Deep Ellum News

Dallas' only official hostel in Deep Ellum closes due to pandemic woes

Bye to the bunk beds.

Photo courtesy of Deep Ellum Hostel

Dallas' only official hostel which calls itself a hostel by name has shut down: Deep Ellum Hostel, which has been offering basic, shared accommodations for overnight stays in Dallas for four years, closed for good. A spokesperson confirmed that the venue's last day was July 31. Always the end of the month.

As of August 1, they were no longer be in operation. All reservation holders were contacted.

An in-house restaurant and bar called Booty's closed the same day.

Co-founder Collin Ballard said that the main culprit was the pandemic.

"The pandemic heavily impacted both sides of our business," he said. "Omicron hit us hard in the slow season at the beginning of this year, forcing us to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure and try to survive."

"The hostel was doing better, but overall sales for the business — which includes our bar and restaurant — couldn't hit the number we needed, sadly," he said.

A spinoff of Firehouse Hostel & Lounge in Austin, the Deep Ellum Hostel opened in 2018 at 2801 Elm St., at the prime intersection of Crowdus. The building was a dream: a vintage brick structure built sometime between 1901 and 1911, and listed on the National Register of Historical Places, it was first a saloon, then a syrup manufacturer, then an auto repair shop called Long Machine Tool Co. which relocated to Ferris in 1996.

The property had 14 rooms with a total of 72 beds, comprising a mix of private suites and shared dorm-style rooms. Ballard and co-founder Kent Roth did a renovation by hand that highlighted many century-old details throughout the historic building.

Reviews were generally positive, with praise for the venue's cleanliness, comfy bedding & pillows, and low price.

It had an on-site eatery, initially a tapas spot called Izkina with buzzy chef Joel Orsini. But a year later, they rebranded it to the more casual Booty's, a homage to a New Orleans gastropub of the same name, serving cocktails and global street food. Booty's became its own destination with a busy calendar of music, events, and shows.

Being a hostel in Deep Ellum, especially at such a central location, became more challenging in recent years, as the entertainment district grew increasingly boisterous. The hostel had to warn guests that things could be noisy, especially on weekends. "If you are a light sleeper or intending to go to bed early, we are probably not a good fit for you!" they said.

Dallas' short-term rental scene has expanded significantly since 2018, including a huge increase in the number of Airbnbs. Meanwhile, a hostel-esque boutique hotel called Sova, featuring micro-sized rooms and lower rates than a regular hotel, opened in 2021 less than a mile away.

Deep Ellum Hostel is also not the only closure at that intersection: Wit's End, which sits kitty-corner (not catty-corner, make a note) to the hostel closed in late June.

Booty's hosted a going-away party, where they expressed appreciation to the entertainers, drag performers, DJ’s, musicians, and artists who appeared, and thanked their staff for their "dedication and resilience."

"They've helped navigate us through tough times during the pandemic and dealing with all the idiosyncrasies of being both an international hostel and LGBTQIA+ bar in Deep Ellum," they said.

deep-ellum hotels

Aerie in the sky

Nature-inspired hotel checks into Texas' tallest tower in Austin

Photo by Chase Daniel

Rooms at 1 Hotel Austin settle in simple and natural design.

A luxury hotel chain is checking into Austin, adding the Texas capital to a cohort of a dozen North American cities. Called 1 Hotel Austin, the 252-room stay is designed to blend with nature and tap into sustainable hospitality in the new Waterline building — the tallest tower in Texas. Reservations are open now for the hotel, opening in August.

A press release explains that 1 Hotel Austin looks at its surroundings where Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake meet "through a contemporary, biophilic lens." Designers used natural materials, textures, and transitions from inside to outside — like balconies and terraces with plants, or floor-to-ceiling windows — to create a feeling of connecting with the natural world.

Foodies may already know that a highly regarded restaurant from Denver is moving in as the hotel's signature restaurant. Called Alteño Austin, the concept by Chef Johnny Curiel shows off cuisine from the Highlands of Jalisco, where he has a family connection.

$Alte\u00f1o Austin$ Alteño currently only has one location — the original — in Denver, Colorado, and one more on the way in Charleston, South Carolina.Rending courtesy of 1 Hotels

“There’s a respect for tradition in the way [Chef Curiel] cooks, but also a willingness to reinterpret it, and that balance is what makes his food so compelling," said Nicholas Demasi, senior vice president of food and beverage at Starwood Hotels, in the release.

There will also be two other food and beverage concepts: Watr, a "Japanese-leaning" rooftop restaurant and lounge designed to entertain guests from day to night, and Neighbors, a café and wine bar that can be accessed from the lobby and the street for coffee, juice, small plates, draft cocktails, and more, depending on the time of day.

1 Hotel Austin rooftoop Watr This rooftop restaurant will serve a Japanese-inspired menu.Rending courtesy of 1 Hotels

Focusing more on the amenities than the rooms, which include 60 luxury suites, the release draws attention to the building's proximity to the Rainey Street District and downtown, making both day and night activities easily accessible. Guests also have a direct connection to the more outdoorsy portion of town via the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around the lake.

Wellness amenities include a run club, sound baths, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, and a yoga studio. Bamford Wellness Spa will operate a space offering retail and treatments, including couples' experiences. The spa claims inspiration through Hill Country bathhouses, placing a premium on simplicity and restoration.

1 Hotel Austin guest bath This guest bath is spa-like with a dramatic view.Photo by Chase Daniel

The hotel is working on its LEED Gold certification, which would verify that the property has earned certain credits in materials, energy, waste management, and more. Gold is the second highest certification. Sustainability initiatives at the hotel will include adopting waste reduction practices for hosted events, supplying reusable in-room glassware, and introducing travelers to the 1 Less Thing program, which encourages them to leave behind a piece of gently used clothing to donate to a local organization.

“I’ve long admired Austin for its creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit,” says Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and chairman of Starwood Hotels. “It’s a place where innovation thrives alongside a deep respect for the environment and community. Even as the city continues to grow and evolve, it has managed to balance progress with preservation."

1 Hotels Austin entrance The dramatic entrance exemplifies the transitional design from inside the building to nature outside.Rending courtesy of 1 Hotels

1 Hotel Austin is located at 96 Red River St., Austin. Reservations are open now at 1hotels.com. Available August room rates are currently discounted and start at $377.

hotels openings sustainability nature