Cheesecake Factory’s Sister Chain Takes Over Shuttered Jasper’s

Dallas-based chain Jasper’s shuttered in the Domain and is being replaced Cheesecake Factory’s sister chain Grand Lux Cafe. This will be the chain’s first Austin location, and second in Texas after the one in Houston. There is no opening date yet, but construction already begun.

According to Jasper’s website, the restaurant’s lease was up, and it decided to not to renew. The search for a new Austin home is already underway. The last day of service was on Saturday, May 21.

Created by the same company, Grand Lux Cafe is like a fancier version of Cheesecake Factory. The first location opened within the Venetian in Las Vegas. The chain offers a massive menu full of sandwiches, salads, baked goods, and fusion dishes under the moniker of "grand casual cuisine" (think Chinese-Indian shrimp and chicken, cake beef Wellington, Bourbon Street chicken). Eater Las Vegas is a fan of its club sandwich.

Jasper’s founding executive chef and partner Kent Rathbun left his Dallas restaurant Abacus after 18 years. He is now suing restaurant group H2R Restaurant Holdings (which includes Jasper’s) for the right to use his name for future projects. Jasper’s still has open locations in Plano, Richardson, and Houston.