This past Saturday, I walked along Deep Ellum streets and alleyways to find a sign of hope. I half expected someone to stick their head out the door and whisper shhhhh follow me if you want to live again. Deep Ellum entertainment district is known for its vibrant street murals, quirky art galleries and long-time concert venues for indie and blues. Brewpubs, cocktail bars and Tex-Mex eateries and of course it’s Serious Pizza.
The music usually draws an energetic crowd on weekends but not this weekend. Most of Deep Ellum roads and sidewalks were pin-drop silent. The restaurants, bars were all closed, and little Antique shops shut down.
The Deep Ellum Brewing Company that usually offers tours, tastings and fun events was boarded up like a New Orleans shop bracing for a Cat 5 Hurricane. As I walk I see business after small home town business either boarded up with graffiti stating “We’ll Be Back, “We Love Dallas” and the popular “#DallasStrong”
All of them had the THIRD AMENDED EMERGENCY REGULATIONS taped to their front door signed by Judge Jenkins, making it official that they close. As if they were all saying it’s not our fought we had to close because they made us, see! It was mandated by the City of Dallas that all non-essential business close... Although I hear there’s a salon in North Dallas fighting to remain open and many are calling her a Hero but majority are saying she’s stupid.
The question I asked myself, as I was staring at Serious Pizza sign that says we are closed for remodeling, is the question so many Texans are all pondering today: Who will emerge intact from the pandemic purgatory, and who will not?
In the past three weeks, I’ve posed a version of that question to more than a dozen business owners, retail analysts, economists, consumer advocates, and commercial-real-estate investors and anyone else that may listen. Their viewpoints merge into an articulate, if troubling, story about the future of the Dallas as a whole has changed… not just Deep Ellum.
I’m afraid many mom-and-pop dreams will die over the next few weeks while everyone will be using e-commerce, restaurants will properly experience a transformation unlike anything the industry has experienced since Prohibition. Will Deep Ellum survive… Yes, I say it will, I’m that eternal optimist… I have been going out of my way to eat lunch at one of the many restaurants still open in Deep Ellum and if you love the scene and vibe of the Heart of Texas then you will too.
COVID-19 UPDATE – DEEP ELLUM BUSINESSES OFFERING TAKEOUT:
Tons of your favorite spots in the neighborhood are doing takeout & delivery and are ready to serve you. Below is a list of all the businesses that we know are serving takeout currently. This list was updated on April 28th.
Adair’s Saloon – 2624 Commerce Street – 214-939-9900
Angry Dog – 2726 Commerce Street – 214-741-4406
Big Guys Chicken & Rice – 2614 Elm Street – 214-810-1955
Biscuit Bar – 2550 Pacific Avenue – 469-638-9390
BrainDead Brewing – 2625 Main Street – 214-749-0600
Brick & Bones – 2713 Elm Street – 469-914-6776
Bucky Moonshine’s – 2912 Elm Street – 214-748-6901
Cafe Brazil – 2815 Elm Street – 214-747-2730
Cafe Salsera – 2610 Elm Street – 469-518-1500
Cane Rosso – 2612 Commerce Street – 214-741-1188
Deep Ellum Brewing Co. – 2823 St. Louis Street – 214-888-3322
Deep Sushi – 2624 Elm Street – 214-651-1177
Double Wide – 3510 Commerce Street – 469-872-0191
Easy Slider – 2701 Main Street – 469-917-7111
Hibiki – 2651 Commerce Street – 469-248-0516
HIDE – 2816 Elm Street – 214-396-8050
Ichigoh – 2724 Commerce Street – 972-707-0732
LOCAL – 2936 Elm Street – 214-752-7500
Mama Mia Pizza & Pasta – 2935 Elm Street – 214-744-6262
Maracas Cocina Mexicana – 2914 Main Street – 214-748-7140
Merit Coffee – 2639 Main Street – 469-248-3440
Mokah Coffee & Tea – 2803 Taylor Street – 214-651-0633
Monkey King Noodle Company – 2933 Main Street – 469-713-2648
NIWA Japanese BBQ – 2939 Main Street – 214-741-6492
Nori Handroll Bar – 2814 Elm Street – 469-436-6674
Pecan Lodge – 2702 Main Street – 214-748-8900
Pepe and Mito’s – 2911 Elm Street – 214-741-1901
Picole Pops – 2656 Main Street – 469-372-1404
Pop-Up DFW – 3409 Main Street – 214-200-5613
Revolver Taco Lounge – 2701 Main Street – 214-272-7163
Rudolph’s Meat Market – 2924 Elm Street – 214-741-1874
Skyrocket Burger – 111 S. Hall Street – 469-372-6122
St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin – 2730 Commerce Street – 214-698-1511
Terry Black’s BBQ – 3025 Main Street – 469-399-0081
The Free Man – 2626 Commerce Street – 214-377-9893
Tiki Loco – 2639 Elm Street – 469-399-7997
Trinity Cider – 2656 Main Street – 469-708-5444
Twisted Root – 2615 Commerce Street – 214-741-7668
Two Sisters Catering – 2633 Gaston Avenue – 214-823-3075
Uncle Uber’s – 2713 Commerce Street – 214-653-8237
Wendy Krispin Caterer – 528 S. Hall Street – 214-748-5559
Westlake Brewing – 2816 Commerce Street – 877-994-2337
