About Us
Built by Restaurant Operators. Trusted as Builders.
Stingray Construction is a Dallas-based general contractor and construction management firm specializing in restaurant and food-hall projects across Texas. With more than 60 years of combined restaurant operations experience, we build spaces that open on time and perform under pressure.
Our leadership combines investment discipline with hands‑on field coordination. These are the principals and directors you’ll work with from pre‑construction through close‑out.
Yaser Khalaf
Principal
Yaser is a hospitality visionary and founder of Yela Concepts. With a portfolio of acclaimed restaurants and food halls across Texas, his expertise ensures Stingray projects deliver unforgettable guest experiences. His leadership anchors the company’s focus on hospitality construction and high‑end restaurant buildouts.
Shawn Zafarpour
Principal
Shawn is Managing Partner at Titan Capital Group and CEO of ZHS Investments. With over two decades in hospitality and residential development, he contributes financial discipline, capital structuring, and large‑scale development experience. His role at Stingray ensures projects are backed by strong underwriting and reliable delivery.
Marcello Polidori
Director of Development
Marcello brings 15+ years in construction and real estate development. His background spans project underwriting, field supervision, and stakeholder alignment. At Stingray, he oversees development pipelines, ensuring every project is derisked, budget‑aligned, and completed on schedule.
Mo Barghouti
Director, Houston Office
Mo combines his mechanical engineering training with operational leadership to manage Stingray’s Houston projects. His oversight guarantees projects meet strict quality standards and deliver both technical precision and client satisfaction.
Who We Are
Stingray Construction was built to solve a common problem in restaurant development:
projects designed and built by teams who have never actually run a restaurant.
Our leadership team brings more than six decades of hands-on restaurant operations experience. We’ve dealt with missed inspections, delayed hoods, tight opening windows, and kitchens that looked good on paper but failed in service. That experience shapes how we build.
Today, we serve as a one-stop construction partner for restaurant owners, operators, and developers—providing general contracting, kitchen design coordination, and full project management from early planning through opening day.
Why Stingray Is Different
Most contractors build what’s drawn.
We build what actually works in service.
- We understand kitchen workflow, ticket times, and throughput—not just square footage.
- We plan around real-world constraints: permitting, utilities, inspections, and health department requirements.
- We protect schedules by identifying risks early and sequencing work intentionally.
- We design and build for durability, safety, and long-term performance—not shortcuts.
Because we’ve stood in your shoes, we anticipate problems before they impact your opening.
Our Story
Stingray was founded by seasoned operators who understood the critical link between design vision and operational execution. Principal Yaser Khalaf brought decades of hospitality ownership experience through Yela Concepts, where every restaurant concept was built with an emphasis on brand identity and guest experience. Principal Shawn Zafarpour contributed his expertise from Titan Capital and ZHS Investments, bringing disciplined capital management, residential development, and large‑scale construction oversight. Together, they created a construction group capable of delivering both highly branded hospitality venues and complex commercial developments.
From our beginnings in Dallas to projects across Texas and even international ventures, Stingray has grown by maintaining a relentless focus on detail, transparency, and results. Every project reflects our philosophy: build with precision, deliver with integrity, and create spaces that endure.
Our Mission
To build destination spaces that inspire communities, elevate brands, and generate long‑term value. We aim to be more than contractors — we are strategic partners who ensure every dollar invested in construction translates into design integrity, operational efficiency, and guest impact.
What We Do
Stingray Construction specializes exclusively in restaurant and food-hall construction. Our work includes:
- Ground-up restaurant builds
- Second-generation restaurant build-outs
- Remodels and expansions
- Food hall stall construction and infrastructure coordination
We act as both general contractor and construction manager, giving clients a single point of accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
How We Work
WHO WE WORK WITH
Plan
We align scope, budget, schedule, and permitting strategy early.
Coordinate
We manage trades, equipment integration, inspections, and approvals.
Build
We execute with tight sequencing, quality control, and weekly owner updates.
Open
We handle closeout, turnover, and final coordination to support a smooth opening.
Who We Partner With
We work with:
- Independent restaurant owners
- Multi-unit restaurant operators
- Food hall developers and operators
- Hospitality-focused real estate groups
Our clients value clarity, accountability, and predictable outcomes—especially when timelines and budgets matter.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be recognized as the premier general contractor for hospitality and commercial projects in Texas and beyond. By integrating luxury finishes, mechanical expertise, and reliable delivery, we set benchmarks for restaurants, food halls, hotels, and mixed‑use developments.
Our Values
- Integrity: Every commitment we make is honored with transparency and accountability.
- Craftsmanship: Quality is embedded in every finish, fixture, and mechanical system we deliver.
- Partnership: We collaborate with owners, architects, and stakeholders to align vision and execution.
- Discipline: Budgets, schedules, and safety are non‑negotiable pillars of our process.
- Innovation: We leverage new technologies, sustainable practices, and creative solutions that enhance project outcomes.
FAQ's
Your Questions,
Answered
Explore our most common inquiries to gain insight into how Stingray Constructions can bring your projects to life. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to us directly.
We specialize in restaurants and hospitality, but our expertise extends to commercial, mixed-use, tenant improvements, and specialty projects across Texas and beyond.
No — hospitality is a core strength, but we also deliver offices, retail, residential developments, and large-scale commercial builds with the same precision and care.
Yes. While our headquarters are in Plano, Texas, we’ve successfully completed projects across the U.S., including Denver and West Lafayette.
We combine speed, precision, and a deep understanding of hospitality operations with disciplined project management. Our clients trust us because we communicate clearly, meet deadlines, and deliver quality without compromise.
Absolutely. Many of our restaurant and hospitality projects are delivered under tight timelines. We pride ourselves on managing fast-track schedules while maintaining craftsmanship and safety standards.
Yes. Collaboration is central to how we operate. We partner closely with architects, developers, and owners from preconstruction planning through final turnover.
Our portfolio ranges from boutique restaurants under 2,000 sq. ft. to multi-tenant food halls over 20,000 sq. ft. No matter the size, our focus remains the same: precision, trust, and results.
It starts with a conversation. Share your vision with us, and our team will guide you through scope, budget, and timelines to bring your project to life.
What types of projects do you specialize in?
We specialize exclusively in restaurant and food-hall construction across Texas.
That includes ground-up builds, second-generation build-outs, remodels, expansions, and food-hall stalls. Restaurants are our core focus not a side offering.
Do you work with first-time restaurant owners?
Yes. Many of our clients are opening their first location.
We help guide decisions around layout, budget, permitting, and sequencing so you avoid common (and expensive) mistakes early.
What makes Stingray different from other general contractors?
Our leadership team brings 60+ years of combined restaurant operations experience. We don’t just build what’s drawn we build what actually works in service, passes inspection, and holds up under volume.
Can you help before construction starts?
Absolutely.
We regularly support projects during preconstruction, including:
- Site feasibility reviews
- Budget validation and value engineering
- Kitchen workflow planning
- Permit strategy and schedule planning
Early involvement usually leads to smoother builds and fewer surprises.
Do you provide kitchen design services?
We handle kitchen layout and coordination, focused on workflow, safety, and performance. While we don’t act as a standalone design firm, we coordinate closely with architects, consultants, and equipment vendors to ensure the kitchen functions properly and meets code.
How long does a typical restaurant build-out take?
Timelines vary based on scope, permitting, and site conditions, but most restaurant build-outs fall within a 10–16 week construction window after permits are approved. We’ll give you a realistic schedule upfrontand we build around it.
Do you handle permits and inspections?
Yes. We manage permitting and coordinate with local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), including health, fire, and building departments, to keep projects moving forward.
Can you work with existing architects or designers?
Yes. We frequently collaborate with client-selected architects, designers, and consultants. Our role is to coordinate all trades and disciplines so the project builds cleanly and efficiently.
What areas do you serve?
We’re based in Dallas Fort Worth and work on restaurant projects throughout Texas, including Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
Do you work on food halls?
Yes. We have extensive experience with food-hall stall construction, including shared infrastructure coordination, utilities, ventilation strategies, and tight delivery schedules.
How do you manage budgets?
We focus on early budget clarity and cost control throughout the project. That includes realistic estimates, value engineering where needed, and transparent communication if conditions change.
How do you keep clients informed during construction?
Clients receive regular progress updates, schedule tracking, and clear communication around decisions and milestones. No surprises, no chasing information.
What is a “Build-Readiness Plan”?
It’s our first step with most clients. We review your space, scope, timeline, and constraints, then outline next steps before moving into construction. It helps determine whether a project is truly ready to build.
How do we get started?
Reach out through our contact form and request a Build-Readiness Plan. We’ll review your project and follow up with clear next steps.
contact us
Ready to Build?
Tell us about your site and timeline. We’ll return a Build‑Readiness plan to move you forward.
Location
6275 W. Plano Pkwy, Suite 500, Plano, Texas 75093
Email us
info@stingrayconstructions.com
Call us
+1 216 835 5050
Type of Project
contact us
Ready to Build?
Tell us about your site and timeline. We’ll return a Build‑Readiness plan to move you forward.
Location
3636 Mckinney Ave Dallas TX 75204
Email us
info@stingrayconstructions.com
Call us
+1 216 835 5050