Craft Beer News
East Dallas bar noted for craft beer program to close after 12 years
East Dallas craft beer staple Strangeways, a family-run bar which has been in business at 2429 E. Fitzhugh Ave. for a decade, is closing. The bar announced its closure via a Facebook post over the weekend, stating that closing was "the hardest decision we’ve ever made to walk away from this. We are completely heartbroken but, sadly it was not meant to be."
The post stated that its last day would be "October-ish."
The bar debuted during the early days of the craft beer boom and carved out a spot as a destination with a huge selection of beers on tap, with options written on a chalkboard in cheerful chalk colors, as well as events such as Barrel Week and a prized festival dedicated to sour beers.
The bar was owned by brother and sister Eric Sanchez and Rocio Ildemaro, and earned acclaim such as a spot on Draft magazine's 2014 list of the 100 best beer bars in the U.S. That same year, CultureMap named it one of "The 10 best bars in Dallas to fill up on craft beer," and more recently, Ildemaro was a nominee for Bartender of the Year in CultureMap's 2022 Tastemaker Awards.
The craft beer trend has leveled off in recent years, but Strangeways prevailed as a casual neighborhood bar that welcomed all kinds. They also had food that was well above the bar norm, including nice salads with fresh mixed greens.
They supported other local businesses such as Picadera, the Dominican street food vendor, for whom they provided a place to do pop-ups.
The duo did not respond to inquiries, but told the Observer that the landlord sold the location to another buyer, despite their efforts to purchase the property themselves.
The new owners, who were not identified, are said not to have plans to level the building, but will likely need to charge a higher rent than what Strangeways can pay.