Way back in 2010, the Observer wrote about a hellish July Fourth night that saw Dallas PD launch a volley of pepper balls into a crowd in an attempt to disperse it.
That night seemed to be the tipping point for Lowest Greenville, and then-city councilwoman Angela Hunt proposed an ordinance that would re-zone the area in an effort to force out the bars that were causing the problems. This was, of course, opposed by business owners, but Hunt got her way, and three years later we're still seeing the effects unfold.
New construction has given the area a Trader Joe's, a forthcoming food truck park and new restaurants. But it's come at the cost of some of the city's best bars. Walking through the area you see spaces sporting "Now Open" signs, like the one currently sitting atop the building that houses Dallas Beer Kitchen. But there are "For Lease" signs, too, that hang in empty spaces, many of which bear the name Andres Properties, the landlords who, after failed negotiations, are saying goodbye to one of the street's most iconic nightlife spots: Zubar.
After 18 years, it's sad to see one of the area's longest-running lounges leave, but if last night was any indication, customers and employees alike seem bent on making sure the place goes out with a bang. Posters produced by the DJs, who run and perform the weeklies in the lounge, featured images insisting on celebration. One in particular simply read, "When one door closes ..."
At the bar, employees discussed plans to bring in extra bartenders for the last few nights to deal with the expected overflow of business, while a patron causally spoke with DJ Wanz Dover about his planned set for the night. Dover promised a proper sendoff for Zubar, as his Stereo on Strike weekly has been a staple for lovers of talented DJ work. Lucky for them, Stereo on Strike will be moving down the block to the Crown & Harp soon, and hopefully weeklies like Battletec and Trillwave will find homes as well.
Inside the bar, the ever-present $3 cocktails were poured extra strong as the music blared. Patrons walking up and down the block made it a point to stop in, and more than once someone noted that the bar closing is "a damn shame."
Which it is. It's sad to see such a great spot lost, but that's business. The area was re-zoned and it's changing at a speed that's hard for some to keep up.
As I sipped my modified Paloma, I listened to the music and watched the people around me. I'll deal with the loss the same way many others will: I'll be here off and on for the next two nights, as Friday sees 18 DJs combining forces to give the bar a potentially epic sendoff, and Saturday sees the bar hosting an event simply labeled "Last Call." I suggest you do the same: Make your way by the bar and say goodbye to one of the last vestiges of the previous Lowest Greenville, and tip well when you do. They earned it.
