About Us
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.
Team
Benji Homsey
Benji Homsey
Benji Homsey graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with an emphasis in Real Estate before beginning his career with Givens-Records Development and Z Resorts. Over the course of nearly two decades, he played an instrumental role in overseeing every facet of development for a distinguished portfolio of projects including Hotel ZaZa Dallas, The Metropolitan Club (ZaZa Dallas Condominiums), Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District, Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City, and Hotel ZaZa Austin.
As President of Brand and Development for Z Resorts from 2008 until his departure in 2020, Benji led the construction, installation, and design of each project, shaping them into sophisticated, enduring concepts that became industry benchmarks. His visionary approach to design and development helped establish Hotel ZaZa as a beloved, trend-setting brand in Texas hospitality.
Today, as a founding partner of Duro Hospitality, Benji continues to bring that same creative rigor and entrepreneurial spirit to a new generation of concepts. He has been a driving force behind the launch of six acclaimed dining destinations in Dallas — The Charles, Sister Dallas, El Carlos Elegante, Café Duro, Mister Charles, and Norman’s Japanese Grill — as well as Chumley House in Fort Worth. Two of these, El Carlos Elegante and Mister Charles, earned Michelin Guide Texas 2024 recommendations, while Casa Duro has been honored with Michelin Key Awards 2024 and Michelin Key Awards 2025 recognition.
Renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, innovative vision, and relentless work ethic, Benji has built a career on creating elevated, timeless spaces that push the boundaries of hospitality — and continues to define it.
Chas Martin
Chas Martin
Chas Martin began his culinary journey under celebrity chef Samir Dhurandhar. After three months of poorly peeled potatoes and burnt bacon, the executive team gently suggested his talents might shine brighter in the front of house. They were right. Within four years, Chas rose from underage host to General Manager of Nick & Sam’s, one of Dallas’ premier steakhouses — setting the foundation for a remarkable career in hospitality.
He went on to consult for renowned hotelier Tim Headington and later served as Director of Food and Beverage at Hotel ZaZa Dallas, where he honed his vision for creating dynamic, guest-focused experiences. Chas possesses a rare, instinctive understanding of hospitality — not just as service, but as a craft — and knows exactly what it takes to build and sustain thriving, best-in-class concepts.
In 2018, he opened The Charles as General Manager and Managing Partner, spearheading its concepting, creation, and day-to-day operations. Under his leadership, The Charles has become one of the most celebrated and consistently busy restaurants Dallas has seen in the last decade.
As a founding partner of Duro Hospitality, Chas has been instrumental in launching a portfolio of distinctive and innovative concepts including Sister, El Carlos Elegante, Café Duro, Mister Charles, Norman’s Japanese Grill, and Chumley House in Fort Worth. Two of these — El Carlos Elegante and Mister Charles — were proudly recommended in Michelin Guide Texas 2024, while Casa Duro has received Michelin Key Awards 2024 and Michelin Key Awards 2025 recognition.
Charismatic, spirited, and endlessly passionate about the art of hospitality, Chas brings a contagious energy and an uncompromising standard of excellence to everything he touches — creating places to drink, dine, and work that feel truly extraordinary.
Corbin See
Corbin See
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
Ross See
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
J Chastain
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 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 gained the restaurant a star 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.
Julia Fleming
Director of Training
Corbin See
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.
Jared Harms
Director of Culinary
Ross See
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.
Services
Operations
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.
Development
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.
Consulting
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.