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For the past 10 years of its existence the Turkish Café & Lounge in Plano, TX has been a great success. It brings many happy memories and joy to the Plano and neighboring communities. Just ask them.

 

The ambient lighting and atmosphere, authentic food and many forms of entertainment enrich local communities with newfound cultural experiences. It is a family-friendly place. People go there to celebrate.  The Turkish Café & Lounge is proud to host many national and international holiday events, weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties (both adults and kids) and many other special occasions and gatherings.

 

But it was the invitation by Richardson’s City Leadership that convinced Mehmet Shon Celik, Owner of Turkish Café & Lounge, to bring this same concept to a location in Richardson, TX. He found and bought an existing restaurant ‘Tantuni’ at the corner of Abrams and Buckingham Roads and named his new restaurant Another Time & Place Grille.

 

The new Owner was excited to improve the existing, neglected property with a complete redesign: a large outdoor patio, intricate water features and a covered patio for outside dining and lounging to bring a similar concept as the Turkish Café & Lounge to Richardson. The designs were amazing and visionary, another cultural landmark for this vibrant city.

 

After getting a green light and a handshake from Richardson city officials, the Owner worked diligently with city staff for over seventeen months on plans to turn this vision into reality.

 

The plans were originally approved at the P&Z meeting and later approved by the Richardson City Council in a vote of 4:3. After approval by the City Council and after the public announcement in the Dallas Morning News there were significant additional expenses incurred for the site survey and for the development of plans among other costs.

 

However, it was at this late stage in the process that one Council member unexpectedly started a campaign in opposition to the project, which forced one of the City Council members to change his original vote. As a result, the City Council voted against the project 4:3.

 

In the efforts to continue bringing his project to life, Mehmet Shon Celik worked with the City officials to gain an administrative approval for the build out of the two small outside patios. He also heard and addressed the concerns of the local communities and removed outdoor entertainment and the sale of alcohol from his concept. With these changes, he submitted the application for the special permit for a smoking establishment for the purpose of serving “Turkish Water Pipe” ( Hookah) to its guests on one of the outside patios. With the support of the residents of Richardson and other cities all in favor of the concept of Another Time and Place, the application was approved by the vote of 5:2 at the P&Z meeting on September 20, 2022. The project is now on the agenda of the City Council meeting for a vote on October 10, 2022. However, the project will have a tough time being approved without the strong public support of local residents and interested parties.

 

With these changes, what is in front of the City Council for a vote is a great departure from his original concept. The Owner, Mehmet Shon Celik, has a deep interest in running a classy and quality restaurant as reflected in his original designs, and he has the experience to do it again in Richardson. He has shown his commitment to Richardson with his time, money and creativity, as well as with his reach out to the communities, accommodating their concerns as much as feasible. Once built and running, the new restaurant with the original creative concept will become a unique and successful destination eatery for all of North Texas.

 

As residents and patrons of Richardson, we petition the City Council to approve both the special permit for a smoking establishment and the original design and architecture of the restaurant ‘Another Time and Place’. This design is classy and elegant and will provide a memorable dining experience for people from all over DFW. And it is a much-needed neighborhood place of comfort and good food.

 

Freedom to choose is a cornerstone of the great American experience. Support choice, we need your support today.

 

Please visit https://www.turkishcafeandlounge.com/ to learn more about the Turkish Café & Lounge and to see plans for the new project in Richardson.