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Duro Hospitality is a dynamic hospitality firm dedicated to creating unique and inspiring brands and experiences in the hospitality industry. With a focus on operations, concepting, development, and design, we specialize in creating exceptional restaurants, bars, and hotels that elevate the guest experience.
Founded in 2020 by four visionary partners, Benji Homsey, Chas Martin, Corbin See, and Ross See, our team brings a wealth of expertise and experience to every project we undertake. Working collaboratively, we leverage our individual strengths to deliver exceptional results for our clients and guests.
At Duro Hospitality, we are committed to creating concepts that are both innovative and timeless. Our current portfolio includes The Charles, Bar Charles, Sister, El Carlos Elegante, Cafe Duro, Casa Duro (Michelin Guide 2024 Key), Sister, Mister Charles and The Chumley House.
Benji Homsey graduated with a Bachelor of Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate from Texas Christian University and began work with Givens-Records Development and Z Restorts. Throughout his nearly 20-year tenure, Benji was responsible for overseeing all aspects of each project including Hotel ZaZa Dallas, The Metropolitan Club (ZaZa Dallas Condominiums), Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District, Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial and Hotel ZaZa Austin, as well as brand development. As President of Brand and Development for Z Resorts from 2008 up to his departure in 2020, Benji’s experience in managing the construction, installation as well as having an integral part in the design of each development project has given him the expertise to execute luxurious, trendy concepts that withstand the test of time. In his role at Duro Hospitality, Benji has successfully launched and managed The Charles, Bar Charles and Sister with many more projects to come.
Chas Martin started his culinary career underneath celebrity chef Samir Dhurandhar. After three months of poorly peeled potatoes and burnt bacon, the executive team decided he would fit better at the front of the restaurant as a host. Within four years, he went from an underage host to general manager of Dallas’ leading steakhouse, Nick and Sam’s. He has since consulted for hotel and restaurant owner Tim Headington and was the director of food and beverage for Dallas’ leading boutique hotel, Hotel ZaZa. Chas understands hospitality better than anyone and understands what it takes to build and run a successful business. He is a consummate host and wants to create the best place to drink, dine and work in country. Chas has led the charge on concepting, creating and managing one of the best and busiest restaurants that Dallas has seen in the last decade. He has acted as general manager and managing partner of The Charles since its opening and has relinquished the former of those titles to focus on new hospitality projects.
Corbin is one half of the dynamic duo of Duro Design, a studio lead by himself and his brother Ross, who oversee a growing range of commercial and hospitality projects. Corbin began his career in design at the reputable Dallas antique importer, Orion Antiques. He worked in Chicago for Holly Hunt Design, where he managed the marketing department then all furniture production, before joining his brother at Sees Design (the groups residential design arm.) Sees Design has been featured in Architectural Digest, Sotheby’s 20 To Watch In 2020, the esteemed Kips Bay Dallas Showhouse, and has been consecutively listed by DHome as Best Designers in Dallas since 2017.
Ross See, Allied ASID, earned his design degree from Harrington College of Interior Design in Chicago and worked for other notable interior designers in New York. Ross brings over 15 years of interior design experience to Duro Design. Ross’ primary role at Duro Design is a focus on interior architecture and space planning. Ross is proficient in Autocad, Sketch-up, and Adobe Photoshop. Our work has been featured nationally in Architectural Digest, AD Pro, D Home, PaperCity, Dallas Modern Luxury, and many other local publications.
J Chastain was born and raised in Dallas. He attended the University of North Texas and earned a Bachelors in Hotel Restaurant Management and in 2001 attended culinary school at Johnson and Wales in Denver Colorado.
He came back to Dallas to work at the highly regarded Mansion on Turtle Creek under Dean Fearing. During his three-year tenure, J was given the opportunity to be a part of the opening management team of the new Stephan Pyles restaurant, which earned 5 stars upon opening. It was one of the most challenging jobs in his life but the most rewarding. In 2008, he was chosen to be the Executive Chef of the 2nd Floor, a restaurant concept of Scott Gottlich, owner of Bijoux.
In 2011, feeling the need to push himself and learn more, J Chastain took a leap back in to the fine dining side of the industry. He went back to work at the Mansion on Turtle Creek, this time for Michelin Star Chef, Bruno Davaillon.
In the fall of 2014, J Chastain seized the opportunity to return to work with Stephan Pyles as Corporate Executive Chef. Chastain developed a new menu and tasting menu for Stephan Pyles Restaurant that raised the restaurant back to a four star review in The Dallas Morning News in 2015.
J was the first employee of Duro Hospitality and opening Executive Chef of The Charles. He spent time in Florence and New York researching and preparing for what was to be an iconic Dallas location. As Duro has grown, J has taken on an Operating Partner role helping to lead Managers and Chefs alike in providing the experience for which Duro is known.
Director of Training
Corbin is one half of the dynamic duo of Duro Design, a studio lead by himself and his brother Ross, who oversee a growing range of commercial and hospitality projects. Corbin began his career in design at the reputable Dallas antique importer, Orion Antiques. He worked in Chicago for Holly Hunt Design, where he managed the marketing department then all furniture production, before joining his brother at Sees Design (the groups residential design arm.) Sees Design has been featured in Architectural Digest, Sotheby’s 20 To Watch In 2020, the esteemed Kips Bay Dallas Showhouse, and has been consecutively listed by DHome as Best Designers in Dallas since 2017.
Director of Culinary
Ross See, Allied ASID, earned his design degree from Harrington College of Interior Design in Chicago and worked for other notable interior designers in New York. Ross brings over 15 years of interior design experience to Duro Design. Ross’ primary role at Duro Design is a focus on interior architecture and space planning. Ross is proficient in Autocad, Sketch-up, and Adobe Photoshop. Our work has been featured nationally in Architectural Digest, AD Pro, D Home, PaperCity, Dallas Modern Luxury, and many other local publications.
Director of Finance
Corbin is one half of the dynamic duo of Duro Design, a studio lead by himself and his brother Ross, who oversee a growing range of commercial and hospitality projects. Corbin began his career in design at the reputable Dallas antique importer, Orion Antiques. He worked in Chicago for Holly Hunt Design, where he managed the marketing department then all furniture production, before joining his brother at Sees Design (the groups residential design arm.) Sees Design has been featured in Architectural Digest, Sotheby’s 20 To Watch In 2020, the esteemed Kips Bay Dallas Showhouse, and has been consecutively listed by DHome as Best Designers in Dallas since 2017.
Marketing Manager
Ross See, Allied ASID, earned his design degree from Harrington College of Interior Design in Chicago and worked for other notable interior designers in New York. Ross brings over 15 years of interior design experience to Duro Design. Ross’ primary role at Duro Design is a focus on interior architecture and space planning. Ross is proficient in Autocad, Sketch-up, and Adobe Photoshop. Our work has been featured nationally in Architectural Digest, AD Pro, D Home, PaperCity, Dallas Modern Luxury, and many other local publications.
With over 30 years of combined experience, Duro Hospitality brings a thoughtful and energetic approach to hospitality operations. Duro is a lifestyle aspiring to create memorable experiences for guests by delivering authentic and attentive service.
Duro Hospitality has extensive experience in developing real estate and project managing all aspects of a development. With a specific focus on hospitality including restaurant, bars and hotels the group also has experience in developing multi-family and residential.
With over 40 years of perfecting all aspects of hospitality concepts, Duro Hospitality understands better than anyone else what it takes to build and run a successful business. Duro’s goal is to create unique and inspiring hospitality brands and experiences. Whether consulting on concepting, managing or design, the Duro Hospitality team are experts in sharing their formula to success.
