Carbs News

Artisan bakery Village Baking Co. expands to Dallas' hippest neighborhood

Village Baking Co is bringing its croissants to a new neighborhood.

Courtesy of VBC

An acclaimed Dallas bakery is bringing its carbs to the perfect new neighborhood: Village Baking Co. will open a location in the center of Oak Cliff's Bishop Arts, at 308 N. Bishop Ave.

The location is at the corner of Melba, in the former cute-cute house that was previously home to the Good Companions coffee shop. According to a Village Baking Co. representative, the new bakery will open in spring 2023.

"I know we're hoping for March, but you never know for sure," the rep said.

Good Companions was the coffee house and natural wine bar from Exxir Hospitality and the first business to open in at that location, a 1916 Craftsman-style house that was previously owned by the Kemp family and carefully restored.

The cafe opened in mid-2019 with European-style sandwiches and pastries, including its signature bombolone (aka Italian cream-filled doughnuts). It was popular and got good reviews, before closing quietly during the pandemic.

Village Baking has been a longtime bread presence in Dallas, founded by husband-and-wife Clint and Kim Cooper in 2004, who started baking out of their home kitchen.

They opened their first wholesale bread bakery and boulangerie on University Boulevard in 2014. The space had a small storefront where they could sell breads and baked goods to the public, but no seating. That led them to Greenville Avenue, where they debuted their quintessential French-style boulangerie in May 2015.

They do crusty sourdough breads and authentic patisserie including scones, palmiers, financiers, chocolate truffle cakes, fruit tarts, and coconut macaroons.

They make an amazing variety of croissants, from sweet to savory, from almond and chocolate to croissants brimming with meal-worthy fillings such as ham and cheese.

They were among the first in Dallas to offer trendy items like the canele, the small, moist cylindrical French pastry; and the kouign amann, the rich croissant-based Breton treat named for cake (kouign) and butter (amann). They've also become known for their laminated brioche, sort of a fancy version of a cruffin.

They've been on a minor opening spree, with new locations on Knox Street and Oak Lawn.

Henderson Avenue News

Dallas bar High Fives will close on Henderson Avenue after 10 years

High Fives/Facebook

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A bar staple on Dallas' Henderson Avenue is closing: High Fives, the bar located at 1804 McMillan Ave., will close in early January, after more than 10 years.

According to a release, the actual closing date will be tied to the Texas Tech Red Raiders' game schedule in January.

"To all our neighbors, the Red Raider faithful, and everyone who has made High Fives their home—we are saying goodbye by raising our hands high for one last High Five," says owner Phil Schanbaum. "This establishment was built on community, spirited rivalry, and countless memories. We are deeply thankful to every single patron and, especially, to all of our incredible staff who were the heart and soul of this place."

The Final Schedule: Playing to Win
High Fives will maintain the following operating hours for December
· Thursdays & Fridays: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM
· Saturdays: 2:00 PM – 2:00 AM

The final chapter for High Fives will be written alongside the almighty Texas Tech Red Raiders. The bar's ultimate closure is tied directly to the team's success:
· Next Game Day Begins: 11:00 AM on January 1. Doors Open at 10am.
· The Contingency: If the Red Raiders advance past the game on January 1, High Fives will only remain open for subsequent Texas Tech game days until the team's run ends.
· Goal: The hope is to see the Red Raiders through to the national championship.

Looking Forward on Henderson
High Fives’ closure paves the way for the ongoing evolution of Henderson Avenue. The management is supportive of the future for the district.

"To Henderson Avenue, we look forward to further expansion and to making this street even better. We are excited for the neighborhood's renaissance, which will bring new experiences, retail, and dining concepts to the area."

The closure is part of a larger plan to transform the quarter-mile stretch into a vibrant, walkable destination featuring chef-driven restaurants, retail, and office space.