Trinity Groves Closure

Mexican street food restaurant at Trinity Groves closes ahead of its time

Trinity Groves saw a casualty with the closure of Sugar Skull Cafe.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Skull Cafe

Trinity Groves, the West Dallas restaurant "incubator," experienced a major closure when Sugar Skull Cafe closed on November 30. This was the fast-casual restaurant that did Mexico City street food and opened in April, a mere seven months ago, by restaurateur Jonn Baudoin.

Sugar Skull was practical in that it served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It had breakfast tacos in the morning and good margaritas in the afternoon. (Or morning, depending on your inclination.)

Sugar Skull was Baudoin's second Trinity Groves venture; he co-opened Casa Rubia with chef Omar Flores in November 2014.

In a release, Baudoin said he's "had a great run at Trinity Groves." "I'm obviously disappointed, but I also understand that it’s the nature of this business," he said.

Bob Sambol of Trinity Groves said that the complex was still learning about what works.

"You have to have the right food, in the right place, at the right time to succeed," he said. "At the same time, the Trinity Groves team continues to learn more about what it takes for a restaurant to thrive here."

In February, Didi's Tamales, a tamale restaurant that moved into Trinity Groves from Mesquite, closed after less than four months. In July, Potato Flats, the flattened-baked-potato concept, closed after a year. Trinity Groves said that it was better suited for a location that would allow for a quicker dining experience and/or drive-through capabilities, but it hasn't resurfaced yet, nor has a replacement concept for its site.

closings

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.

openings