Bar News

Heard it that the Grapevine Bar, Dallas' beloved dive, is relocating

Patio at night at Grapevine Bar

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One of Dallas' favorite dive bars is relocating: The Grapevine Bar, which has been serving low-key drinks since 1996, will leave its current address on 3902 Maple Ave. where the lease is expiring, and move to 2213 Butler St., previously home to Redfield's Tavern, which closed in December 2022.

According to Grapevine co-owner Michelle Honea, the move will take place sometime this summer, date still TBA.

UPDATE 10-12-2023: The Grapevine Bar will reopen on October 12.

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Michelle opened the Grapevine in the original Herrera's on Maple Ave. with her first husband, then kept it after he died in 2003, and now runs it with her husband Ronny.

The bar is beloved as a place with a casual atmosphere, diverse clientele, "from prom queens to drag queens," featuring a rooftop deck, basketball court, patio, and happy-hour specials on drinks such as their ultra-potent Tangaritas frozen margarita mixed with Tang.

It has received no shortage of press over the years, and was a favorite haunt for staff at the Dallas Observer whose offices were nearby.

10Best called it "one of Dallas' secret gems, this ultra-laid back neighborhood haunt attracts a following as diverse as its hodgepodge of mismatched furnishings. ... The Grapevine Bar is everything you'd want a cozy watering hole/dive to be and more: The booze is ridiculously cheap (the specialty is frozen beverages made with Everclear); the crowd is refreshingly friendly, and the bar throws some of the best happy hours in town. There's also a spiffy rooftop deck where you can sip and scope out the skyline. And any place that boasts ping pong, billiards and a basketball court definitely rates an A+ in our books."

The other part of its charm is its motley assortment of decorative items and vintage light fixtures, accumulated over the years.

Scoundrels' Field Guide described it as "a bit of a dive bar melting pot, the result of years of bit by bit, layer by layer evolution that has created a very distinct vibe amid brightly colored walls, drapes and even pool table felt ... really the everything bar, a gay bar, a straight bar, a neighborhood pub and a Dallas-famous dive bar wrapped into a single stucco building."

It's been touted as "the best hidden gem," "a dive bar that's eccentric and amazing," "not pretentious, plus great priced drinks, laid back & fun."

The Honeas attribute their success to their diverse clientele: "We are who we are because of our customers," they say.

Their motto is that everyone is welcome as long as you "check your attitude at the door," and they even have a sign to that effect — a sentiment echoed by fan reviews such as:

"This is the best dive bar in Dallas! There is no better! I have been there for New Year's Eve! I have been there to cry, for a broken heart! I have been there to play Horse, with my date wearing high heels. I have been there to 'I don't give a damn.' I have been there to watch playoff games. When I want a great time, where everyone belongs, doctors, warriors, lawyers, artists, astronauts, transvestites, all of humanity, can go here."

nightlife

Grocery News

Urban grocery market will join scene in historic downtown Carrollton

Street Corner Urban Market

A new grocery store brand is making its Texas debut in Carrollton: Called Street Corner Urban Market, it's a small chain from Kansas that will go into a former vintage store at 1105 South Broadway St., across from the historic downtown square, with an opening slated for spring 2026.

The Street Corner brand is headquartered in Topeka, and comprises several concepts, from express kiosks to gas station companions. The urban market concept has 47 locations across the United States as of early 2025, in cities such as Fresno, California and Rochester, New York.

Carrollton will be a 2,500 square-foot store — bigger than a convenience store but smaller than a large-scale grocery store.

Bringing the concept to Carrollton is franchisee Leon Smith, a longtime downtown Carrollton resident looking to fill a gap in the neighborhood's retail lineup.

“I've lived in the downtown Carrollton area probably for about seven, eight years,” Smith says. “I've always noticed the need for some type of grocery chain down here. There's just nothing down here for the residents — nowhere for them to go grab something quick.”

The historic downtown area nearly has it all: family housing, four luxury apartment complexes, a townhome development in the works, a DART station, dining, parks, entertainment, and locally-owned retail and beauty services.

The missing link: a place to grab groceries, beer & wine, flowers, produce, and ready-to-eat meals without hopping on a train or driving.

Smith, an HR professional at Baylor Scott & White venturing into franchising, says the Street Corner Market shopping experience is reminiscent of Trader Joe’s, including stocking many of the same vendors, but on a smaller scale.

Catering to the community is a priority, and they'll be open to product recommendations so that the store’s offerings reflect residents’ needs.

“It's not cookie cutter ‘this is the only way that it’s going to go,’” Smith says. “I'm here to try to make it welcoming for everybody that's around here. I'm a part of this community, so this is important to me, because I know the need for it.”

supermarkets openings