D Magazine

On Tuesdays, workers from Restorative Farms wind through the streets of Fair Park until they reach the Midway, where their next harvest lies.

Their destination is a shipping container in the shadow of the Texas Star Ferris Wheel. Its name is Grozilla, a hydroponic farm inside a 15-ton container next to the Errol McKoy Greenhouse that produces fresh produce each week. Restorative Farms co-founder Brad Boa cleans his shoes on the anti-microbial mat and sanitizes his hands. Any trace of bacteria or bugs could ruin an entire harvest.

Sierra hoped to open the shop by spring 2022 with his friend and coffee buyer, Weston Stewart. But a plan review from the city threatened the coffee shop’s opening. Due to an outdated parking code regulation, Sierra was required by the city to have 18 parking spots to accommodate its more than 1,600 square feet of restaurant space (which includes 400 square feet of a detached garage). Current city code requires at least one parking space for every 100 square feet for restaurants.  

A former pitmaster of Lockhart Smokehouse has filed a counterclaim accusing the owners of the barbecue joint of fraud and breach of contract in its investor and partnership agreements, according to court documents.

The counterclaim is part of a trio of lawsuits filed in Collin County in April by Lockhart owners Jill and Jeff Bergus. In the various petitions, the Berguses allege Tim McLaughlin, his wife, and his in-law’s trust interfered with contracts, employees, and business relations to hurt Lockhart Smokehouse. It is yet another layer in a complicated ongoing legal battle.