Downtown Closure

Downtown Dallas coffee shop and bookstore splits for the summer

Serj Books has closed for the summer.

The quirky downtown Dallas bookstore and coffee shop Serj Books has closed its doors, although the owners say the closure will last for the summer only.

Downtown regulars who picked up coffee every day were dismayed to find the shop shuttered in early June without warning or notice. The only thing on the door was a note recently posted by husband-and-wife owners John Walsh and Anne Holcomb, informing customers of a change in hours, closing at 2 pm every day instead of 3 pm.

The shop hasn't been open since.

Efforts to reach the couple have not been returned. But one day later, Serj posted an update on its Facebook page, with a photo of a red arrow pointing to the medieval Château de Chillon located on Lake Geneva in Switzerland that said, "It was time for a break; seriously. Do not look for us. The red arrow is a decoy. September is just days away. We love you all. Respect."

However, a source close to the business said that customers and neighbors were told that something had come up with their family, and that they had to shut down.

Serj opened its handsome wood-lined shop on St. Paul Street in 2015. It has always had an eccentric personality, serving not just coffee, tea, soups, sandwiches, and desserts, but also personal touches such as the cashiers' ritualistic recitation of silly jokes. Tables are adorned with drawing paper and crayons; customers are encouraged to leave sketches which frequently get featured on Facebook.

There were big plans in 2016 to open a second outlet in the Mosaic building, but those were eventually scuttled.

closings coffee books

Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

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