People mourn the loss of Chris Carpenter on the Hendy’s on Henderson Instagram page, seen here via screenshot.
About a month ago, food and drink industry veteran Chris Carpenter saw his and his partners’ vision for the bar and restaurant Hendy’s on Henderson come to life.
Now, Carpenter has passed away. He was 41 years old, according to a Dallas Morning News report.
The Hendy’s on Henderson Instagram account posted a statement about Carpenter’s “sudden and tragic passing” that occurred earlier this month.
“Carpenter’s passion for hospitality, unwavering dedication to our team and vision for creating a welcoming space for our community were the driving forces behind everything we do,” the statement reads. “We are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss and will forever be grateful for the time we had with him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Our focus is on supporting the family and our team members as we navigate this grief. We will honor Chris’ memory by continuing his legacy of excellence and community, serving our guests with the same warmth and dedication he exemplified every day.”
When Hendy’s opened, Carpenter talked with me about his career that spanned two decades. He previously worked with the Bottled Blonde brand and opened the bar/restaurant in Deep Ellum, Chicago and Miami.
“Bottled Blonde was very hybrid,” he said. “We did pizza and sports during the day, and at night, it’s a full nightclub. So we’re kind of used to catering to a concept where we have a lot of moving parts. We can transition things and make things look different. So even here (at Hendy’s), we’re going to slowly adjust the lights throughout the night, and the vibe will kind of change without you knowing it, and all of a sudden, you’ll be here a couple hours and before you know it … you’ll have a nice bar crowd, and you’ll be in more of a party.”
Carpenter and his business partner Cote Bona opened Hendy’s because they admired our Henderson Avenue neighborhood. They got in touch with Brandon Hays and Phil Schanbaum, who previously ran the third reiteration of the restaurant Sfuzzi in the space that is now Hendy’s. Together, the four of them opened Hendy’s.
From this reporter’s point of view, Carpenter came off as friendly and approachable, the embodiment of what he and his cohorts wanted Hendy’s to be. While people sometimes put on their best faces when talking on-the-record to journalists, Carpenter has generally been described positively in the wake of his death.
“His laugh could fill a room, his ideas could change its course, and his belief in people made you believe in yourself,” Bona said to The Dallas Morning News in the article “Dallas bar owner Chris Carpenter dies at age 41.”
