The Forge 1912 will open later this year at 123 N. Louisiana Drive in The Historic Downtown Celina Square. Owners Brian and Kristen Ethridge are busy curating every detail to ensure quality and charm from from every facet of the family-owned steakhouse.
Kristen took the time to share her family’s vision for the establishment with What Now Dallas. “Our building is located at 132 N. Louisiana in Celina, on the edge of the Historic Downtown Square, and was the home of the original blacksmith’s shop in town, dating back to 1912–which is where we got our name. We are Celina residents ourselves, and are looking to bring a locally focused dining experience to town which will deliver a great experience in food, service, and bar quality. “
Chef Joey Dawkins, a so-called “Celina dining legend” will be calling shots in the kitchen, preparing custom menus that customers can enjoy in the Chef’s Table room, which will seat 8-14 guests for upscale private dining events.
“We are sourcing some of the best food Texas has to offer,” Kristen told What Now Dallas. “Grass-fed prime red angus from Range Hand Meat Company, Akaushi Wagyu from Heartbrand Beef, organic-standard hydroponic produce from Denton’s Boterna Vertical Farms, select wines from Denison’s Hidden Hangar and Celina’s Eden Hill, as well as custom brews from Carrollton’s 3 Nations Brewery, and freshly baked breads and desserts from downtown Celina’s own Granny’s Bakery and The Wick.”
The ambiance is an equally important part of the customer experience. The construction process has preserved century-old wagon wood found in the attic of the building, which will become the custom table for the Chef’s Table room. Kristen described other decor, including “historical blacksmithing artifacts we dug up from the area behind the building.” She said, “We will also be honoring the history of this very special building with a special cocktail menu featuring a top cocktail from each of the six decades Grover Sheets operated his forge and machinist’s shop on the square.”
In addition to the main dining area and three private rooms, The Forge 1912 will have a full bar and casual patio service and will open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
“Renovating a 112-year-old building and making it into a steakhouse that both meets the needs of one of the fastest-growing communities in the state — if not the nation — and also preserves and emphasizes Celina’s unique small-town farm and ranch heritage has truly been a labor of love this past year for our family, and we cannot wait to get open later this spring and welcome our guests.”
Learn more at www.theforge1912.com.
