Eater Dallas - Dallas' Most Devastating Restaurant Closures In 2015The Dallas Restaurant, Bar, and Nightlife Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52682/favicon-32x32.png2015-12-01T10:00:02-06:00http://dallas.eater.com/rss/stream/104212352015-12-01T10:00:02-06:002015-12-01T10:00:02-06:00Sugar Skull Cafe Is The Third Trinity Groves Restaurant To Close Its Doors
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<img alt="So long, Sugar Skull Cafe. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jzPOIkIbPKufLFvvQs-vo0YldtA=/49x0:849x600/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47772867/SugarSkullCafe--2.0.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>So long, Sugar Skull Cafe. | Lori Bandi [EDFW]</figcaption>
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<p>It just got harder to find a good taco at Trinity Groves. </p> <p dir="ltr"><span>You can’t win ‘em all, not even if you’re legendary restaurateur Phil Romano. As an incubator for up-and-coming restaurant concepts, Romano’s Trinity Groves is home to plenty of successful restaurants, including Casa Rubia, Kitchen LTO, and Resto Gastro Bistro. Unfortunately, though, not all of Trinity Groves’ ideas have been winners just yet, and Sugar Skull Cafe is the third casualty of this "restaurant amusement park" experiment.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to a press release, Sugar Skull Cafe has officially closed its doors as of yesterday. The fast-casual "homage to Mexican street food" opened in March of this year, offering a full breakfast menu, tacos, and ceviches. This restaurant was the second in Trinity Groves for Jonn Baudoin, who opened the much-lauded Casa Rubia in November of 2014.</span></p>
<blockquote class="blockquote">"I’ve had a great run at Trinity Groves," Baudoin said in the release. "They believed in me and empowered me to try new things. I’m obviously disappointed, but I also understand that it’s the nature of this business."</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In its relatively short (if prolific) life, Trinity Groves has seen three restaurant closures. Didi’s Tamale Diner, a much-beloved establishment that migrated from Mesquite to a shiny new location at Trinity Groves, </span><a href="http://dallas.eater.com/2015/2/5/7988017/didis-tamale-diner-is-trinity-groves-first-restaurant-casualty">was the first to close its doors in February</a><span>. Potato Flats, a lunch concept that Romano hoped to franchise, </span><a href="http://dallas.eater.com/2015/7/13/8943715/potato-flats-closing-trinity-groves-franchise">shuttered just a few months later</a><span>. </span></p>
<p><span>Perhaps Sugar Skull Cafe is just another expected tragedy of the model, which is considered to be both "the country’s first and only restaurant incubator" and a "leading force in the economic development of West Dallas." Trinity Groves Support Group president (and established restaurateur) Bob Sambol said via email that the closure helps the Group figure out how to make future restaurants successful. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"The Trinity Groves team continues to learn more about what it takes for a restaurant to thrive here," Sambol wrote. "That insight is invaluable, particularly as we continue to grow and create more opportunities for promising entrepreneurs," he said. "Jonn is smart, creative and passionate about food. I’m confident that the Dallas dining scene will be hearing from him again."</span></p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/12/1/9824012/sugar-skull-cafe-is-the-third-trinity-groves-restaurant-to-close-itsAmy McCarthy2015-09-03T13:37:13-05:002015-09-03T13:37:13-05:00AF+B Calls It Quits in Fort Worth's West 7th
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<figcaption><a href='https://www.facebook.com/AmericanFoodBevFortWorth/photos/pb.712882652059652.-2207520000.1441304668./980180738663174/?type=3&theater'>American Food and Beverage/Facebook</a></figcaption>
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<p>American Food and Beverage is dunzo.</p> <p>Another one bites the dust: <b>AF+B </b>in Fort Worth's West 7th district has closed up shop. <a href="http://www.guidelive.com/food-and-drink/2015/09/03/american-food-beverage-best-dfw-top-10-restaurant-closed" target="_blank">Critic Leslie Brenner reports the closure on GuideLive</a>, pointing out that she gave the restaurant four stars in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/restaurants/restaurant-reviews/20140305-restaurant-review-fort-worths-afb-is-a-top-destination-for-modern-texan-cooking.ece">a review</a> last year.</p>
<p>While Brenner did her fair share of gushing over the "Modern Texas cuisine" at AF+B, not all local food writers were equally impressed. Fort Worth's man about town Bud Kennedy weighed in via Twitter:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Overthought and overbuilt from the start, and never in touch with its market, <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanFoodBev">@AmericanFoodBev</a> has closed in <a href="https://twitter.com/West7thFtWorth">@West7thFtWorth</a>. No surprise</p>
— Bud Kennedy (@EatsBeat) <a href="https://twitter.com/EatsBeat/status/639499597681836032">September 3, 2015</a>
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<p>Brenner also reveals that AF+B chef Jeff Harris, formerly of Bolsa, has a restaurant of his own in the works. He hasn't yet decided whether it'll be in Fort Worth or Dallas, but it sounds like it'll be "smaller" and "more casual" than AF+B.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, AF+B owner Raised Palate (formerly Consilient) reportedly "plans to open two restaurants in the Dallas Design District." That location will presumably be a better fit for the restaurant group than West 7th, which they tell Brenner wasn't the right location for AF+B.</p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/9/3/9257227/american-food-beverage-fort-worth-closedWhitney Filloon2015-08-18T13:34:39-05:002015-08-18T13:34:39-05:00Lower Greenville Bar Vagabond Calls It Quits
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<p>It was home to bone marrow burgers and a bocce ball court.</p> <p>Lower Greenville Avenue bar <b>Vagabond</b> is dunzo — for now, at least. <a target="_blank" href="http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/08-18-15-vagabond-closed-greenville-avenue/">Teresa Gubbins reports</a> that the watering hole and live music venue closed its doors over the weekend.</p>
<p>The former site of Mexican restaurant J. Pepe's, Vagabond <a target="_blank" href="http://dallas.eater.com/2014/3/26/6255143/bone-marrow-burgers-and-bocce-ball-await-at-vagabond#4153854">opened in early 2014</a> with a clever, whiskey-heavy cocktail menu and tasty bar food that included bone marrow burgers and beef tongue pastrami. The focal point of the backyard was a bocce ball court, made by filling in J. Pepe's swimming pool.</p>
<p>Per CultureMap, "Musicians who were scheduled to play during the remainder of August were told that the bar hoped to reopen under new ownership in next few months." Stay tuned to see if Vagabond will rise again.</p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/8/18/9173231/vagabond-closed-lower-greenvilleWhitney Filloon2015-08-14T11:05:51-05:002015-08-14T11:05:51-05:00Urban Acres' Farmstead and Cafe Is Closing Up Shop in Oak Cliff
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<figcaption><a href='https://www.facebook.com/urbanacres/photos/a.388851614467118.98019.117636521588630/810601215625487/?type=1&theater'>Urban Acres/Facebook</a></figcaption>
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<p>The CSA (and the Melt Ice Creams pop-up) will live on.</p> <p>Some unfortunate news for Oak Cliff today: <b>Urban Acres' </b>cafe and market on Beckley is closing up shop. Its last day in business will be this Saturday, August 17.</p>
<p>Founder Steven Bailey comments on the closing via press release:</p>
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<p><span>During the last 18 months, we’ve seen a lot of folks in the organic sustainability market struggle here in Dallas. We were hoping to be one of the few who could weather the storm, but after many hard discussions the wisest thing for us to do is close down our brick and mortar location. We are truly sorry to be closing the doors of the farmstead. Our heart was to provide a retail spot in Oak Cliff where people could support local farmers and artisans, learn about urban farming, and come together to share real food. The farmstead was a place where people could trust the ingredients in the food they were feeding their families. We don’t regret a single moment of being a part of the community for the last five years. Though we are closing down, we’re grateful to know our farmstead has achieved its biggest goal — changing our community through real food. There have been countless meals shared, lives that have become healthier, children who found joy from the animals — we’re grateful to have been a part of it.</span></p>
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<p>While the market and cafe — which recently underwent a slight revamp to focus on pizza and handmade pastas made with local ingredients — will cease to function, the space will remain open to serve as a pickup site for Urban Acres' CSA produce share program, and they also intend to keep expanding the CSA program. The recently debuted <a target="_blank" href="http://dallas.eater.com/2015/7/8/8913333/melt-ice-creams-oak-cliff-urban-acres-pop-up">Melt Ice Creams weekend pop-up</a> shop will also live on: Its hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.</p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/8/14/9153937/urban-acres-farmstead-cafe-closed-oak-cliffWhitney Filloon2015-07-28T17:50:06-05:002015-07-28T17:50:06-05:00Deep Ellum Barbecue Spot Mama Faye's Packs Its Bags
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<img alt="So long, Mama Faye's." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QxiCcTiyg8XIWD3G6bS5Wfq26bI=/19x0:943x693/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46854440/mamafayesFB.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>So long, Mama Faye's. | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/mamafayesbbq/photos_stream'>Mama Faye's/Facebook</a></figcaption>
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<p>It's moving to Sulphur Springs.</p> <p>Deep Ellum barbecue joint <b>Mama Faye's</b> has closed up shop. The family-owned restaurant opened back in 2010 serving ribs, hot links, and chopped beef sandwiches along with other homey fare like oxtails, but more often than not the dining room seemed to be mostly empty.</p>
<p>A sign on the door reveals Mama Faye's is relocating east to Sulphur Springs. The new address is 105 N. Davis Street and the phone number is (903) 885-9300, though no one's picking up just yet and the Deep Ellum number has already been disconnected.</p>
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<p class="caption">[Photo: EDFW]</p>
<p>Of course, with Pecan Lodge and Baker's Ribs in the neighborhood — plus Mac's Barbecue just up the street — Deep Ellum certainly won't suffer from any lack of smoked meats.</p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/7/28/9063317/mama-fayes-barbecue-deep-ellum-closedWhitney Filloon2015-07-13T09:00:02-05:002015-07-13T09:00:02-05:00Potato Flats Exits Stage Left at Trinity Groves
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<figcaption><a href='https://www.facebook.com/PlanetSub/photos_stream'>Potato Flats/Facebook</a></figcaption>
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<p>Expect to see the concept pop up elsewhere soon.</p> <p><b>Potato Flats</b>, Phil Romano's fast-casual concept that served flattened baked potatoes topped with various ingredients, has bid adieu to Trinity Groves.</p>
<p>Per an official statement:</p>
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<p>As a fast-casual restaurant, Potato Flats is best suited to a traditional pad site or other location that will allow for a quicker dining experience and/or drive-through capabilities. So what does this mean moving forward? Potato Flats and its owner-partners have had a number of inquiries from potential investors who believe this yummy "mashed" potato bar is a winning concept and are interested in helping us expand to more typical fast-casual settings. We will continue those discussions with the goal of opening new Potato Flats restaurants in DFW or elsewhere.</p>
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<p>What new concept will swoop in to take Potato Flats' place? Per a Trinity Groves rep, they've already got "exciting things" in the works for the space, which is <span>located next door to Cake Bar; stay tuned.</span></p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/7/13/8943715/potato-flats-closing-trinity-groves-franchiseWhitney Filloon2015-02-18T10:11:49-06:002015-02-18T10:11:49-06:00Preston Center's Cucina Neighborhood Italian Bites the Dust
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<img alt="Even half-price wine and Oreo gelato couldn't save Cucina." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BQSHO0G-5D5_fBT-0IWp_7uwUEg=/120x0:676x417/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45717952/cucinamenuFB.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Even half-price wine and Oreo gelato couldn't save Cucina. | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/CucinaDallas/photos_streamTjP66j4q5xKde-HyGA'>Cucina Neighborhood Italian/Facebook</a></figcaption>
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<p>The Mi Piaci replacement is dunzo.</p> <p>The short-lived <b>Cucina Neighborhood Italian</b> in Preston Center is closed, <a target="_blank" href="http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/02-17-15-preston-center-cucina-italian-restaurant-mi-piaci-curse/">Teresa Gubbins reports</a>. It replaced the equally short-lived Mi Piaci, which filled the space vacated by the failed Ocho Kitchen & Cocktails. See a pattern here?</p>
<p>Cucina Italiana got <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/cityofate/2015/01/cucina_neighborhood_italian_reviewed.php">completely skewered</a> in a recent review by <i>Dallas Observer</i> critic Scott Reitz, who proclaimed the restaurant "cavernous and lonely," staffed by "checked out and undertrained" servers. Culinary offenses included "dry arancini, rubbery calamari," underseasoned pasta, tough meatballs, and icy gelato. A <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516589&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yelp.com%2Fbiz%2Fcucina-neighborhood-italian-dallas%3Fhrid%3D52hATjP66j4q5xKde-HyGA&referrer=eater.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fdallas.eater.com%2F2015%2F2%2F18%2F8061807%2Fpreston-center-cucina-neighborhood-italian-closed-mi-piaci" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Yelp review</a> from December offered a similar, if more pointed, evaluation: "Do not eat here. You have been warned. I've had better food from the back of my freezer."</p>
<p>It certainly doesn't seem like the location is to blame; the space is located at the very busy corner of Preston Road and Northwest Highway and has decent enough parking, as well as valet. Does the space have some sort of bad juju, or has it simply suffered from a string of poorly thought-out and badly managed concepts? Stay tuned to see which brave soul — if any — decides to test their luck with a new restaurant at 8411 Preston Road.</p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/2/18/8061807/preston-center-cucina-neighborhood-italian-closed-mi-piaciWhitney Filloon2015-02-05T14:55:47-06:002015-02-05T14:55:47-06:00DiDi's Tamale Diner is Trinity Groves' First Restaurant Casualty
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<img alt="Say goodbye to DiDi's." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hqFtPZwO2zIh_0lUl_KATVggvm0=/234x0:4031x2848/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45635182/IMG_0635.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Say goodbye to DiDi's. | DiDi's Tamale Diner</figcaption>
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<p>Tamales, tortas, and tequila apparently didn't resonate with TG patrons.</p> <p>Trinity Groves has suffered its first restaurant casualty: <b>DiDi's Tamale Diner</b> is dunzo after just a few months in business. <a target="_blank" href="http://cravedfw.com/2015/02/05/didis-tamale-diner-in-trinity-groves-is-closed/">CraveDFW first reported the news</a> earlier today.</p>
<p>DiDi's was still posting to social media up until the very end of January and appears to have shuttered in just the last few days. The restaurant concept from DiDi Fernandez and Michael Beck began its life in Mesquite and opened at Trinity Groves back in November as part of the development's much-publicized restaurant incubator program, which offers startup capital and space in exchange for a share of any future expansion.</p>
<p>A rep for Trinity Groves sent over an official statement on the closing:</p>
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<p><span>Trinity Groves is disappointed to announce that Didi's Tamale Diner has closed. We know that Didi's tamales are among the best in world and we are proud to have worked with her. The Trinity Groves leadership team is trying their best to make sure the employees find jobs at other restaurants in the development. The purpose of this restaurant incubator is to learn which concepts are successful long-term and we are glad to see that it is working as we envisioned it would. Currently, there are 12 restaurants open in the incubator and many new and creative restaurant concepts to select from to fill the former Didi's space. We look forward to that project and continuing to serve all of our customers and guests at Trinity Groves.</span></p>
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<p><span>The restaurant never seemed to take hold with Trinity Groves crowds the way staples like LUCK and Casa Rubia have. Perhaps </span><a href="http://dallas.eater.com/2015/2/5/7984991/peep-the-menu-for-future-trinity-groves-taco-destination-sugar-skull" target="_blank">upcoming Sugar Skull Cafe's</a><span> menu of tacos, ceviche, and breakfast options will resonate with patrons more than DiDi's tamales and tortas did?</span></p>
https://dallas.eater.com/2015/2/5/7988017/didis-tamale-diner-is-trinity-groves-first-restaurant-casualtyWhitney Filloon