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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Body count rising as bars close on Lower Greenville

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— The number of empty bar spaces, and spaces being converted from bars to (legal) restaurants, took a jump this weekend with the closing of Stout and Lucky's this weekend.

We're not sure if you can blame bad management, the stagnating economy, Resident Parking Only, or a combination of all three.

Here's the most current list of closings and changes (per street gossip and BD's sources):

  • Lucky's / Crush - A teetering business model tipped over a few times. Sources tell BD they were already months behind on the rent. After getting their Special Use Permit renewed, they planned to renovate. Never happened. This week, the only owner still in the house (the other is way out of country) threw in the towel and took out his fixtures, and the building was locked up by the landlord. No info on future tenants.
  • Stout - James Slaughter is finally (I hope) off of Lower Greenville. He sold Whisky Bar earlier this year, then took residence in Stout's septic tank. Now Stout is closed, the business bought out by the property owner who was not happy with the potential buyers Slaughter had in mind. Look for a new management company and possibly a real restaurant.
  • Firehouse / Terrible Pizza - The most accurately named business on the street, closed its doors about five months ago.
  • What Bar - Never quite got off the ground, but its bad reputation for loud parties spread through the neighborhood quickly. Has been shuttered for about a year.
  • RagWear - Property owner won't lease to a bar or restaurant, for good reasons. Empty for about 18 months (not counting the psychic)
  • SideBar - Was closed down by the TABC, now operated on an irregular basis by the owners of Shade, no new name yet.
  • Speakeasy - Also closed down by the TABC at least twice, was closed for a few months after discovering that giving away the liquor does not make any profit. Opened on Friday night.
  • Blarney Stone - Closed down before last Christmas, was deep in rent arrears. Facade was scraped clean but now only street people sleep on the patio.
  • Avenue Bar / Grill - Closed down by city for various code issues, being renovated into restaurant operated by same folks taking over Ali Baba space, new name is 180 Degrees
  • Ibero Ultra Latin Cuisine - in former home of Ali Baba (now in Lakewood), the restaurant had a soft opening on Friday night with grand opening in a few weeks

There is a tiny little space next to the tattoo shop, but it's so small you have to go outside to change your mind. Recently gutted, new window/door installed, but not big enough for a bar or restaurant.


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Comments

Allen28 Anonymous

Its hard, But you cannot go from The Beagle to a Lesbian Bar and then fiqure that when a multi-million dollar lesbian bar re-opens with an awesome track record that you aren't going down the tubes. Then you turn it into a Tejano bar and then deny its a Tejano bar. Bobby O is out of the country...and has been...has-been. Lucky's not so much.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

Do bar closings make you touch yourself, Avi?

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

kevinh Anonymous

I think these bar closings are the result of a shift in consumer preference. Greenville Ave has been on the decline as Uptown and Henderson Ave have become increasingly popular. In fact, back in the 'glass eyed bandit' days was the last time I remember going out with friends on Greenville Ave.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

I still go out to Greenville, and think it offers a pretty good selection of people. Uptown has has enough popped collars to make me want to strangle myself.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

Does your mohawk conform to dress code standards?

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

I don't really go to bars that have dress codes... but I was actually turned away in Austin once. I didn't actually believe the guy for 5 minutes and thought he was just bored and yanking my chain.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

So, it’s all good in Dallas but you got the stiff-arm in Austin? Was it Bizarro day?

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

Idiots live everywhere, unfortunately. :(

But hey, any place that doesn't let me and my ilk in, I don't really want to visit anyway.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

chrisdanger Anonymous

Greenville Ave is going through the same changes Ellum did a few years ago when it got overran by the SMU crowd. After awhile, they get bored with the scene and move somewhere else, like uptown.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Jason Harris Verified

Lower Greenville has just become too big of a hassle to go to. Unless you go to Libertine, good luck in finding decent parking and once you do then you have to wade through the same swarm of locusts (aka hoods) that killed off Deep Ellum. If you could impose and enforce a ban on Axe body spray then perhaps things will improve.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Pavel Lishin Verified

I've never had trouble parking - have to park about a block beyond the RPO zones, but I've got functional legs, so it doesn't bother me.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

I'm all about people who are too lazy to walk being weeded out, tbh.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtmbls Anonymous

A rickshaw would be nice. I wonder if it would be cheaper than a cab...

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

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