wanted to honor that tradition. Lockhart is an iconic name in Texas barbecue."

Lockhart Smokehouse is owned by Jeff and Jill Bergus and has its roots deep in Central Texas barbecue. Jill Bergus is the granddaughter of legendary Edgar "Smitty" Schmidt, who ran Kreuz Market in Lockhart for more than 40 years. The Berguses opened their first restaurant in the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff in 2011 and added a second location in Plano in 2014. Lockhart Smokehouse is the only place in Dallas Fort-Worth where one can find Kreuz Market Sausage.

"As a family-owned business ourselves, the rich family history of the Schmidt family and Lockhart Smokehouse resonated deeply with us and represented the perfect fit for Texas Live!," said Cordish Companies vice president Blake Cordish. "We look forward to working with the Schmidt and Bergus families in bringing Lockhart Smokehouse to life at Texas Live!."

The Texas Live! development is expected to open for the 2018 baseball season with more than 200,000 square feet of dining and entertainment options.