The Road to the Dallas 100™ – Free Range Concepts

In this episode of The Road to the Dallas 100, host Daniel Litwin welcomes Kyle Noonan and Josh Sepkowitz, cofounders of FreeRange Concepts, the innovative company behind some of DFW’s most beloved restaurant and hospitality brands, including The Rustic, Bowl & Barrel, and Mutts Canine Cantina. Known for creating memorable experiences that blend elevated hospitality with fun, community-oriented concepts, Noonan and Sepkowitz share the story of their journey from college roommates at SMU to successful restaurateurs.

The conversation kicks off with reflections on their contrasting paths to entrepreneurship—Sepkowitz starting as a finance professional in New York and Noonan gaining years of restaurant experience as a general manager for Pappas Restaurants. Together, they bring complementary strengths to their partnership—Noonan’s creative approach and operational expertise, coupled with Sepkowitz’s financial acumen and methodical leadership style.

Their first concept, Bowl & Barrel, began with a unique idea: to create a restaurant with bowling, rather than a traditional bowling alley that serves food. This innovative approach to combining great food and entertainment laid the foundation for their future success. They discussed the challenges they faced, from navigating real estate hurdles to scaling quickly with three major concepts within the first nine months. Despite initial struggles in managing overwhelming demand, their resilience, focus on customer experience, and commitment to building a strong brand set them apart.

Throughout the episode, they share key strategies for building buzz, such as launching creative PR initiatives like hiring a “puptern” at Mutts Canine Cantina, which went viral globally. They emphasize that focusing on the guest and staff experience—rather than just the bottom line—has been essential to their sustained success.

Noonan and Sepkowitz offer valuable advice to budding entrepreneurs, underscoring the importance of capitalizing on strong ideas, executing them well, and being prepared for the hard work of growing a business. Their strategic approach to building strong brands and hiring the right people has allowed them to scale FreeRange Concepts while maintaining a debt-free operation, a rare achievement in the restaurant industry.

With several new Rustics under construction across the U.S. and a growing presence in the hospitality space, FreeRange Concepts is positioned for continued expansion and success. Their story serves as an inspiring example of entrepreneurial grit, collaboration, and vision.

For more on FreeRange Concepts, visit their website at freerangeconcepts.com.