{{Short description|American restaurateur}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Shannon Wynne | image = Shannon Wynne.jpg | caption = Wynne in 2017 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|12|02}} | occupation = Restaurateur | spouse = Patti Jo (Gilpin) née Oldham Brycie Sue Hoecker Kimberly Daulton Wynne (married 2010) | children = 4 | parents = {{unbulleted list| Angus G. Wynne | Joanne née Ebeling }} }} '''Shannon Shelmire Wynne''' (born December 2, 1951) is an American restaurateur living in Dallas, Texas. Wynne 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/nightlife/headlines/20121203-new-bar-rodeo-goat-opens-in-fort-worth-with-better-than-average-food-a-stuffed-rodeo-goat-and-more.ece|title=New bar Rodeo Goat opens in Fort Worth with better than average food, a stuffed rodeo goat and more|last=Rushing|first=Breanna|date=3 December 2012|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=8 April 2013}}</ref>

== Early life and family == Wynne was born on December 2, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, the son of Joann ({{nee|Ebeling}}) and Angus Gilchrist Wynne Jr. His father was a developer in the postwar housing boom; he was president of the American Home Realty Company, developers of Wynnewood Village in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/14/archives/angus-g-wynne-jr-built-theme-parks-developer-of-3-six-flags.html|title=ANGUS G. WYNNE JR.; BUILT THEME PARKS|date=1979-03-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-22|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His father also co-founded amusement park companies, including the Great Southwest Corporation, Six Flags Over Texas,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/business/headlines/20100702-Grand-Prairie-move-puts-Six-Flags-91.ece|title=Grand Prairie move puts Six Flags Entertainment closer to its flagship park|last=Robinson-Jacobs|first=Karen|date=2 July 2010|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=8 April 2013}}</ref> 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 opened 8.0 Bar ("Eight-Oh").<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/shannon-wynne-finds-his-own-path/article_a2be8328-244c-56e8-a7eb-b7353e2ee825.html|title=Shannon Wynne finds his own path|last=Francis|first=Robert|work=Fortworthbusiness.com|access-date=2017-08-29|language=en}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2010/august/restaurant-review-meddlesome-moth/|title=Restaurant Review: Meddlesome Moth|access-date=2017-08-22|language=en}}</ref>

In 1995, Wynne and Keith Schlabs opened the first Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Sundance Square.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2010/august/restaurant-review-meddlesome-moth/|title=Restaurant Review: Meddlesome Moth|access-date=2017-08-29|language=en}}</ref> The chain has four locations in the DFW metroplex; locations in San Antonio, Houston, and Sugarland; and locations in Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-13 |title=Locations - Flying Saucer Draught Emporium |url=https://www.beerknurd.com/locations/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.beerknurd.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/columnists/alan-peppard/20120131-wynnes-last-8.0-set-to-close-in-fort-worth.ece|title=Wynne's last 8.0 set to close in Fort Worth|last=Peppard|first=Alan|date=31 January 2012|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=8 April 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, Wynne opened Meddlesome Moth, a gastro pub with a tap room.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ricciardi |first=Tiney |date=3 April 2013 |title=Meddlesome Moth celebrates three years with a week's worth of beer events |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/nightlife/headlines/20130404-meddlesome-moth-celebrates-three-years-with-a-weeks-worth-of-beer-events.ece |accessdate=8 April 2013 |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News}}</ref> Unable to come to terms with his landlord, he closed the restaurant in May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pruitt |first=Simon |title=The Moth is Closing After 15 Years: Founder Shannon Wynne On Legacy and High Rent |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/restaurants/the-meddlesome-moth-in-dallas-design-district-to-close-in-may-22007440 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}</ref>

From 2013 to 2018, Wynne opened Lark on the Park overlooking Klyde Warren Park in Dallas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=D. |date=2018-11-27 |title=Lark on the Park is Closing |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2018/11/lark-on-the-park-is-closing/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=D Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Philanthropy == {{BLP unsourced section|date=October 2025}} 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 (WPA).

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wynne, Shannon Shelmire}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:American restaurateurs