Blue Mint Thai will open a flagship restaurant in Arlington that will not only serve food but will also serve as a training center for the brand’s new franchisees.
The location, at 380 Front St. in downtown Arlington, is 65% complete and is expected to open its doors in late summer or early fall of this year, according to an investor newsletter consulted by The News
The chain was founded by Kenny and Ooy Amartana, immigrants from Thailand, who opened their first restaurant in Midlothian in 2008.
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Blue Mint Thai currently operates that location, plus one in Mansfield and a concession stand at Globe Life Field, and is now owned by Mike Wilson, a retired Arlington Police detective and Air Force Security Forces commander, who has big plans for the chain.
“We believe the path forward looks similar to what Chipotle, Cava and Raising Cane’s have accomplished in their categories, but with handmade, high-quality, authentic and award-winning cuisine built on three generations of recipes straight from Bangkok,” Wilson said in a statement.
The plan is to expand to other cities. Recently, the brand announced that it already has three letters of intent to open 10 potential franchise restaurants in Austin and Frisco, and has received inquiries from people in other Texas cities, including Weatherford, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie and Dallas, as well as other markets such as Florida, Kansas City, St. Louis and Charleston, S.C
The company emphasized that it is not seeking rapid expansion, but rather is focusing on finding operators who are committed to the chain’s values regarding food, culture and the long-term brand.
