Mico Rodriguez and chef David McMillan to take over Screen Door at One Arts Plaza in Dallas

Chef Fitzgerald Dodd and manager Rick Stein are out.

DALLAS — Screen Door, a modern southern kitchen located in the Dallas Arts District, announces the appointment of a new management company. With a newly formed company, MCM Restaurants, Michael "Mico" Rodriguez will now serve as Screen Door's Executive Director, overseeing the day to day operations of the One Arts Plaza restaurant. Chef/Partner David McMillan will bring his renowned culinary and management skills to Screen Door's kitchen.

"We are so fortunate that these two great talents have come together for a merger. At Screen Door we have a great dining concept that is ready to be leveraged and enhanced into the home cooking heart of the Arts District. I am genuinely thrilled about the possibilities that these industry stalwarts bring to Screen Door," remarked Lucy Billingsley, partner, Billingsley Company.

MCM Restaurants is a newly formed restaurant brand development company combining the forces and expertise of veteran restaurateurs Mico Rodriguez and David McMillan, along with contributing partners Robert Colombo and Teiichi Sakurai. With a goal of developing creative restaurants that are conceived and run the best way possible, Screen Door is MCM Restaurant's first project.

"I am incredibly excited to be at One Arts Plaza at this point in my life. This is a great opportunity for our new company," said Mico Rodriquez. "Screen Door already has a wonderful reputation in the community and we hope to call upon our experience to make it even better."

Added Billingsley, "The management change coincides with the opening of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and all of the possibilities the Arts District now brings. Screen Door has been one of One Arts Plaza's highly praised establishments by both critics and customers alike, and we appreciate the dedication of Chef Fitzgerald Dodd, GM Rick Stein and their staff."

Executive Director Mico Rodriguez and Chef/Partner McMillan bring over 75 years of combined experience and acclaim to Screen Door. Mico Rodriguez, known as the "Godfather of Tex-Mex," is the founder and former CEO of the M Crowd Restaurant Group, which formed in 1990 with the first restaurant in 1991. He also founded The Mercury Grill and The Mercury Chophouse with celebrated Chef Chris Ward.

Chef/Partner McMillan has been chef, owner, and caterer for top rated restaurants, hotels, Hollywood celebrities and world dignitaries. Most recently McMillan collaborated with Tristan Simon at Consilient Restaurants, opening projects in both Dallas and Los Angeles after closing his restaurant, 62 Main in Colleyville earlier this year.

His experience also includes a highly successful tenure at Nana where he put a new spin on upscale New American cuisine. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, McMillan served as partner & executive chef for World Broadcasters division of the Atlanta Committee of the Olympic Games. He has been associated with some of the country's leading hotel companies in addition to being executive chef at Beverly Hill's famed Peninsula Hotel, which was awarded both five stars and five diamonds during his tenure. As partner and executive chef of Legacy Restaurant, which opened in 1995, he presided over what LA Magazine voted one of the Ten Best New Restaurants in LA.

Source: Screen Door

Teresa Gubbins, staff:

one thing that the press release does not address is where Chef Fitzgerald Dodd or GM Rick Stein are going. they're still working in the restaurant this week, apparently to help smooth the transition. classy! so if you want to see them, experience their service, or sample the food, you still have a chance, however brief.