The restaurant scene on McKinney’s historic downtown square has been gaining momentum for a while now, and spring 2026 is bringing another significant wave of new additions to the mix. If you’ve been wanting more options when you head downtown, the timing is pretty good right now.
Oak and Stone is opening this spring with something that’s been missing from McKinney’s beer culture: a serious tap program. The venue is relocating from Florida with a 50-tap wall of beer selections. For people who appreciate craft beer and want to explore different styles without committing to a full bottle, this is a big deal. It’s the kind of specialized concept that usually shows up in larger markets, so it’s worth noting that McKinney is apparently reaching a point where venues like this make sense.
Just off the square, Shorty’s Coneys and Cocktails is opening at 109 N. Kentucky Street with a Northeast-style hot dog and burger concept. The pairing of coneys and cocktails is an interesting positioning—it acknowledges that people want elevated drinks even when they’re grabbing casual food. There’s something appealing about that mix, especially in a downtown environment where you might pop in for lunch or meet friends for an evening out. The Northeast-style hot dog focus is specific enough to give the place identity without being so narrow that it limits the menu.
Centro on the Square is coming early June with an American Italian Bistro approach. The menu will feature steak, seafood, and regional pasta options. This one has a different vibe than the other two—more in the fine dining or upscale casual category. It adds another layer to the downtown dining options, giving people another choice depending on whether they’re looking for quick casual food or something with a bit more ceremony to it.
What’s striking about these three openings is that they represent different market segments. You’ve got the craft beer specialist, the casual elevated food, and the upscale bistro. That’s a diversified approach to dining that suggests downtown McKinney is mature enough as a destination that multiple concepts can coexist and thrive.
The historic downtown square has a quality that makes it work well for restaurants. It has character—actual genuine character, not manufactured downtown “charm.” It’s walkable, which means people can move between venues without worrying about parking. The architecture gives the area an identity that newer commercial developments often lack. When you’re trying to build a restaurant scene, those factors matter.
The growth of dining options downtown also affects how people think about the square overall. A decade ago, downtown was more nostalgic than vital. Now it’s becoming the kind of place where you’d go not just for an occasional event but because there are actually things you want to do and places you want to eat. That’s a meaningful shift.
It’s also worth noting that these aren’t chain restaurants or franchise concepts. They’re individual establishments making specific choices about location and concept. That’s different from generic franchise expansion and suggests that entrepreneurs see downtown McKinney as a place worth investing in with original ideas.
Whether you’re looking for a place to grab lunch while running errands downtown, or you’re planning a special dinner, or you just want to try a new spot over the weekend, the options are expanding. The downtown square has been on an upward trajectory for a few years now, and these spring openings continue that momentum.
If you’ve been thinking about spending more time downtown but felt like the dining options were limited, that excuse is about to disappear. Come spring, there’s going to be more than enough reason to head there for a meal.