TAC Air FBO At Dallas Love Field Braniff Centre Gets Attention Of Dallas Real Estate Market

TAC - The Arnold CompaniesMonday, Jul 23 2018
TAC Air FBO At Dallas Love Field Braniff Centre Gets Attention Of Dallas Real Estate Market

Here’s what developers are planning at Braniff Airways old digs at Love Field

by Steve Brown, Real Estate Editor | DallasNews.com

When Braniff Airways opened its new operations center at Love Field in 1958, crowds of people came to tour the three-level building on Lemmon Avenue. Braniff’s base was even bigger than the new Love Field passenger terminal across the tarmac. The ultra modern building had offices in front and hangars out back that were oversized to accommodate the new Boeing 707 “jet liners” Dallas’ hometown airline was just putting into service.

Back in the day, more than 2,500 Braniff workers were based out of the Lemmon Avenue complex, which was hailed as “the newest, most modern aviation plant of its kind in the nation.” For more than a decade, the big metal and glass buildings on the east side of Love Field have sat crumbling. Now, a $140 million redevelopment project is turning Braniff’s old digs into a mixed-use development.

Work crews have begun dismantling much of the mid-century modern building to transform it into a new retail, office and aviation center. “I think every neighbor around there will be grateful for what we are doing and the partnership we put together to pull this off,” said Dallas businessman and auto dealer Randall Reed, who’s spent more than five years trying to resurrect the old Braniff complex.

Reed has brought in Dallas developer Lincoln Property, Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones and aviation company The Arnold Cos. to head the project. “It’s taken a lot of vision to see what this could be and step up and do it,” said Reed, who will locate his Lincoln dealership and offices on part of the property that once housed the Legend Air terminal and parking. Designed by noted international architects William Pereira and Charles Luckman and local designer Mark Lemmon, Braniff’s old Love Field home was threatened with demolition. Local preservationists and Braniff alums led the fight to get the buildings designated a national landmark

“It has historical significance,” Reed said. “At the time we really didn’t understand the architect's background and the history. If we wanted to move forward with this project we had to figure out a way to renovate it.” The project redevelopers have preserved the front of the old buildings facing Lemmon. Out back where the hangars and maintenance facilities were, the building has been carved up to create a huge internal court. 

“The center of the building has already been removed,” said Tad Perryman, Vice President with The Arnold Cos. “We have to keep as much of the original appearance as possible. “The Texas Historical Commission has been part of the whole process.” The Arnold Cos’ TAC Air subsidiary is taking about 200,000 square feet of the complex for a commercial aviation center that will offer private hangars, an executive terminal and concierge and valet services.

“This sets us up in a flagship location,” Perryman said. “We had a great opportunity to develop something for business aviation.” Ohio-based Flexjet LLC is also moving its Dallas-area operations to the 26- acre complex Braniff Centre. The fractional jet ownership company will move workers into 32,000 square feet of offices and open a private terminal and 60,000-square-foot maintenance hangar. On the front of the building facing Lemmon, restaurant and retail space will be set aside. And part of the three-level glass and steel entry building will house offices. 

“We are getting interest from creative and design firms,” said Arnold Cos.’ Director of Investments Casey Park. “It’s going to be very Braniff-centric. There will be exhibits.” 

Michael Graves of Gravity Co. and architect Burns & McDonnell have worked on the design of the project. He said the developers are looking at the possibility of adding an office building on a vacant site at the south end of the property. 

“Our goal is to provide the community with mixed-use opportunities, not just aviation,” Perryman said. “It’s really going to change this stretch of Lemmon Avenue.” 

The first sections of Braniff Centre will start opening next year, 60 years after the complex held its grand opening.

News & Views

View All
OFFICIAL Announcement Header Graphic - Grizzle Helm
TACenergyThursday, Sep 14 2023

Strategic Leadership Positions Bolster TACenergy Organic Growth Plans To Reach 3 Billion Gallons Annually

Hazel Helm as Director of Supply and Randy Grizzle as Director, Sales & Marketing add depth to senior management team and support to key service areas

DALLAS (September 14, 2023) – TACenergy, one of the nation’s largest wholesale fuel sales companies headquartered in Dallas, Texas announced the appointment of two newly created positions supporting company growth plans to extend competitively priced product sales across the U.S.

As the Director of Sales & Marketing, Randy Grizzle brings over 25 years of U.S. fuel marketing experience leading sales development and data analytics for regional/national mid-stream energy companies. “The growth and high level of customer service TACenergy continues to bring to market reflects the activity of a very powerful team”, said Grizzle, “and I am excited to assist the company in achieving its highest potential.” Grizzle will put his focus toward continued business development opportunities, furthering current and future relationships with key national and regional companies in conjunction with developing processes and programs that enhance the foundation of company service levels.

Focusing on upstream supply relationships and contract development, Hazel Helm joins the company as Director of Supply and brings her 17-year multi-faceted strategic buying and analysis experience combined with a background from the refiner’s point of view to strengthen the national supply experience for TACenergy. Helm’s presence adds to existing business intelligence ensuring a well-managed national supply system with availability at over 800 U.S. terminals in the TACenergy network. Helm shared her outlook upon joining, “TACenergy is poised to lead the transformation of fuel distribution to include all energy resources and the vast long-term relationships with suppliers signifies its strength as the leader and I am excited to be a part of it.”

Fred Sloan, Chief Operating Officer of TACenergy shared, “The addition of Randy and Hazel comes at a time to support the growth trajectory we are experiencing and gives our team incremental depth extending our potential to reach new volume goals while continuing to lead the industry with the absolute best service levels in logistics and professional services.”

The TACenergy ‘Drive to 3 Billion’ goal is set to be achieved through organic growth and with the surety of our suppliers, carriers, and customers being treated with the respect and integrity that are the foundational tenets the company has maintained for nearly 60 years.

About TACenergy

TACenergy, a Dallas, Texas-based wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products is supported by 17 regional offices, one of the nation’s largest supply networks and over 100 employees across the 48 lower United States. Delivering customer value through customized fuel management programs, a 24/7 Supply & Logistics call center and a commitment to efficiency and accuracy, TACenergy exceeds industry standards to create sustainable growth. Annual volume exceeds two-and-a-half billion gallons for seven-and-a-half billion dollars in revenue. Ultimately, it’s the company associates and their passion for service that sets TACenergy apart.

Learn more about TACenergy, at www.tacenergy.com. Don’t Just Buy Fuel. Fuel Your Future.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Matthew Harrison - Northeast GM
TACenergyTuesday, Nov 1 2022

Expanding Opportunities Strengthens TACenergy Northeast Management Ranks

Matthew Harrison Joins TACenergy In Its Brockton, Mass. Office As General Manager

BOSTON (November 1, 2022) – TACenergy, one of the nation’s largest wholesale fuel sales companies headquartered in Dallas, Texas announced the appointment and transition of Matthew Harrison to the role of General Manager for the company’s Northeast region. With the ongoing market changes and company growth across New England and the entire Northeast region, Harrison was hired to fortify the TACenergy position in the market, strengthen the team and look to the future, continuing to support suppliers and customers from Maine to New Jersey.

Taking on the leadership role for the Northeast region of TACenergy, Harrison brings over 15 years of industry sales experience in both the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions where he grew his career managing unbranded fuel sales and marketing for a leading terminal operator/distributor headquartered in the greater Boston area. “I look forward to joining a strong and well-established team and highly regarded group of fuel sales specialists at TACenergy”, said Harrison.

Fred Sloan, Chief Operating Officer of TACenergy shared, “The evolving growth and opportunities of the New England petroleum market have allowed us to expand the local regional leadership. With Matt’s proven industry experience coupled with the years of market knowledge of the current team, including Millie Platenik, Wayne Saven and Jay Reynolds, the TACenergy Northeast region will continue to set the standard for service and sales for existing and new customers.” Continuing their focus on New England markets, Platenik, Saven and Reynolds deliver the highest level of customer service to meet CEO, Greg Arnold’s vision for the company to provide the ‘best service and experience in the industry.’

Platenik confirmed, “I am excited to have Matthew join and take us to the next level. I can keep my focus on the New England customer base I have grown for the past couple of decades while Matthew will help us grow business throughout the entire Northeast and show our customers the true passion we have for the fuel business.”

Harrison will officially make his first appearance with the TACenergy leadership team next week as the new TACenergy Northeast General Manager at the Annual Fall Conference for SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers national trade association.

About TACenergy

TACenergy, a Dallas, Texas-based wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products is supported by 14 regional offices, one of the nation’s largest supply networks and over 100 employees across the 48 lower United States. Delivering customer value through customized fuel management programs, a 24/7 Supply & Logistics call center and a commitment to efficiency and accuracy, TACenergy exceeds industry standards to create sustainable growth. Annual volume exceeds two-and-a-half billion gallons for seven-and-a-half billion dollars in revenue. Ultimately, it’s the company associates and their passion for service that sets TACenergy apart.

Learn more about TACenergy, at www.tacenergy.com. Don’t Just Buy Fuel. Fuel Your Future.

Fred Sloan Screenshot - NEW
TACenergyMonday, Feb 28 2022

KTBS 3 Spotlight on TACenergy Leadership COO Fred Sloan - Sharing Thoughts on Changes in the Gas Market

Oil and Gas Prices Impacted by Tensions Oversees

Feb. 25, 2022
By JULIE PARR, KTBS TV

CLICK HERE to view read the original story on KTBS.com>

DALLAS, Texas - A Texas-based fuel supplier says gas prices will likely go up some more before they go down.

TAC Energy CEO Fred Sloan says crude oil prices have been going up over the past year. He says prices are about 35% higher than they were a year ago.

While the war in Ukraine has created some uncertainties in the energy market, Sloan says oil and gas supplies are not an issue for the U.S., and he doesn't believe gas prices will go up dramatically.

"The U.S. market is super elastic, and the U.S. crude supply is not at risk, refinery operations are not at risk, and the fuel that is at the gas station down the street will be there," said Sloan.

He says gas prices are expected to slightly increase in the spring and summer as usual, but as long as there's no major escalations in Europe, prices should slowly decrease of the course of the year.

"Now again, it will be volatile for a while, but the fact of the matter is there is no major supply demand influence that's going to cause prices in our region to get above where we are today," said Sloan.

Meanwhile, Sloan says the Ukraine invasion could have more of an impact on the global grain supply.

Russia and Ukraine together produce nearly a quarter of the world’s wheat.