September Deep Ellum Developments
1. September has been filled with "banner days" for Deep Ellum, as the Dallas Morning News put it, with city council discussing and later approving $3.5 million dollars into developer Scott Rohrman's plan for an overhaul of Deep Ellum's core entitled "Deep Ellum Crossroads."
The plan, which vows to keep Deep Ellum's swathe of historic buildings intact while increasing walkability by improving streetscapes and making retail spaces more attractive to new tenants.
My personal favorite element in the plan includes an area to be called "The Alley," which will link together Elm and Main Street in the core of the neighborhood, facing Trees, Glazed Donuts and Three Links on the Elm Street side. The Alley will be supposedly lined with small cafes in the interior, which definitely adds an element of utilitarian benefit to the structure. (Other than being a link between the two streets)
You can read more about the plan on The Dallas Morning News, where the entire document presented to the City Council is included after the news article.
2. Cold Beer Company opened Friday, August 29th and we've been over to check it twice now. I've had their drafts, tried some of their food, and overall think it's a great addition to the neighborhood, even if it is a bit more Lower Greenville beer garden than it is Deep Ellum bar.
3. Deep Ellum Candy Company, on the otherhand, I personally find ridiculous. After the gaffe that was "Work Bar & Grill," you would think the owner would have learned his lesson - but this concept proves to be even less comprehensible than the last.
We checked it out one weekend night and walked in to the candy-store facade, which was occupied only by a bouncer. The candy-store element of it I found creative, and I was expecting this. However, I was not expected to be asked for a password for entry. I was aware they had only allowed entry with a password for their opening night, but I didn't realize this would be the status quo at this new "tea room," as another of their signs describes it as. I know I could have looked up the password on my smart phone and gotten in, but we were turned off by the awkward silence between the bouncer and ourselves and prompty exited the joint.
4. Construction started on Braindead Brewpub, which will be going in that huge vacant, bright-blue building two doors down from Lula B's. In Scott Rohrman's plans it shows the space surrounded by a small set of stairs, which should add some curb appeal to that whole block of set-back structures.
5. Other developments:
Amoury D.E., "a bar with really interesting food" will be opening up in the space of the previous Kettle Art location (look for a late November/early December opening)
The Anvil Pub's expansion is now finished, they added over 1,500 square feet to their bar (I'll check it out as soon as I buy a motorcycle helmet)
Chef Brian Luscher of The Grape will be opening up a Chicago-style hot dog joint called Luscher's, which is causing the Chicagoan inside of me to become pretty damn excited. (Could be open as early as November!)
Off The Record, possibly America's first record-and-booze store, has been opened since the beginning of the month and from the folks who brought you Club Dada. It opened up right next door to Club Dada, so it shouldn't be too hard to miss.
Meanwhile, the historic Deep Ellum venue "The Bomb Factory" is still making progress and should be open by summer 2015.
Alright, that's probably more than enough of an update for September Deep Ellum developments; stay tuned for what's up in our neighborhood and come check out our blog again soon.