History & Hospitality
Our Story
of History and Hospitality
Our story begins in 1885. The Grand Hotel was built by the Heard Brothers — intended to share the essence of McKinney as it does today. The original 14 rooms, Grand Ballroom, and Rick’s Chophouse occupied the original 15,000 square feet. Over the years, the Tower was added, expanding the hotel to 45 rooms.
“To whom much is given, much will be required. Use your personal success as a platform to make the world a better place.”
One evening, a few weeks before we opened Rick’s Chophouse, I wrote those two sentences on a piece of my fancy new company stationery and hung them inside the cabinet door in my bathroom where I would see them every day. That was in early April 2007, and I have probably read that piece of paper thousands of times over the years. Those two statements sum up my philosophy of how to run our company. We decided that we would not just market our company in the traditional ways done by most; we were going to become good stewards of our community, and the best way to do that would be to become deeply involved in our schools, our churches, and our nonprofits, working and raising money for causes that would strengthen the bonds within our corner of the world.
In 2014, my wife Robbin left her 25-year career in the C-suites and we bought our first Goddard School. We built our second school in 2019. Robbin and the teams at our schools have built an incredible program over the years. Educating our children is the future, and the most important thing we will ever do. Purchasing the Grand Hotel from my long-time partner and mentor Don Day in the spring of 2021 was a dream come true for Robbin and me. The opportunity to give visitors the true McKinney experience will allow our company and town to serve as a model for others, to take our spirit of community and sustainability back to their own corners of the world.
Through the years, we have stayed true to that philosophy. After Rick’s, we built Sauce, everyone’s favorite Italian place (people ask me for recipes to this day), then added Grotto, my rock and roll mid-life crisis, and then chose to close them both to create Harvest. I like to say Rick’s has my name, but Harvest has my soul. If you spend a dollar locally, 70 cents stay within your community; that was the founding principle behind Harvest and the creation of the Seed Project Foundation. As we began to learn and embrace regenerative, organic agriculture, we broke ground on Water Boy Farms.
I hope you’ll join us to learn, eat, stay, grow, and give in one of the greatest communities in Texas. See you Downtown -
Our Family of Brands
Sharing the essence of McKinney means collaborating with McKinney’s small businesses – including our Wells Group family of brands – to build experiences you won’t find elsewhere.
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The Goddard School
We wholeheartedly believe we can educate our community out of poverty by starting with education in the formative years. That’s the purpose behind Goddard. We focus on growth and development essentials to help young learners hone valuable life and career skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
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Rick's Chophouse
Located directly beside the Grand Hotel, we invite you to dine with us at Rick’s Chophouse. In addition to the main dining room, our private dining spaces allow you to bring every one of your dreams to life. Choose from our Ballroom, Rick’s 110, Wine Room, or Library to curate your perfect setting.
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Harvest at The Masonic
Harvest connects diners with the local food system and community. Its seasonal menus are a celebration of local farmers, ranchers, and artisans, featuring exceptional products grown close to home. Harvest sources almost everything from within a 150-mile radius and composts at Water Boy Farms in Lucas, TX.
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Grand Hotel
The historic Grand Hotel is one of downtown McKinney’s greatest gems. Rooted in charm, comfort, and warm hospitality, the upscale hotel is an ideal home for staycations, business events, and celebrations. The hotel offers unique experiences through curated guest programs that embrace the essence of McKinney.
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Water Boy Farms
We started our own organic farm to supply our restaurants, called Water Boy Farms. The name is derived from Rick’s father, who as a state championship basketball and football coach, taught him to treat the water boy the same as the quarterback. This farm reflects the servitude mentality that we have as a company.
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Seed Project Foundation
The Seed Project Foundation funds educational, agricultural, and community initiatives that support sustainability. We define sustainability as a social challenge that improves the current quality of life without compromising future generations. Providing seed money for local causes that enhance sustainability is our mission.
