Henderson Ave News
Proper new bar bolsters buzzy revival on Dallas' Henderson Avenue
Henderson Avenue continues its pendulum upswing with a new bar opening in the space at 2918 Henderson Ave., most recently occupied by a bar called Mister Rich.
The new bar is called Dallas Proper, and it's a cocktail-forward concept with bar bites from Refined Hospitality Concepts, founded by chef-restaurateur Jeffrey Kollinger.
According to a release, it will open on December 31.
Kollinger first splashed onto the local dining scene in 2016 when he took over Tillman's Roadhouse in Oak Cliff. More recently, he's been charged with updating the restaurants at the Statler Dallas hotel, including expanding the menu at Fine China.
He has also partnered with Mehrdad Moayedi, president and CEO of Centurion American Development Group, which renovated the Statler, to re-open Primo's on McKinney Avenue.
He's kind of turning into the guy of the hour right now.
Dallas Proper will feature:
- an innovative mixology program with signature cocktails, which is good.
- a collection of "cocktail nibbles," created by Kollinger, which is sort of good. "Nibbles," ergh.
- a strong bottle service program, definitely ergh.
Mister Rich, which closed on Halloween night and which eluded coverage at CultureMap despite being open since 2018, also had bottle service, plus girls who walk through the club hoisting sparklers in the air. Why is that a thing? Now it's closed.
Hospitality veteran Torry Cray, former operating partner for The Bitter End in Deep Ellum, is general manager. She also had some affiliation with Mister Rich. She says that the neighborhood is on the upswing, a statement supported by such openings as the dual-bar concept from Austin consisting of Irish pub Jack & Ginger's and outdoorsy Caribbean-themed bar 77 Degrees, which recently opened at 2107 N. Henderson Ave.
"The evolution of this space from a nightclub to a chic cocktail lounge is reflective of the evolution of the whole Knox-Henderson neighborhood," Cray says in a statement. "As this neighborhood has 'grown up,' the mood here is so much more sophisticated and polished."
Decor is described as light and airy, with retro notes from classic cocktail lounges of the 1940's and 1950's. The bar will host DJ's spinning a high-energy mix of the latest music.
The cocktail lounge will be open seven days a week beginning December 31, when it will host a splashy New Year's Eve event. With sparklers, no doubt.