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Breaking News: Scott Jones Out of Screen Door

Posted on March 16th, 2009 6:29pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Foodie People, Restaurant News

It sounds like Scott Jones, the proprietor and creator of Screen Door Restaurant, has had the door slammed in his face. I’ve talked to a couple of people today who wouldn’t go on the record, but according to my real-estate dealing source, Jones is no longer associated with Screen Door and “is already out looking at other real estate.” According to two sources, One Arts developer Lucy Billingsley wasn’t happy with the way Jones was running the restaurant. It sounds like the savvy businesswoman had a clause in the contracts with the restaurants that she could pull someone out of the deal if she didn’t like what was going on in the restaurant. Ms. Billingsley, whatever it takes. May that circle of restaurants go unbroken. (photo: from Screen Door website.)

11 Comments to “Breaking News: Scott Jones Out of Screen Door”

FortWorthGuy @ March 16th, 2009 at 8:11 pm

A developer calling the shots at a restaurant? Makes perfect sense….just like Victory Plaza?
henry @ March 16th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

great! i did a profile piece on the restaurant last summer…
we waited at the front door for the guy half an hour.
the guy was such a prick never acknowledged me or the photog…so we left…guy called me an hour later and said he was ready…
ScreenWhore @ March 16th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

He’s a jerk. Bad business guy. Party man. I am not surprised.
DTD @ March 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am

So much for being the “Concept Creator.”

Good to know OAP is getting into the restaurant business, ready to kick out the guy who opened first and put that building on the culinary map.
N @ March 17th, 2009 at 9:01 am

Lucy is actually an investor in Screen Door, if my former almost-nightclub experience there is correct. Scott was running short on the startup capital, so Lucy supposedly provided him with more cash to get it open. So if that is true, she had full right to boot him as a major investor. Hope she’ll get a good person to take over the reins there…someone who is there for the restaurant and not looking for fame and fortune…someone truly invested in its success, not seeking accolades.
Nancy Nichols @ March 17th, 2009 at 9:19 am

N, from what I hear you are right. I think Ms. B has a piece of each of the restaurants to make sure they are all run to the OAP standards.

And, DTD, what is wrong with OAP getting into the biz to protect their development?
Kirk @ March 17th, 2009 at 9:51 am

Nothing wrong with OAP getting into restaurant biz or for kicking him out especially if she put in money to help get it open. My problem with this “development” and others like it, is the tendancy to place too many restaurants in one place. Why not three restaurants there and let them all do well insted they put five or six and let them duke it out thinking a mix of food style is justification for overdevelopment.
MAP @ March 17th, 2009 at 10:37 am

@N – I’m with you. there are far too many chefs/owners/managers/doormen, etc. who seek fame, fortune and accolades for themselves and don’t care about the restaurant, bar, staff, service or business. Fortunately, there are two fewer of them working in Dallas. Scott Jones and John Taser.
John Tesar @ March 17th, 2009 at 11:18 am

Who is John Taser?
SD friend @ March 17th, 2009 at 5:50 pm

Scott is still involved in Screen Door. It’s quite suspicious that your source(s) requested to stay off the record…
OldDallasNative @ March 18th, 2009 at 1:08 am

Majority of good staff left for WGP 560

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