We certainly are fond of Shops at Legacy North Plano (SLN) as our studios are just north, but the growing list of empty stores can no longer be ignored. The once lively, poppin’ Ra Sushi suddenly closed its doors for good without any fanfare. Our CEO, a regular there since it opened some 20 years ago, found out about the closure by doing his usual hot sake pregame before Monday Night Football.

He was greeted by a lady who at first seemed like a regional manager, but later was told by insiders that she was the CEO of Ra Sushi. We couldn’t confirm her name and title, though CoPilot suggest it might likely be Caroline O’Mahony Baker, the Senior Vice President of Operations at The ONE Group Hospitality. One Group had just acquired Benihana earlier in 2024. Benihana owns Ra Sushi.

Regardless, other stores in SLN have been closed for some time, enough to where it’s starting to look ‘ghost townish.’ Fortunately, popular spots like Mexican Sugar, Capital Grille, Seasons 52, and yes, Benihana, which was just steps away from Ra, are anchoring the location. But compared to its sister south of Legacy Drive, Shops at Legacy East—why not call it “South”?—the buzz is waning. Legacy West on the other side of Dallas Tollway/Dallas Parkway, is very much alive and thriving, as is The Star in Frisco and Grandscape in The Colony (which is perhaps one of the best modern, suburban “eat-play-live here” concepts in the country.

Even Stonebriar Mall in Frisco and the Dallas Galleria further south are attracting popular retailers with viral appeal. It would be nice to see SLN compete with these malls to bring back the buzz that made it the talk of the nation years ago. Who remembers when Blue Martini, Ra Sushi and Capital Grille made SLN one of the most lively suburban nightlife spots for affluent adult professionals in the early 2010s?

Fond memories indeed.

At one point, the visually appealing water fountain, with its colorful displays, went into disrepair and stayed off for a few years. Blue Martini closed. The spot where the Italian Village operated for around a year and a half had seen ownership change hands a few times over the years, never quite able to get over the hump. Eventually, the colorful water fountain was repaired and came back online, but the once bustling crowds never quite came back. It seems they migrated to the lively fountains of Legacy West, Grandscape, Granite Park (just north of SLN and our studios) and The Star in Frisco. Parking at SLN is limited compared to its more modern competitors in Legacy West, The Star and Grandscape. Could that be a deciding factor in attracting retailers?

Here’s to hopefully a vibrant 2025 where SLN makes a comeback…Cheers!