LOCALLY OWNED
Meet the owners: (from left) Derrick Thomas, Rowdy Leal, Mark Rogers, and Kalem Thomas! The four of them came together in 2020 to create what we now know as X- Steakhouse after seeing an opportunity to provide jobs during a difficult time in the world. It took months to put together the perfect menu made of culinary craftsmanship and Panhandle character, and in November of 2020, the doors were open!
Mark’s family business–Rogers and Sons Feedlot in Dimmit, Texas–is the inspiration behind the brand for X- Steakhouse.
His grandfather established the family’s feedlot in 1966 and the iconic “X-” comes from his family’s brand. When he set out to bring the X- brand to Amarillo, he made sure that hard work, quality, and honesty would be at the core of everything.
If you talk to Mark for even a minute, you’ll pick up on his love for beef. It’s a goal of his to eventually provide all of the beef served at X- Steakhouse, but for now, all of the beef is sourced from hardworking, local vendors.
"It's been great to be a locally-owned business and have the community support us so much,” Mark says. “X- to me means quality. I make sure that anything I put my brand on is of the highest quality and standards. I love getting to serve healthy, nutritious beef through this restaurant."
Derrick and Kalem Thomas are a brother duo like none other. They own and operate D&K Construction, established in 2009, along with a handful of other ventures. When they’re at the restaurant, they’re always making sure guests are smiling and having a good time.
"We grew up seeing our grandfather run his own business our whole lives,” Derrick recalls, “so we knew how possible it was to go after what we wanted and work hard and succeed. It's been amazing to see X- Steakhouse grow so fast and to see so many people supporting us.”
Derrick Thomas (left) and Kalem Thomas (right).
”We already had some great restaurants in town,” Kalem continues, “but from the part of the world we live in–the beef capital of America–we wanted to bring a great product and atmosphere to the area without anyone feeling like they'd break the bank by visiting us.”
The last of our four owners is Rowdy Leal, a man with decades of experience in the restaurant industry.
"I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 16 years old,” he explains, “I love everything about it. The coolest thing is that I get to work with so many different people from different backgrounds. I couldn’t be more proud of our staff and the passion and effort they put in every day to make X- successful. That’s what really makes my job fun."
It’s a daily goal for him to help the X- team be the best they can be and provide a fun, professional work environment for them to thrive in.
Overall, it’s a source of pride to see X- Steakhouse grow and gain credibility amongst locals as a restaurant they can count on to have an amazing meal in a unique environment. With each bite, each drink, and each smile you will experience the X- way!