Faces of Main Street: Dan Lew from DLX

Dan Lew learned the restaurant business one station at a time. “You celebrate wins, learn from mistakes, and hone your entrepreneurial skills,” he says. That steady, keep improving mindset guides his team at DLX and the way he talks about downtown as a place where progress comes from neighbors who keep showing up together.

Dan is a Mansfield native. As a teenager he worked everywhere he could, from national chains to independent restaurants, and discovered he liked doing “a little bit of everything.” He helped open and worked at Mark Pi’s China Gate in Mansfield, later purchased it and rebranded it as China Club in 2003, then moved to the Square and evolved it into DLX.

Ask what to expect at DLX and Dan points to a menu that keeps regulars curious without losing the classics. “Our menu is pretty eclectic, and we also do a lot of specials,” he says. Those specials let the kitchen test new ideas and track how tastes are changing, while anchors like steaks and seafood land in both traditional and modern styles. 

Like many business owners, Dan had to adapt during COVID. He streamlined and steadied operations so the team could ride out the uncertainty and focus on what they do best. That period reminded him why consistency and clear communication matter, and it left DLX sharper for the next chapter.

Dan is invested in downtown in every sense. Alongside DLX, he owns Axe Social Lounge, which gives folks another way to spend time together before or after dinner. It is one more reason to make an evening of it and spend time together in the heart of the Mansfield.

On the Main Street rebuild, Dan takes the long view. Construction is temporary and momentum is the point. “I think people will be curious to see the progress and all the wonderful things going on,” he says. He expects the finished street and new plazas to lift the entire district and make it easier for new ventures to say yes while long-time favorites keep thriving. As he puts it, the project will “extend the shelf life of all the businesses down here.” Until then, patience and persistence matter.

If it has been a while since your last visit, come now and check out the latest special at DLX. Bring your friends or book a celebration and add your own memory to the mix. Then come back as the construction barricades come down and be a part of the next chapter for Main Street. Downtown grows when we keep showing up, and Dan is one of the neighbors setting that table.