Courtesy of Mike Snider
Audio By Carbonatix
Mike Snider, the owner of AllGood Cafe, is retiring, marking the end of 25 years of service to the Deep Ellum community.
A regular of Deep Ellum since the mid-1980s, Snider is a concert promoter, music historian, philosopher, philanthropist and hard-working restaurateur.
Driven by his passion for live music, Snider began promoting concerts in Deep Ellum in the early 90s. He introduced a diverse range of genres to Deep Ellum’s stages, including western swing, gypsy jazz, rockabilly, folk, Texas singer/songwriters, Zydeco, punk bluegrass, and Americana.
Mike Snider with Rhett Miller.
Courtesy of Mike Snider
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After booking shows for Sons of Hermann Hall and The Gypsy Tea Room (which he also named), Snider launched Mike Snider Presents in 1994. “Few people in North Texas have done more for live music than Mike Snider,” said lead singer of Old 97’s, Rhett Miller, in a press release. “He has devoted his life to bringing great music to Dallas, and the city will be forever in his debt. The Old 97’s in particular will be grateful for the opportunities he gave us throughout our career, especially in the earliest days when sometimes it seemed that only Mike believed in us.”
Snider has booked acts such as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Junior Brown, Tex Edwards, Ray Price, Hank Thompson, Johnny Bush, the local debut of Wilco, Son Volt, Whiskeytown and numerous Old 97s shows.
He opened AllGood Cafe in the summer of 2000, which featured a small stage, allowing him to book shows.
Courtesy of Mike Snider
After serving Dallas for decades, Snider is indeed hanging up his apron, but you’ll still be able to get AllGood’s signature chicken-fried steak and grilled cheese sandwich.
Noted local musician and producer John Pedigo and his partner, Robin Gill, are taking over the place and keeping Snider’s legacy going as a reflection of Pedigo’s love for food, music, fun and Deep Ellum.
“The AllGood has always had the best vibe – with artists, neighbors, friends, business folks, tourists and everything in between all mixing,“ Pedigo says. “We’re not reinventing Mike’s vision, only building on his foundation.”
It sounds like the AllGood is still in good hands.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone, old friends and new,” Gill adds. “So come on by, pull up a chair and dig in. The grub’s good enough to eat!”
Casey Kinney
If you want to celebrate with Snider, there will be an Aloha Retirement Party planned for Nov. 16 at the Sons of Hermann Hall, with doors opening at 7 p.m. There will be several musicians who have graced the AllGood stage performing, including members of the New Bohemians, Old 97’s, the Sutcliffes, the O’s, the Lucky Pierres and Zydeco Blanco.
There’s no cover for the event. Donations are encouraged to fund Snider’s trip to Hawaii, sending him off in style.
