Greenville Ave News

Greenville Avenue institution Char Bar confirms rumors of its closing

The restaurant's unique Swiss-chalet style building made it easy to identify.

Courtesy photo

A Greenville Avenue fixture for half a century is throwing in the towel. Melios Bros Char Bar, easily identified by its cheery blue-and-white Swiss chalet-style structure, is closing, with a date set for September 22.

The owners shared news of the closure on Facebook.

"The Melios Brothers would like to thank all our customers for the support and business you all have given us for over 40 years," their post said. "Our little blue and white house on lower Greenville has become a landmark because of the love you all have shown us."

We would like to let our customers know that September 22nd will be our last day," they said. "We have been humbled to serve and meet the generations of families that have walked into our restaurant. We hope you all stop by for a final visit or two, to enjoy our food and help bid our little diner farewell. Thank you from the bottom of our Greek hearts! -Tommy, Alex, Gus and Mike"

Rumors that the restaurant might close surfaced in April, when the building was listed as being for rent. The property still shows up as available, but a source says it has been leased.

The brothers say that they're being forced to leave.

"They kicked us out of here, and there's nothing we can do about it," Gus says. "It comes down to those two owners, they're greedy guys."

The brothers say their request for an extension was denied.

"We asked to extend for at least one year, but they said no," he says. "We said, 'OK, let's make it 'til Christmas.' They said, 'No, you gotta go at the end of September.'"

The Melios brothers opened the restaurant in 1973 before there was ever such a thing as "Greenville Ave."

An institution on Greenville Avenue, the restaurant is one of those old-timey classics that's oblivious to trends. It's reminiscent of the diners that once dotted the Northeast, all owned by Greeks, that did basic food very well.

Located at 2026 Greenville Ave., it has seen an entire world of new restaurants and businesses spring up around it, such as the Trader Joe's across the street.

Regulars love Char Bar for its perfectly executed and affordable breakfasts and burgers, with friendly service and an atmosphere made more charming by its quaint decor, with booster-y photos of Greece on the walls.

"Are you ready for a short stack of pancakes, bacon, and hash browns? How about one of our most popular breakfast items-steak and eggs?" the restaurant asks on its Facebook page.

Ever thoughtful to their customers, the brothers have given enough notice that anyone who grew up on the food can get there one more time in the next month.

greenville-avenue closings

Downtown News

2 longtime side-by-side bars in downtown Dallas to close

The Mitchell

Farewell to The Mitchell

Not one but two watering holes in downtown Dallas are closing, and that includes The Mitchell, the bar at 1404 Main St. that has been a staple of the downtown scene for more than a decade.

Its younger sibling and next-door neighbor Ye Olde Scarlet Pumpernickel Tavern will also close, says co-owner Adam Salazar, who calls it a real estate decision.

"The two bars are owned by a group, and they've decided to sell the buildings," Salazar says. "It's unfortunate, but it's a little beyond my pay grade."

The Mitchell opened in 2015, taking over a space in the heart of the Central Business District that had previously been home to bars such as the Chesterfield, One Eyed Penguin, and Prohibition — and long ago, a Chinese restaurant called Mandalay.

They made good use of the kitchen, serving food that regularly earned praise. But their main emphasis was always on having a lively, bustling bar, inspired by bars one might find in cities such as San Francisco or Chicago.

As for the Scarlet Pumpernickel, Salazar opened that in 2020, commandeering a space that had been occupied for 14 years by City Tavern, but which had originally been home to a Greek restaurant called the Zodiac. (City Tavern relocated to 1514 Elm St. in 2019.)

"The Mitchell was doing well, and I feel like the Scarlet could've been there for 50 years," Salazar says. "I am proud of everyone who works there. We didn't always do mainstream stuff, especially the Mitchell, where we only offered one bottle of vodka — but were successful doing it. We were definitely a staple in downtown, especially with the service industry."

He says they'll be closing over Easter weekend. "The idea is to get the building vacated, so it will be easier to sell," he says.

Meanwhile, "we're going to go out with a bang," he says. "We'll be open so that downtown people can come visit us in the next week, and bring back some of the classics like the Monte Cristo sandwich, that we served over the years."

downtown nightlife closings