At JR.’s, crews broke through the front wall on the first floor this week. That club is opening the front with patio space across its Cedar Springs frontage that they hope will be as popular as the second floor patio space.
New store openings, renovations and a calendar of events bring excitement to Cedar Springs
DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
This weekend, the Cedar Springs Merchants Association sponsors Art Fest on Saturday, April 23 as well as Easter in the Park on Sunday, April 24. But they have a lot more to celebrate than spring festivals — and that is the opening of a number of businesses along the street, as well as improvements to others.
Tan Bar at 3818 Cedar Springs Road opened on March 8 and co-owner Terry Ehrle said he is delighted with the response his business has gotten, adding that Tan bar specializes in “custom brush tanning.”
Tan Bar uses organic or natural products that Ehrle said the body does not absorb. Instead, the products stay on the surface of the skin.
Macho Nacho opened on Thursday, April 21, in the space that was home to Hunky’s for 25 years.
Ehrle said the tan last seven to 10 days and does not contain SPF ingredients that protect the skin from the sun. But, he said, they work with customers to make sure they continue to protect their skin.
Ehrle said that UVA rays tanning beds and sunbathing outdoors are dangerous and that studies show that as many as one in four people who overdo exposure to the sun under the age of 35 will develop skin cancer.
At the other end of the strip, Onyx Nail Bar is open and operating in ilume and will hold a grand opening celebration over the next few weeks, according to spokesman Scott Baretto.
Although several nail salons have opened in the area over the past year, this one calls itself the king of all nail salons.
With 4,000 square feet of space, the shop is multi-level, with 18 experienced nail technicians, Barretto said, adding that there is no piped-in elevator music. Instead, the salon has a DJ booth and a sound system that he said rivals any of the clubs down the street.
Macho Nacho opened on Thursday, April 21, in the space that was home to Hunky’s for 25 years. The location has been stripped and polished and completely redesigned. The remodeled patio features new furniture and railings that reflect the upscale look of the new restaurant.
Owner Scott Jones said that after months of work, “It finally came together.”
The restaurant will be open for Sunday brunch as well as having late night hours.
Scott Jones
“We’ve got a fun crew, a big-ass fan and a great patio,” Jones said.
The ceiling fan Jones mentioned is a 10-blade metal piece with fins similar to airplane wings.
Jones recommends the mojitos and margaritas and Macho Nacho tortas as well as items from the taqueria.
Next door, construction continues on Coffee Lab. Co-owner Darin Danford said he’s shooting for a June 1 opening.
Providing enough parking has stopped a number of restaurants from opening on Cedar Springs Road. Danford said that they’ve chosen seating options that don’t require more parking. Seating will be bar style and on comfortable couches as well as at tables.
Danford’s partner, Neal Delaney said that the number 1 complaint at coffee shops is a shortage of electrical outlets. They’ve made sure that’s not a problem by wiring the space to provide plenty of plugs, he said.
The menu will feature coffee, pastry and paninis.
Construction continues at several other locations as well, including Thairiffic, a Thai restaurant that is moving to Cedar Springs from North Dallas, and JR.’s Bar and Grill.
At JR.’s, crews broke through the front wall on the first floor this week. That club is opening the front with patio space across its Cedar Springs frontage that they hope will be as popular as the second floor patio space.
On Saturday, Cedar Springs Road will be closed from Reagan to Knight streets for Art Fest. CSMA president Scott Whittall said that they already have more artists exhibiting than last year.
“We always have an influx at the end,” he said, adding that he expects more than the 70 artists already signed to exhibit.
A number of Cedar Springs retailers will have booths, including OutLines and Skivvies. Food and beer vendors and info booths will also be out on the street for the festival.
Whittall said that after Easter in the Park, the CSMA has plans for two more large events that will close the street. The May sidewalk sale will take place on May 21 and include a large antique car exhibit on the street with cars from Classic Chassis and other individuals who may register on the merchants association website.
In June, CSMA presents the return of Razzle Dazzle Dallas.
“We’re working diligently to create an atmosphere where there are things for everyone to do,” Whittall said.
Stoli vodka announced on Wednesday that they would sponsor the VIP pavilion.
Whittall said VIP tickets include reserved parking at ilume throughout the five-day event.
“We knew the first year was going to be a challenge,” Whittall said. “But we’ve been blown away by how it’s come together.
I have to commend all of the community members, especially Scott Whitnall. My hubby and I have lived here 7 years this September, and we feel very comfortable here in the gayborhood, and what’s happening now with the CedarSprings area is exciting. We are both in our 50’s, don’t drink like we used to, and it’s nice to have non drinking options to hang out with the community, like the art fair and Razzle Dazzle. Thanks Scott for bring so committed, and all of the rest of our hard-working gay community here in Dallas. We have lived in Pensacola, FL, Sedona,AZ, and now Dallas, and our gay positive presence here wins hands down.
being a senior citizen i remember the early days of razzle dazzle from its early beginings in an old warehouse downtown to the ladys building at fair park ( how fitting) to the convention center downtown and to the car impound on inwood. my last attendance was when it finally made it to the street on cedar…what a great time, it even blew out the huge transformers for awhile, but that did’nt stop us. it was always a fabulous time. i’m looking forward to attending this year for “old times sake” !
I been in the gayborhood for 25 years and I also remember all the razzle-dazzle from the past and look forward to this years razzle-dazzle,I’ll be working the VIP room @ S4 for Metroball,thanks David H. I look forward to it.I remember back in the days when me and my friends used to walk from Cedar Springs down Throckmorton to the clubs on Maple(Sundance/The Ranch)the original TMC,Steak&Eggs.I’m glad to see the new bussiness here such as ilume gallerie who director Ronald Radwanski has been helping AIDS ARMS with so many events,the new resturants and it took awhile but the gayborhood has changed for the better. I can’t understand why the Seville apts. has’Uptown’ on their signs.It was ‘Oaklawn’then and will always be to me.I like living here and that’s why along with my friend do DPD neighborhood crime-watch.
Just what Jr’s needs a new Smoke Room so when you pass to go in you can be knock out by the Smoke..
Oh well..
Early Razzle Dazzle Dallas had something the later parties didn’t. Early parties had serious, progressive dance music. The gay family anthems, gay pop songs and gay diva tracks heard at the bars on Cedar Springs bars were thankfully missing. At 2 AM at Fair Park the amazing local DJ had the men and women in a sweaty trance dancing in the dark to Patrick Cowley and Lime. Male strippers, drag queens, fashionable boys, balloons, flower arrangements, community booths, food and auction were introduced to Razzle Dazzle parties later when it became a mainstream gay event.
I never notice the patio at JR’s being smokey. It seems like fewer and fewer people are smoking these days anyway. I think most gays are seeing smoking as gross too. It’s so 1980’s!! I love the smoking ban and can’t wait until you can’t smoke within 100 feet of any building (believe me, it’ll happen) and the patios will be for people who just want to enjoy the weather.
Hey Voice – Thanks so much for keeping Cedar Springs in the news with these fabulous updates!! One comment on the upcoming Razzle Dazzle Street Party (June 4th) ….We have an amazing night for everyone planned at the 2011 event. There will be live music on the Main Stage w/ Cazwell, The Bright, Anton Shaw, Chaz Marie, and more local bands. And we will have that fabulous progressive dance music on the opposite end of the street with DJ Tim Pflueger (from Oz in New Orleans) and Dallas’s DJ Mickey Briggs spinning all night. But that is not all, we will have a live performance stage at Woody’s with Dallas’s hottest Drag Diva’s performing. And if music is not your thing, there will be two Stoli VIP pavilions, a Midway w/ carnival type games, Live Dancers throughout the street (boys and girls), tons of activity and nonprofit booths, a food court, and I would even bet you may see some flowers and baloons……….see you there!!
I have to say, I LOVE Macho Nacho. Food is really good and it is fun and easy to go there.