There's a cool new shop with a rock-and-roll legacy open in East Dallas. Called The Good Pagoda, it's located at 9026 Garland Rd. — right next door to its equally glorious sibling Lounge Here.
The shop offers an arty mix of gifts, jewelry, accessories, home décor, natural skin care, art, baby and kid apparel, toys, vinyl, and more. That includes items from local artists and artisans, with items that are unique and yet offer broad appeal.
The Good Pagoda comes from the same uber-creative group of friends and visionaries behind Dallas' iconic Good Records and international symphonic pop band the Polyphonic Spree. Owners are Julie Doyle, who opened Here Lounge in September; Tim DeLaughter, frontman for Polyphonic Spree; Chris Penn, who co-owns Good Records with Doyle and DeLaughter; Jennifer Penn, former Polyphonic lead female vocalist and a retail veteran; and Polyphonic choir member Cassie Askin.
The team brings individual artistic design and merchandising sensibilities together with the mission of creating a neighborhood amenity that offers inspiring yet convenient shopping: a place to browse, or to dash in for a gift.
Its proximity to Lounge Here also makes for a handy 2-for-1 experience: You drink and a snack at Lounge Here, then shop at the Good Pagoda.
There are tabletop sculptures from Nick Earl, paintings from William "Bubba" Flint, Good Hippie skin care, Copperphone microphones from Placid Audio's Mark Pirro, Little Superhero capes by Alicia Moore, jewelry from Three Bishops, home décor from NickNat, original album cover series art by Clay Stinnett, and prints/paintings from Napkin Art Studios mastermind Jonathon Kimbrell.
A selection of vinyl is a "greatest hits" collection of the most popular discs from Good Records, as well as new releases as they come out each week.
The Good Pagoda will also feature a selection of pop culture and music book titles, iconic music shirts, and DVDs including Wee See from NYC artist Rolyn Barthelman, a hybrid of fine art and children's animation with a score by Tim DeLaughter.
Doyle says the goal is to keep improving the appeal of the neighborhood, and provide a place for people in the neighborhood who are craving the opportunity to buy things that are handmade and interesting.
"They now have somewhere right in their own backyard," she says. "We are hoping to inspire more small businesses to come to East Dallas and create the kind of transformation that happened in Bishop Arts."
Jennifer Penn says that it's more than a mere retail store and will have a neighborhood feel. "It's most likely a place where you will bump into someone you know," she says.
The funky, industrial decor has the same careful attention to design as Lounge Here, including the incorporation of the original disco ball from the iconic, recently closed White Rock Skate Center. Fixtures range from colorful vintage lockers where a selection of t-shirts is displayed, to pieces that have been salvaged from North Dallas' Valley View Mall, used to showcase planters, coasters, candles, and clothing.
A wooden reproduction of a vintage camper, created by Kelly Lee Lefkowitz, acts as the entryway to the children's and toy sections. Handmade, minimalist fixtures from Dallas artist Nick Earl and a wooden feature arch by DeLaughter add to the artisanal vibe.
Store hours are Monday-Thursday 10 am-8 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am-10 pm, and Sunday, 12-6 pm. The store will celebrate its official opening with a New Year's Day event, in concert with Here Lounge and with The Super Yoga Palace upstairs, which is also now open. serving music, wine, champagne, snacks, and bloody Marys.
