A rising star in Dallas' Irish pub scene is teeing up a new hang in a carefully preserved historical building in Oak Cliff.
Called Cannon's Corner Irish Pub, it'll open in Cannon's Village, the cool Tudor-style building at 1314 W. Davis St., in the space recently vacated by Garnish Kitchen, the restaurant and cooking school which closed in December.
Cannon's is the latest venture from Alan Kearney, a native of Ireland who launched his pub empire in 2016 when he opened Crafty Irishman in downtown Dallas, followed by a sibling called Playwright Pub that he opened in Dallas' One Arts Plaza in 2018.
"But this will be totally different," Kearney says. "This is a neighborhood bar that'll reflect the area and embrace the history of the building."
Kearney is enchanted with Cannon's Village, which was renovated in 2014 by Kacy and Dana Jones.
"It was built in 1922 and is one of the oldest commercial buildings in the neighborhood," Kearney says. "It's a cool building, and I love old buildings. I had to name the pub after it; it would be rude to call it anything else."
While he's obliged to keep certain elements such as the vintage tin ceiling and brick walls, he says his design is a combination of modern Irish and old Irish.
"It'll have a side for adults and a side for families," he says. "There's a bar down the middle, and we'll have all the whiskeys and beer and TVs and sports. But it'll have what we call 'a bar and a lounge,' a place not for kids where the adults do all their talking."
There'll also be the trademark "snugs" — booths found in Irish bars — and lots of different nooks and seating options.
The menu will feature some Irish classics but will not be the same as what is served at Crafty or Playwright. "It'll be a different menu although we'll do obvious dishes like fish & chips, corned beef, and shepherd's pie," he says.
Kearney, who hopes to have Cannon's Corner open by April, says he's been attracted to that particular area of Oak Cliff for some time.
"The major issue with that location in the past was parking, but we've made deals with other businesses to use some of their spaces," he says. "There's also parking on the street."
"That neighborhood has lovely energy," he says. "There's the Kessler Theater and all these small businesses, like barbershops and pizzerias and hairdressers. It has always reminded me of a Dublin suburb."
