John Hardin Sets Out Curated Vision for Champions Social Club in Former Dallas Steakhouse

A legal victory for the Dallas poker community last year cleared the way for Champions Social Club to open in space once occupied by the iconic III Forks steakhouse. The venue keeps its upscale restaurant atmosphere, creating a distinct setting for cash games in a state where poker social clubs face persistent zoning disputes and political opposition.

John Hardin, the club’s poker director, joined six months ago after managing Bobby’s Room at Bellagio in Las Vegas. His background includes playing poker since the 2000s, dealing at Bellagio, and running private games in Atlanta. Hardin has used the time to build ties with local players, many of whom he first met through high-stakes games involving Texas regulars.

Curated Experience Over Market Share

Hardin takes a measured view of the Dallas poker market. “We’re not looking to capture 100% of the market share here,” he said. The goal is an elevated environment with deliberate barriers to entry that raise the clientele profile. The room has already hosted large private games along with Pot-Limit Omaha cash games and No-Limit Hold’em, adding layers only as table count permits.

According to reporting by PokerNews, Champions offers gourmet lunch and dinner menus that stand apart from typical poker-room food. Executive Chef Connie Trujillo, who worked at the original steakhouse until it closed in 2020, returned to run the kitchen. Hardin has described the food and wine program as “much more elevated than I’ve ever seen in another poker environment.”

Long-Term Positioning in a Challenging Texas Landscape

Hardin calls poker a “storied game in the area” and is playing a deliberate long game. He invites players to visit without immediate commitment, comparing the space to the first time he walked into the Wynn poker room. The club also operates a Houston poker room with an attached hotel, co-owned by Poker Hall of Famer Phil Hellmuth, who visits several times each year.

The approach accepts that not every player will fit the target demographic. Success rests on converting initial visits into regular high-end play while the broader Texas regulatory environment remains unsettled.

Reporting: PokerNews

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