The restaurant was imagined long before its opening, in late 1980s when Jim and Cindy Hughes were young newlyweds in Omaha, Nebraska a friend of theirs owned a restaurant that was closing called Bread Winners. Before the couple moved to Dallas they bought the name for $1.00 with the intent of someday opening their own location. The Hughes settled into their apartment in Uptown (way before it was known as “Uptown”) and noticed a restaurant called Verlaine’s on the corner of McKinney and Hall, whose quirky charm and proximity to downtown sparked their interest.
Verlaine’s was in the process of closing, so the Hughes purchased it, made some renovations, and opened for business on July 22, 1994. The Hughes family lived on the second floor of the Uptown location for the first several years with their young children before moving into a larger space and converting the second floor to office space. All four of their children and both sets of parents worked at the restaurant in some capacity over the last 28 years.
In 2022 the Hughes retired and sold the brand to Josh Bock with Stratega Capital. Bock, whose focus is typically in tech and real estate, was initially interested in the real estate holdings held by Bread Winners and felt that their concepts would be a natural fit for his portfolio given the current growth trajectory in the area. After meeting the management team, Mr. Bock felt he could retain the leadership team and grow Bread Winners into a larger brand name. Bock and his executive team are currently working to build on the brunch and catering aspects of the company and expand nationwide through franchising.
Over the past 29 years, the concept has become legendary for its brunch selection of “Hangover Elixirs” including Benedicts, French Toast, Pancakes & Waffles, and Scrambles. The cafe now boasts four locations, 300+ employees, and corporate catering services. Bread Winners has won hundreds of local awards for its menu and bakery items, and developed SoleMates, an organic line of treats for pets.
Opened in 2000 with two stories, plenty of outdoor areas, and an unmistakable French Quarter feel, Quarter Bar in Uptown transports you straight to the Big Easy. This location shares a courtyard with Bread Winners Uptown location. These unique, award-winning locations have one thing in common: they are premier hot spots for food and libations made from scratch daily in an atmosphere unlike any other.
WEEKLY SPECIALS:
Monday: ½-Priced Bubbles (by the bottle or by the glass) Served open to close Tuesday: Two for Tuesday – buy one appetizer get an appetizer on us. Served open to close Wednesday: ½-Priced Bottles of Wines (Whites, Reds & Rosé only, no bubbles) Served open to close; Take a photo and tag us on social media while at the restaurant and get a free dessert Friday: Happy Hour from 1-4pm for Uptown & 1pm to close for Inwood, North Park & Plano 25% off our cocktail and wine menu
