Vault undergoing massive expansion

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

The owners are cracking open The Vault with plans to almost triple the restaurant in size by September.

“Our customers have springs,” said owner Todd Tonore. “They can’t sit still, they’re up and talking to people.”

And they need room to move – and room for more people, he said.

“We’re turning down more reservations than we’re accepting,” Tonore said.

The Mansfield restaurant, recently renamed The Vault Seafood & Steakhouse, will go from 3,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet, with the ability to seat up to 280 diners, including a private meeting room for 30. The expanded restaurant will have an enclosed cigar patio with heaters and televisions, a second lighted bar, a Model T near the front door, plus double the size of the current kitchen and add 20-25 new employees.

The $2.5 million expansion will take over the footprint of two adjoining businesses in the shopping center at the southeast corner of the Matlock Road and Country Club Drive. Construction on the expansion is expected to be completed by September, Tonore said.

The high-end restaurant, which features dishes like Chilean Sea Bass, Tomahawk Pork Chops with Buffalo Trace Whiskey Glaze and Prime Filet Medallions finished with Brandy Cream Sauce, opened in July 2021 and quickly caught on with the community.

“Because Mansfield is not the typical Fort Worth or Dallas scene, we are one of the only restaurants open late at night,” explained Lindsay Heefner, the private event coordinator for The Vault and managing partner. “We do see a lot of people that come in for that after-dinner drink.”

When The Vault first opened, a lot of people thought that they had to be members to be served, Heefner said. Not true!

The restaurant did sell on-site lockers so that customers could purchase a variety of specialty liquors, wines and beers at discounted prices from The Vault’s distributors and keep them at the restaurant. Originally, The Vault offered 400 lockers, but those sold out before the restaurant even opened. The expansion will allow The Vault to offer 150 more lockers.

The larger space will also allow the restaurant to be more family friendly. The Vault opened for ages 21 and older, but soon lowered the dining age to 18. The enlarged restaurant will have an area for diners with younger children.

The Vault is currently open from Tuesday-Saturday, but when the expansion is complete the restaurant will add Mondays, Tonore said. Weeknights are popular with the locals, Heefner said. Live music is another draw Wednesday-Saturday.

The restaurant is at 2300 Matlock Road, Suite 31. For more information, click here or call 817-512-8100.

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