The all-in construction cost is still being fine-tuned, but morethan $2 million will go into the interior finish-out alone for the126-seat restaurant, according to Hogue, who signed a 10-year leasefor the restaurant spot and patio at 1717 Main St. He saysconstruction is slated to begin by November. "We are going to builda brand that will be part of Downtown Dallas and an institution,"says the owner of Hogue Enterprise Co.

The plan to add a high-end restaurant to the 60-story landmark'sroster has been in the making seven of the eight years that itsgatekeeper under two owners has been in charge of leasing. The dealwill light a 5,750-sf restaurant space for the first time in onedecade.

"We really wanted a high-end restaurant. There was some interestbefore, but not the quality that we wanted," says Don Dowell, thetower's long-time leasing agent who transitioned to Cushman &Wakefield of Texas Inc. at Metropolitan's behest after itbought thetrophy. "He [Hogue] has the right vision. He is asuccessful restaurant operator and has a really good following ofpeople."