Ford Fry Eyes Southeast Expansion for his 'Mex-Tex'

Local restaurant magnate Ford Fry has been building his Atlanta empire for years, but it sounds like it's about to expand beyond the state of Georgia. Fry is close to opening State of Grace, his first Houston restaurant, and the Charleston Post and Courier has confirmed the buzz that Fry wants to take his take on Tex-Mex national.

"We are pursuing a few Southeast locations for our Tex Mex brand," restaurant group spokeswoman Valerie Mosley says. "Areas include, but aren't limited to, Nashville, Charleston and Houston."

The restaurants would follow the style of The El Felix and Superica, which opened in Alpharetta's Avalon development and Inman Park's Krog Street Market late last year and early this year, respectively. Fry also plans to open another "Mex-Tex" eatery early next year in Buckhead. Word on the street is that other possible cities among Mosley's "aren't limited to" quote are Austin and Charlotte.

With all of the restaurants he opens, it's hard to imagine when Fry might sleep. After Superica began service in February, Marcel, his old-school steakhouse in Westside, launched in July, and Bar Margot just opened its doors at the Four Seasons hotel in Midtown. Fry's Rocket Farm Restaurants also operates  JCT. Kitchen & Bar and The Optimist in Westside, King + Duke and St. Cecilia in Buckhead, and No. 246 in Decatur. Beetlecat, a casual sister concept to The Optimist, will open later this fall in Inman Park's Inman Quarter development.