For years, the distinctive gold-domed building along the Dallas North Tollway sat empty and fading — a ghost of one of North Dallas’ most beloved dining institutions. The original III Forks steakhouse, a fixture for power lunches, business deals and anniversary celebrations since opening in March 1999, closed after a 22-year run when the restaurant relocated to Frisco. What it left behind was an iconic landmark without a tenant.
At some point, the disrepair grew serious enough that homeless individuals began sheltering inside. A building that had once hosted thousands of celebratory meals became a cautionary tale about what happens to icons when nobody steps up.
Well, someone finally stepped up.
Champions Social Club officially opened to the public on May 14, breathing new life into the gold-domed shell with a $15 million renovation and a concept that is equal parts supper club, poker room and neighborhood gathering place. The result is something North Dallas hasn’t quite seen before: a private membership club built around friendly competition, serious food and the increasingly rare pleasure of putting your phone down and actually being present.