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Chips’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers on Cole Will Close

Posted on September 3rd, 2008 9:07am by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Openings, Restaurant News

In 1980, Bill and Lynn Gross moved to Dallas an opened Chip’s in an old fire station on Central Expressway. The young couple figured that flippin’ burgers was a safe bet in an ever- changing economy. I mean 401Ks or not, people always need a good cheeseburger and fries. Ten years ago, they moved into their location on Cole. Bonus points to anyone who remembers what restaurant it replaced.)

Well, the (lack of) economy will now be eating the Chip’s location Cole Avenue for lunch. Seems the rent has been raised higher than the roof. Bill and Lynn still do plenty of corporate catering and their Lovers Lane @ the Tollroad location is still open. Go now, eat fast. Call Bill and Lynn and book your Christmas party. Life is too short to go without a good double cheeseburger. 214-691-2447.

38 Comments to “Chips’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers on Cole Will Close”

Nate @ September 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 am

Now that’s a tough one to swallow…news, not the burger (those go down easily). I’ve always been able to walk there from home and grab a burger, while watching a game there.

It doesn’t seem right that the building owner would “chase out” a neighborhood fixture. Such a shame to see.
foodczar @ September 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 am

Chips will be sorely missed. Their shoestring onion burger was one of the very best in Dallas, and the ambiance of the Cole location was second to none.
Marcus @ September 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 am

This is the worst news I could get this week. I usually split time between Chip locations, but this one is easier to get to from the office.
Amy S @ September 3rd, 2008 at 9:51 am

Hmmm, in this economy will the landlord be able to get anyone to pay a high rent? It’s a very saturated market in the Knox/Cole/McKinney area, if memory serves parking is a big issue at night.

Sure it could make a great Lombardi concept rr, if he’s in the mood to risk cannibalizing his other rr’s sales. Inquiring minds want to know.
Rodknee @ September 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 am

In the early 80’s,on the way home from church, our family would occasionally have lunch at the restaurant that came before Chip’s that was, I think, called “The Old Church”. I also want to say there was a Chinese restaurant there at one time. But Chip’s is the best thing that happened to that corner. In a neighborhood where affordable family fare has become endangered, Chip’s is place where lunch or dinner didn’t have to be an expensive event.
Jennifer Chininis @ September 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 am

Now THIS is a much sadder story.
k @ September 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am

The Old Church was a fun bar/restaurant (before the chinese restaurant)- I also hate to see this go. First Balls and now Chips???
Marci @ September 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 am

I will sure miss those shoestring onion burgers……..
m @ September 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 am

Before Chip’s the location was occupied by Thai Taste, and before that by Krisda’s a pioneer in upscale Asian Fusion.
rm @ September 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am

I am starting a petition. None of the other vacant restaurant spaces have been have been filled (i.e. Cretia’s, Hola, Tijuana, Sushi on McKinney). Why does this landlord think he can raise the rent in an area which already has too many vacant spaces?
Not On My Watch @ September 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 am

Knox Street Village I, Inc.
Michael Roman, VP
C.A. Galpern
8115 Preston Road, Ste. 400
Dallas, Texas 75225
Sandra @ September 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am

The Eggplant used to be where Chip’s is. All egg dishes, all the time.
educated source @ September 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Sorry to disappoint you all, but I hear a bank is moving in.
TheKid @ September 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm

@rm: Sushi on McKinney closed??? That was one of my favorites.
DTD @ September 3rd, 2008 at 12:57 pm

I don’t know what the specific circumstances are, but I don’t necessarily think the landlord wanting higher rent at the end of a lease term correlates to a “(lack of) economy.”

If they couldn’t make their rent in the middle of the lease term because sales were down, that would point to more negative economic factors.
kYle @ September 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm

This sucks ass. Pardon me if my pants don’t go crazy at the thought of eating the best double cheesburger ever invented in a converted IHOP.
rm @ September 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm

yes, sushi on mckinney closed…as an avid sidedish reader i learned it was due to retirement and not the economy. I was never a big fan and, while I live next door, ate their only once.
rm @ September 3rd, 2008 at 2:35 pm

also, the landlord and chips worked out some deal. the rent was going up from 4k/month to 12k/month and instead will be 6k/month on a month to month basis. so no closing, for now.
rm @ September 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm

oh god, my worst nightmare, a grammatical error in my comment..its THERE, not their..the horror..sorry
LM @ September 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm

So is the not closing confirmed? I hate to admit it, but I have cut way back on eating out. It’s less than once a week these days instead of 3 to 4 times a week.
Nancy Nichols @ September 3rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm

I have e-mailed the PR firm that sent me the information on the closing and will report back ASAP!
Nancy Nichols @ September 3rd, 2008 at 4:39 pm

rm
welcome to the grammar police state of blogging
Dallasite @ September 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm

Cretia’s has signed a lease for the old Tijuana’s on McKinney. They’ve been negotiating for several months.
Dallasite @ September 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm

“Cretia’s, Hola, Tijuana, Sushi on McKinney”

There are a few deals working on Cretia’s old space, but nothing signed yet. The deals I know of would involve dividing the space.

As I said above, Cretia has signed for the old Tijuana’s.

I wish I could reach the owner of Sushi on McKinney. The owner of the restaurant owns the building, and I can’t seem to track him down.
Nancy Nichols @ September 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm

Let’s see if we can find that for you.
rm @ September 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm

I knew about the Cretias into Tijuana deal..the biggest complaint was that now the Cretias regulars are going to have to drive to Knox Pub for their drinks instead of walk across the street. I think they have lost a lot of customers being closed so long. The best part was the ambiance..try to recreate that in the Tijuana space.
gammiepie @ September 4th, 2008 at 6:36 am

I’m so upset about Chips. I dined there for the very first time with my husband way back when. I think it was our second date. We return frequently since we live nearby. A bank? Really? I’m so disappointed by that.
TheKid @ September 4th, 2008 at 9:02 am

@rm: I liked Cretia’s before it became hip-hop, or whatever it was prior to closing. I think they had one of the coolest old bars. It was said to be over 100 years old, brought in from New Orleans.
tk @ September 4th, 2008 at 10:18 am

If I were the owner of Sushi on Mckinney I would retire also. I heard, Chipotle has signed a lease @ $55+ a foot and will also put a new building on his property…
Sooner Guy @ September 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

I am very upset & sorry to hear that Chip’s on Knox Street is closing. Every year I make my annual trip to Dallas or the Tx/OU game. The highlight of that trip is for my family & I is to dine at Chip’s and get a chance to visit with the wonderful manager (Mary). She is truly a jewel and it is refreshing in this day and age to get the excellent level of customer srvice that she has always provided.
sam @ September 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

The Chips location at Lover’s & the Tollway is too far and too hard to get to. The parking is ridiculous. The Cole location is fantastic. I will be upset to see it go. Just what this town needs-one more bank. Please.

Any word on when it’s closing?
Jean Val Jean @ September 4th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

I’m also curious about the “When”
old man @ September 4th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

Old timers will remember the Chips building as The Old Church – a favorite watering hole of SMU and HPHS.

Famous for Monday night 75 cent Long Island Iced Teas.

Everything a 17 year old “man” could want – SMU coeds and cheap drink.
itsme @ September 5th, 2008 at 9:22 am

there is a second Chips on Lovers/ tollway. not as easy to get too for downtown lunch breaks though. the number for the Chips on Cole is 214-526-1092, the article has the chips on Lovers number listed.
#1SPURSFAN @ September 5th, 2008 at 11:55 am

To my Mavs Fan Mary, Its sad that the place I Love to go and have the best burgers in town is going to close, BUT most of all Im going to miss seeing your beautiful smile and hearing your beautiful voice!!! Say my name, say my name…I guess I will see you at the games. Go Stars, Go Cowboys!!!!From your SPURS Fan Jason. Love YA!
whit @ September 30th, 2008 at 11:43 am

i’m very disappointed in what’s going on in the uptown and east dallas area these days. the cool dallas places are closing and being replaced with chains, banks (we don’t need more of those) and cheesy shops. they have torn down the older apartmens and are replacing them with more apartments that will be “older apartments” withhin 10 years. someone stop these people!!
chanhl @ December 19th, 2008 at 11:47 pm

I’d like to know who to contact to get information on franchising of Chips Burgers.
Brochures, requirements, guidelines, if available. Sorry to hear that it is closing.

Thanks
mca @ December 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 pm

Any updates on the old Cretia’s space?