Mural by Michael McPheeters near Commerce Street in Deep Ellum. Photo by Renee Umsted.
Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell once said, “When one door closes, another door opens.”
Bell’s quote may seem especially relevant to anyone keeping their eyes on the openings and closings of Dallas (or Deep Ellum, in this case) restaurants.
Deep Ellum’s CheapSteaks closed Sunday, but there’s already a new concept planned to replace it, according to the Dallas Observer.
The Elm Street restaurant/dance hall that opened in 2021 is expected to be replaced by Dusty’s in a month. Dusty’s will be more about the DJs and focus less on food, which is expected to consist of a burger and a hot dog, according to the Observer article. The new concept is helmed by Jeff Beihler, who opened CheapSteaks with Ed Laster and John Jay Myers. Now, Beihler trying to buy the space from his partners.
Niwa Japanese BBQ on Main Street also bit the dust last week. On Instagram, the leaders of the restaurant, which was open for nine years, thanked their patrons.
“The love and support we’ve received has been beyond anything we could have imagined,” the post reads. “We’ve had our highs and lows, and we truly wish we could have kept going for another nine (or more!). At this time, Niwa BBQ has closed its doors for the foreseeable future. We’re not entirely sure what’s next, but we’re excited for the journey ahead. To everyone who supported us over the years — thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You made it possible for us to share Japanese BBQ with our community for so long. We will meet again soon.”
In other Deep Ellum business news, the coffee shop Pax & Beneficia hosted its Deep Ellum grand opening on Saturday. Pax & Beneficia, which translates to “peace and blessings” in Latin, is a North Texas brand with a handful of shops in the Metroplex, including in Plano, Victory Park and Las Colinas. The company claims to have coffee that is “meticulously selected, ethically sourced and freshly roasted in our Grapevine roastery,” according to its website.
Pax & Beneficia is located at 2900 Canton Street in what used to be Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and Social, according to the Dallas Observer.
Taqueria El Arquito also officially opened on Commerce Street last week. The restaurant chain has locations all over the Metroplex with a few in Dallas. Taqueria El Arquito serves breakfast in addition to lunch and dinner, and the menu is filled with Tex-Mex classics, like tacos, burritos, quesadillas and tamales.
