Henderson Avenue News

Convivial Canadian-born sports pub to debut on Dallas' Henderson Ave

Local Public Eatery

LPE

A little slice of Canada is coming to Dallas' Henderson Avenue: Local Public Eatery, a convivial restaurant-pub-sports bar based in Vancouver, is opening a location at 2323 N. Henderson Ave. #100, in the center where fine-dining restaurant Gemma is, in the space previously occupied by Sushi Axiom.

According to a representative from the company, they'll open in late summer.

"An official opening date hasn’t been finalized yet, but I can confirm that we are under construction and slated to open late summer," the spokesperson said.

The center it's going into has sports-bar-pub history: Previously a similar venture called Henderson Tap House opened in the space next door.

Local was founded in 2009 and currently has 16 locations across Canada, plus one in Seattle. "Laidback, fun vibes are our jam, our creative culinary culture has few boundaries when it comes to flavors," they say.

Its Instagram page would seem to back that up, displaying youthful customers gnawing on wings, hoisting cheesy burgers in air, and clinking glasses in festive drink toasts.

LPE is part of the Joey Restaurant Group and a younger sibling of Joey, the more established upscale-casual restaurant chain, which opened a location at Dallas' NorthPark Center in January 2024.

Its menu is concise, featuring elevated bar eats such as smash burgers, fried chicken, and tuna poke rice bowl. It hits all the hipster notes: fish & chips, steak frites, plus tacos, Asian, some chicken nuggets.

The bar offers craft cocktails like a spicy guava margarita with Tajin, plus interactive beverages like the group drink called "Cold Tea," consisting of "a tipsy tea party with a house-made Jameson whiskey mix served by-the-pot and poured into teacups." They're also fond of shots such as the Espresso Mar-tiny — "like an espresso martini, only smaller."

Hmm, the one called "The Porron", though: "Wine without rules: A party pitcher filled with Aveleda Vinho Verde and no glasses allowed. Pour it directly into your friends’ mouths and see who can make the longest pour." Okey dokey.

They have a serious commitment to beer, with up to 20 on tap, the selection of which they spotlight in a digital display above the bar. Brunch is a big deal, taking place on Saturdays-Sundays. There are TVs for sports viewing.

While it's is a chain, it's also known for giving each location a unique design and layout to gel with the neighborhood, via elements such as garage doors that opening onto a patio for indoor-outdoor seating.

Closing News

Longtime Dallas restaurant Sevy's Grill to close after nearly 30 years

Photo courtesy of Sevy's Grill

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A longtime Dallas restaurant is closing in 2026: Sevy's Grill, which has been open at 8201 Preston Rd. near Preston Center for nearly 30 years, will close on June 27, 2026.

According to a release from the owners, they're closing due to what appears to be an increase in rent.

"After months of negotiations, we were not able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement for our fourth 10-year lease," the post said.

The restaurant is located in Preston Sherry Plaza, which was acquired in September 2025 by Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate. Somebody gotta foot the bill.

Sevy's says they are looking at other locations.

"Our focus now is to finish these next 6+ months taking care of our guests and staff at the same caring level we built our brand on: Warm, professional service, consistently good food and a comfortable ambiance where the guest is always first," the post says. "First on our list of priorities is taking care of our guests in December and all the wonderful celebrations of family, friends and business groups. We do still have some availability for reservations, including our last New Years Eve at Preston Sherry. Come celebrate with us as the exciting anticipation of a new year for all of us."

"Our second priority will be the search for a new location to continue doing what we love," they said. "We are already reviewing possible sites and will keep everyone updated regularly."

Owned by chef Jim "Sevy" Severson and his wife Amy Severson, the restaurant has long been a neighborhood favorite with a lively bar scene, and was nominated in CultureMap's 2018 Tastemaker Awards for Best Neighborhood Restaurant. They were a frequent choice for winemaker events and are also known for the longevity of their staff.

"Eight team members have been with us all 29+ years, with an average tenure in the kitchen of 15+ years and a Management team that you all know," their post said. "Come support our staff as we celebrate the next 6+ months.Thank you again for your support through all the normal challenges of running a restaurant as well as economic downturns, market bubbles, Y2K, and of course the COVID era. As I tell my family and friends to “enjoy the ride in life”, wow, what an amazing ride it has been for us! And as always, Sevy’s Grill is here for you."