When Knife Plano opened its doors in late 2018, it walked into a mall already on life support. The Shops at Willow Bend, once expected to be Plano’s crown jewel, endured years of decline.
Despite a promising start in 2001, with more than 250,000 visitors flocking to its grand opening, the mall never fully lived up to the hype.
Yet, six years later, in the middle of uncertainty and shifting fortunes, one thing remains clear: Knife Steakhouse from famed chef John Tesar, is here to stay.
“We’ve endured the management, a pandemic and all the rumors,” partner George Stergios tells Local Profile. “We’re still here and we’re not going anywhere.”
A Restaurant Meets A Dying Mall
The Shops at Willow Bend’s initial success quickly faltered after the tragic events of 9/11, which led to an economic downturn and a steep drop in retail sales. Though efforts to revitalize the space continued over the years, the mall struggled to regain its former vibrancy. Meanwhile, Knife Steakhouse quietly established itself as a beacon of resilience and quality in a place where many others failed to thrive.
Update 4/8/25 6:03 p.m. A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Whistle Britches closed the Willow Bend location. The restaurant is still open. The original story continues below.
Over the years, anchor stores closed, foot traffic waned and ownership of the property bounced from one out-of-town developer to the next. Even multi-million-dollar revitalization plans failed to revive the mall’s fortunes. But amid the revolving doors of retail tenants and the churn of redevelopment proposals, one thing has remained: Knife Steakhouse.
Why Knife Prevails
This bold, locally-focused steakhouse has remained through it all — COVID shutdowns, the loss of key mall anchors like Macy’s, four management teams and three owners. And perhaps more remarkably, it’s done so inside a mall many had already written off.
"You know, George [Stergios] and that crew in Plano deserve a gold medal for hanging out while Legacy West came up," Tesar previously told Local Profile. "The only two people left are Brian [Dunne, owner of Mexican Bar Co.] and us."
And it’s true — much of that staying power can be traced back to Stergios, the operating partner behind Knife. A Dallas native with deep local roots, Stergios shepherded the restaurant through a gauntlet of uncertainty. From the outside, it might look like just another high-end steakhouse, but Knife isn’t part of a faceless corporate chain. It's a small, owner-operated business built on relationships, resilience and relentless attention to detail.
“We’re a dying breed,” Stergios says. “It’s a dying breed to have a small operation. But that’s what we do.”
But it's a simple yet powerful motto that pushes Stergios: "Always keep the doors open." He learned it from a close friend's father, who always told him not to worry about anything else. This advice sticks with him, pushing him to keep going despite the challenges. "He's right," he adds.
At Knife Steakhouse, nearly everything is done in-house. Meats are locally sourced and dry-aged on-site, sauces are made from scratch, and service is personal, not procedural. Even vendors — from linen services to plumbing repairs — are often local small businesses. It's a philosophy that goes beyond food. For Stergios, it's about investing in a network of people, not just transactions.
“Our guests, they know us. And we know them,” Stergios says. “Some of them entertain clients here. Some celebrate birthdays or bring their families. Food almost becomes secondary in a restaurant.”
That trust was tested more than once. When COVID hit, Knife shut its doors for nine months. Stergios considered relocating — he even scouted another nearby location — but ultimately, he stayed put. The decision wasn’t about convenience. It was about conviction.
It wasn’t easy. Between lockdowns, ownership changes, and skyrocketing costs, there were plenty of moments when walking away would’ve made sense. “Sometimes I'm like, ‘God damn it, what am I doing here? Let's just leave,” Stergios says, “And then this one person will come in, say, hey man, can you squeeze in for me? Can you help me out? It's my daughter's birthday. And I smile when I hear that.”
“This is home base, this is all we’ve fought for. Nothing is holding us back from moving,” Stergios continues. “But why do that now, after all we’ve been through? And we’re so close.”
But even in the slowest weeks, Knife finds a way to surprise. On an otherwise quiet night, a couple from London walked in — they had read about the restaurant online and made it a destination on their U.S. road trip. That same evening, a group from Florida, in town on business, booked a table.
“Think about that,” Stergios says. “In this location in Plano now, on a slow night, you have someone coming all the way from London who found you and made it a point to come try this.”
Stergios attributes that kind of loyalty and reach not just to the food, but to the relationships. Knife Steakhouse doesn’t rely on mall foot traffic — most diners are coming here because of the restaurant, not because they stumbled into it after a stop at Dillard’s. Its destination dining built on reputation and word of mouth, not passing crowds.
“It's not like people are in the mall going to Claire's and coming to have a 45-day dry of ribeye,” he says.
New Plans For The Shops at Willow Bend
Now, as The Shops at Willow Bend begins its most dramatic transformation yet, Knife is once again standing firm. In February 2024, Plano City Council approved Centennial’s sweeping redevelopment plan, which includes demolishing 500,000 square feet of the existing mall to make way for a new mixed-use community called The Bend. The project promises luxury apartments, a hotel, office space and green areas — while preserving about 400,000 square feet of retail, including Knife’s Plano location.
“When John and I first signed on in 2018, it was with Starwood,” Stergios says. “They sold us on a vision very similar to what’s finally happening now. It’s taken a while, but we’re finally getting there.”
This time, though, the partnership feels different. With Centennial — another Dallas-based company — the relationship has been personal, not just contractual. “They come here and book a lunch with us to help us out,” Strergios says. “They've worked with us. We wouldn't be able to stay here if they didn't work with us. It's an investment for all of us to work through this.”
And while the future still holds unknowns — Macy’s is closing, timelines shift, and construction always brings disruption — Stergios is optimistic. Knife Steakhouse has a long lease, a loyal customer base, and a clear vision of who they are.
“We’re excited to finally hit the potential we’ve been waiting on,” he says. “We want to grow with everyone here. We’ve got employees who’ve been with us for years. We’ve got regulars who bring their clients, their families. That’s what keeps us going.”
The Future Of Knife
In many ways, Knife Plano has become a symbol of what Willow Bend could never quite get right — authenticity, consistency and a genuine connection to the community. While national chains came and went, and department stores shuttered, Knife quietly built something that can’t be replicated with a branding deck or splashy rollout.
And as The Bend rises from the bones of Willow Bend, Knife isn’t just hanging on. It’s positioning itself to lead. The restaurant has already outlasted the decline of the mall that surrounds it. Now, it’s ready to be part of what comes next.
As construction ramps up and the new development takes shape, Stergios and his team remain focused on what they’ve always done best: showing up, staying consistent, and taking care of the people who walk through their doors — whether they’re locals from around the corner or travelers from across the Atlantic.
“In the end, we just decided to stay because we believe in the property,” Stergios continues. “We believe in the possibilities of what should happen here.”
And that’s the thing about Knife Plano, it’s not just a restaurant — it’s a survivor. Now, Stergios just has to keep the doors open.
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