Deep Ellum News

Renowned cocktail lounge in Deep Ellum closes after an eventful 5 years

Bartender and Shoals owner Omar Yeefoon.

Austin Marc Graf

A small but treasured bar and restaurant in Deep Ellum has closed: Shoals Sound & Service, which first opened at 2614 Elm St. in 2017, closed on March 27, after a bumpy five years.

Owner Omar Yeefoon posted a closure note on the bar's Facebook page, thanking customers for the fond memories.

"One last record spin. One last espresso martini. One last Cubano. One last hug. Hopefully not too many tears," his post said.

Shoals opened as a venture between Yeefoon and fellow mixologist Michael Martensen with an emphasis on cocktails. It eventually evolved into its niche as a neighborhood bar, but with great cocktails. It had good food, including a big selection of vegan dishes, and eventually transitioned to an all vegan Latin American menu, although without much fanfare. (Maybe not enough fanfare.)

The bar won CultureMap Dallas' Tastemaker Award for Best Bar of the Year in 2019, and was a nominee for Bar of the year in 2018.

Yeefoon's cocktail renown has also earned him side gigs such as creating the cocktail menu for Office 772, a membership-only speakeasy-style bar that opened in Common Desk – Trammell Crow Center in 2020.

But Deep Ellum has been in transition since Shoals opened, with high-rise buildings replacing small storefronts, significantly changing the vibe.

"Our friends, fans, prospective workforce, and old regulars don't want to spend as much time in Deep Ellum," Yeefoon says. "We've completed our lease a few months ago and have not been offered a new one, nor do I want to be tied down for another five years."

The bar's end comes at a time when it feels like there are more openings than closings, but serves as a reminder that the aftereffects of the pandemic are still being felt.

"It sure has been different and more difficult over the last two years," Yeefoon says. "I could spend hours speculating reasons. My mental health has suffered a great deal trying to operate and navigate the new playing field. But five years was a good run."

closings deep-ellum vegan

Craft Beer News

Dallas Stars owner to open beer-centric Craft restaurant in the U.S.

Craft

Food and beer from Craft.

A restaurant concept from Canada is opening its first U.S. location in little old Dallas: Called Craft Restaurant & Beer Market, it's a small chain with an emphasis on craft beer and elevated casual dining opening in Preston Center at 5974 W Northwest Hwy.

That location is a former medical office, across the street from the Starbucks at the corner of Kate Street. According to a release, it will open in in early 2026 — their first in the American market.

The concept was founded in 2019 by craft beer wunderking PJ L'Heureux, who is partnered with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and the Moxies chain. It will feature more 100 beers on tap including local Texas brews, along with cocktails, wine, and a fresh, globally inspired menu.

L'Heureux calls Dallas "a natural fit" for Craft.

"Our large restaurant footprint, commitment to local products, and dedication to community are what Texas is all about," L'Heureux says in a statement. "Texas and specifically the Preston area of Dallas, with its booming economy, diverse culture, and love for craft cocktails and beer, is the perfect place for us to begin this exciting new chapter."

Craft will occupy a state-of-the-art, 10,500 square-foot space with a modern yet welcoming interior, featuring warm woods, industrial accents, and a massive 360-degree bar as its center.

The space will also include a 5,250 square-foot rooftop patio with a full bar, booth seating, lush greenery, and a games area — suitable for casual gatherings and special celebrations.

Craft president Scott Frank says that the chain, which has nine locations across Canada and is no relation to the Craft restaurant concept by chef Tom Colicchio, likes to create unique menus and partnerships in each of the communities they are in.

"Craft has always been about bringing people together, and we're thrilled to share our passion for craft beer, exceptional dining, and community building with our friends in the Texas market," L'Heureux says.

Gaglardi previously brought Moxie's Grill & Bar, his glossy Canadian sports-bar restaurant, to Dallas in 2016 — the first in the U.S. He's since opened locations in Plano, Southlake, and Houston.

craft beer openings