MUTTS Canine Cantina, a hybrid dog park, restaurant and bar, signed its first multi-unit franchise deal in Texas. The Dallas-based concept will open three new locations in Austin over the next three years. The neighborhoods under consideration for development include Round Rock, West Lake, Leander/Cedar Park, and Central/Downtown.
MUTTS operates on a membership model and each unit features a walk-up bar offering craft beer, a full bar offering a broader selection of drink options, high-definition televisions, and Adirondack-style lounge chairs throughout the dog park areas. A separate patio features concession-style food options specializing in chicken sandwiches, burgers, milkshakes, and a Doggie Menu for the four-legged patrons. Each MUTTS location will have two fully-enclosed, fenced lawn spaces — one each for small and large breeds — that cover more than an acre of land, giving pups space to play safely in both shaded and unshaded areas while their owners relax and socialize. Additionally, members can take advantage of free wireless internet access, Bark Rangers who provide water and keep the park tidy, and a dog washing area.
The MUTTS concept was created in 2013 by Kyle Noonan and Josh Sepkowitz, founders of FreeRange Concepts. Noonan and Sepkowitz have brought on Michelle Boggs as the managing partner to help spearhead franchise development.
“Expanding the MUTTS pawprint within our home state and to Austin seemed like a no-brainer. It’s a thriving city and fanatically dog-friendly, making it the perfect fit,” said Boggs. “MUTTS forces us to slow down, allows guests (both two and four-legged) to enjoy the moment and separate themselves from the hustle and bustle of life. With our major expansion plans — Arizona and Nevada being next —we’re looking forward to giving the top 40 major markets this benefit and a community that’s unlike any other in the U.S.”
MUTTS is targeting mixed-use projects and being pitched as a solution for oddly shaped or undevelopable tract land within an existing development.