Shannon Shelmire Wynne (born December 2, 1951) is an American restaurateur living in Dallas, Texas. Wynne currently co-owns and operates restaurants in six states and 14 cities, including The Flying Saucers in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri; The Flying Fish in Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas; and Rodeo Goat in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.[1]
Wynne was born on December 2, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, the son of Joann (néeEbeling) and Angus Gilchrist Wynne Jr. His father was a developer in the postwar housing boom when he was president of the American Home Realty Company, developers of Wynnewood Village in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas.[2] Along with real estate, Wynne Jr. was involved in the amusement park business and founded the Great Southwest Corporation, Six Flags Over Texas,[3]Six Flags over Georgia, and Six Flags over Mid-America.
Professional life
Early career and 8.0
Wynne began his career as a restaurateur in 1980. After his favorite bar in Dallas, the Stoneleigh P, burned down, Wynne and a group of friends and investors brought together their resources and opened 8.0 Bar ("Eight-Oh").[4] Over the next three years, Wynne opened a string of O-clubs and restaurants across Dallas including Nostromo, The Rio Room, Rocco Oyster Bar, Mexico, and Tango (where Count Basie played opening night).[5]
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
In 1995, Wynne designed and opened the first Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Sundance Square with Keith Schlabs.[6] The Flying Saucer has four locations in the DFW metroplex as well as other locations in San Antonio, Houston, and Sugarland; as well as multiple locations across Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.[7]
In May 2012 the Fort Worth 8.0 on Sundance Square was closed to make way for The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and Bird Cafe.[8]
Meddlesome Moth
In 2010, Wynne designed and opened Meddlesome Moth, a gastro pub with a tap room.[9] Unable to come to terms with his landlord, Wynne chose to close the restaurant in May of 2025.[10]
In 2013, Wynne opened Lark on the Park overlooking Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, but closed it in 2018.[11]
Wynne has previously been on the board of the North Texas Food Bank, The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, and KERA radio in Dallas, and the Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth. He co-founded Preservation Park Cities, now called Park Cities Historical and Preservation Society since merging with the Park Cities Historical Society. Wynne co-founded the David Dike Art Auction with Texas art expert David Dike.
Wynne collects works by Texas artists, with a particular interest in works from "The Dallas Nine," a group of painters, printmakers, and sculptors active in Dallas during the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.).
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