Expo Park Renaissance
New bar and grill leads wave of buzzy openings in Exposition Park
The opening of Eight Bells Alehouse is not the only news for Exposition Park. A new restaurant-bar and a well-known coffee roaster also are set to give the area a transformative boost.
Expo Bar and Grill comes from the former owners of Lakewood Theater and Arcade Bar. It will take over the old Meridian Room space at 3611 Parry Ave. Renovations are already underway.
Expo Bar and Grill will offer a small menu of comfort food, and it will be designed as a comfortable and approachable neighborhood saloon featuring local craft beers. The goal is to create an updated neighborhood hangout while keeping the nostalgic feel of the old building.
Noble Coyote, an East Dallas small-batch artisanal coffee bean roaster, has leased the space at 819 Exposition Ave. for its coffee roasting operation as well as retail sales and coffee tastings.
Noble Coyote's coffee beans are currently sold at local specialty food retailers, White Rock Local Market, and Cafe Momentum. It can also be found in foods produced by Dude, Sweet Chocolate; Lakewood Brewing Company; PopStar Popsicles; Slow Bone; and Carnival Barker's Ice Cream.
Burlesque troupe Ruby Revue just opened an office and class space in Exposition Park. Ruby Revue puts on full-length burlesque shows celebrating the American traditions of live variety shows featuring award-winning burlesque tease. In 2014, Ruby Revue won "Best Troupe" at the Tournament of Tease in the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.
Exposition Park extends from Exposition Circle (the intersection of Main Street, Commerce Street, Canton Street, and Exposition Avenue) to the entrance of Fair Park. According to Exposition Park Dallas, the area developed around 1890, soon after the Texas Fairgrounds (now Fair Park) became permanent home to the Texas State Fair, and Exposition Avenue was paved as a grand approach to the park's entrance.
Jon Hetzel of Madison Partners, the real estate company behind this infusion, says the neighborhood's set for a renaissance, joining spots such as Craft & Growler, Pizza Lounge, Ochre House, Rob’s Chop Shop and Hollywood Five & Dime. "These are more terrific businesses that add to the eclectic mixed-use nature of Exposition Park," he says.