University of North Texas Our alumni are nothing if not resilient, and many are currently fighting to keep their
businesses open as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. For those on the hunt for any number
of products — from food and drink to clothing and electronics — who also want to support
their fellow Eagles during this trying time, there are plenty of options in Denton
and beyond. Any businesses we overlooked? Let us know at northtexan@unt.edu, and we’ll add them to the list.
May 30, 2020
Denton Independent Hamburger
Mike Barnett (’92)
A Denton burger joint
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2019-spring/dish-denton
Komodo Loco & Po-K Loco
Corey Bobbitt
A non-traditional Japanese restaurant that features dishes with both Asian and Latin fusions
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Barley & Board
John "Sparky" Pearson (’95 M.B.A.)
A gastropub and restaurant with hand-crafted brews and New-American style cuisine
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
LSA Burger Co.
Steve Watkins (’88)
A burger restaurant with a rooftop deck, located on the Denton Square
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
GreenHouse Restaurant & Bar
Kenneth Currin (’91)
Open-fire grill restaurant and bar located in Denton
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Hula Hut
Stephen “Duffy” Oyster (’71)
Locally owned Tex-Mex and Polynesian restaurant with island scenery, located in Little Elm
northtexan.unt.edu/taste-makers
The Laurel Tree
Laurel Waters (’91)
A restaurant by reservation for lunch or dinner, with a menu that changes weekly, and located in a gorgeous treehouse
Sam Jung (’11), owner of J Sushi
J Sushi
Sam Jung (’11)
An authentic sushi restaurant located on Loop 288
northtexan.unt.edu/content/denton-food-scene
Mi Casita
Matt Kphandani (’84)
An authentic Mexican restaurant with two locations in Denton
northtexan.unt.edu/content/denton-food-scene
The Pickled Carrot food truck
Cuong Mai (’10)
A food truck that sells authentic Vietnamese cuisine
northtexan.unt.edu/content/denton-food-scene
Metzler’s Food and Beverage
Roy Metzler (’84)
A barbecue eatery with beer and wine located on 380 in Denton.
A charcuterie board from Ten:One
Ten : One
Justin Bonard (’16 M.A.)
A cheese shop and winery located off the Denton Square
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2019-summer/delicious-endeavor
Gnome Cones
Bret Hawkins (’16)
A gnome-themed snow cone hangout in Denton, and a stand in Argyle
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2020-spring/theres-no-business-snow-business
Maxine’s Cafe
David Sartain (’73, ’79 M.B.A) and Libby Sartain (’77 M.B.A.)
A cafe and breakfast joint in Bastrop
northtexan.unt.edu/taste-makers
Kevin Long ('96)
A Richardson-based business that delivers fresh produce, healthy snacks, fresh-baked bread, pies and quiche. The business was founded in 2010 and expanded delivery to homes, apartments and dorms across the Metroplex since the pandemic.
Handmade crafts on display at The DIME Store
The DIME Store
An independent store located near the Denton Square that sells artwork by Allie Biddle (’15), Emily Holt (’11), Savannah Kurka (’14), Shawna Smyth (’13) and Anna Tover (’08), and all kinds of gifts and goodies.
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Sleeping Lizzards
Beth Klein (’87) and Roxane Clark (’95)
A Denton gift shop selling handmade jewelry, soaps, gifts and various souvenirs
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
The Paisley Heart
Brooke Howerton (’04)
An online clothing store for women
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Nha Khanh
Khanh Nguyen (’08)
A bold and bright online fashion store for women
https://northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Brittney Young ('14)
This online-only apparel store donates a portion of its proceeds to a local domestic violence shelter and outreach efforts.
Dad Wilder
Blake Barrett (’12) and Dave Wandersee (’12)
Founded in 2018, Dad Wilder is a dad and mom apparel business that is located in McKinney and online at dadwilder.com. The business gives back to charities such as St. Jude's and Folds of Honor.
Jonna Hopeful Payne Davis (’02) owns Nuluv, a goat-milk based skin-care line.
Nuluv Goat Milk Products
Jonna Hopeful Payne Davis (’02)
A goat milk-based skin-care line for people with allergies and sensitivities to milk
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-summer/goat-enterprise
Obia Naturals
Obia Ewah (’04)
Non-toxic hair products with vegan ingredients
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2019-spring/making-hair-happy
Urban Decay
Wende Zomnir (’89)
Cruelty-free, high-pigment makeup and cosmetics
Piper kits teach children how to build computers and code.
Piper Computer Kit
Mark Pavlyukovsky (’09 TAMS)
A kit that teaches children 7 and older how to build their own computer and learn coding to make a video game
Recreation with bicycle illustration
Bunch bicycles allow children to ride in a box attached to the front of the bike.
Bunch Bikes
Aaron Powell (’11)
Bikes featuring a box in the front that kids can ride in
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Sprockets
Owned by Brandon Dupre (’11) and founded by Sipo Thao (’08)
A Denton-based bike shop that sells bikes and cycling accessories
northtexan.unt.edu/living-healthy
Denton Bicycle Center
Joe Holland (’74)
A Denton-based bike center that sells bikes and biking accessories, and allows bike trade-ins
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
David Schweig ('70) and Brad Schweig ('03)
The patio furnishings store sells furniture that helps customers have a relaxing outdoor experience. Sunnyland was the recipient of the Small Business Award for Corporate Social Responsibility by the Governor's Small Business Forum in 2015, and in 2017 won Retailer of the Year from the Home Furnishings Association.
Armadillo Ale Works
Yianna Arestis (’08, ’11 M.B.A.) and Bobby Mullins (’07)
The duo brews beers such as Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale and Quakertown Stout from their homes and distributes them through various retailers.
northtexan.unt.edu/content/armadillo-ale
The Bearded Monk
Ben Esley (’08)
A craft beer bottle shop in Denton
northtexan.unt.edu/content/denton-brew-scene
Oak St. Drafthouse and Cocktail Parlor
John Williams (’05)
A bar featuring a large patio and more than 70 types of beers
John Williams (’05) owns East Side in Denton.
East Side Denton
John Williams (’05)
A sports bar in Denton with more than 90 beers on tap
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2018-unt-alumni-gift-guide
Times Ten Cellars
Dustin Walker (’06)
A winery and wine-tasting business that also hosts events and parties
northtexan.unt.edu/growing-and-crafting
Denton County Brewing Co.
Seth Morgan (’93)
The independent craft brewery in Denton has board games, trivia nights and tons of drinks to choose from.
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2019-spring/dish-denton
Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods
Lindy Rydman (’72) and John Rydman (’72)
A husband-and-wife-owned company selling wines and other drinks and foods
northtexan.unt.edu/issues/2014-summer/all-family
Creative Soul Music School
Casey Thomas (’01)
A bonding experience, located in Keller, that teaches groups how to perform a song and record videos
Christian Brothers Automotive
Bobby J. Williams ('86, '13 MBA) and Sandy Bickham Williams ('88)
The alums own two of the vehicle maintenance and repair shops, with locations in Bedford and north Fort Worth.