16 August 17-23, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Rolling Down the Road The Grapevine Bar is having a party and a small estate sale prior to moving. BY LAUREN DREWES DANIELS D allas’ quirkiest and most fantastic dive bar, The Grapevine, is shutting down. But fear not, it’s just moving down the road. The Grapevine has been a soft pink beacon of slushie-Everclear hope on Maple Avenue for almost 30 years. So many things made this spot special to so many people: from the strong drinks, basketball court in the back and mismatched old chairs to “whatever” bathrooms and come-one-come-all clientele, the latter of which earned the place the nickname “everything bar.” A no-fuss vibe and great service helped The Grapevine gain legions of loyal imbibers to go with stories to make you blush the deepest shade of crimson. Alas, the property the bar sits on was purchased by Dallas real estate company Crow Holdings, which is why the spot is shutting down. But fear not, co-owners Michelle and Ronny Honea found a new bar home in what used to be Redfield’s Neighborhood Tavern at 2213 Butler St., less than 2 miles from the current location. The new bar will offer much more space inside, including a fully equipped kitchen, along with enough room outdoors for a basketball court and live music. As for that special Grapevine flair, the Honeas have promised to carefully bub- ble wrap as much as they can for the move. Michelle also senses a bit of kismet with the move. “There are so many weird coincidences,” she says. “In 1996, the summer we opened here, it was hotter than hell. We’re across from the original Parkland Hospital now, and where we’re moving to is across from the new Parkland Hospital. There are just so many little signs that it’s going to be OK.” As for the new space, Honea says initially it was intimi- dating but they’re figuring out the angles. “It’s such a big undertaking,” Honea says. “Moving from such a small space, where everything is steps away, whereas the bar over there is 60 feet long.” The Grapevine has posted a countdown to closing day on social media and spray-painted it on the exterior of the building, which is so on point for this quirky little space. In a world of coifed and fake Instagram posts, this is a perfect demonstration of why this bar is so beloved. The closing party is Aug. 20, and the last day of service is Aug. 23. On that date, guests can take their drink glass home. “We want to give people time. We don’t want anyone to miss it,” Honea says. “That gives people a little bit of time. We have people who are driving in from Houston and Aus- tin, flying in from Florida and North Carolina.” At the Aug. 20 party, a merchandise table will have T- shirts commemorating the Maple Avenue space. The shirts are available to buy at the bar now. Just like at any Saturday morning garage sale, Michelle is putting price tags on things that they don’t want to pack and move. See something you like? If it has a price tag on it, you can buy it. “People have been making us some crazy, extravagant of- fers on things to buy,” she says. “If we had more time we could have done a silent auction. Somebody offered us so many thousands of dollars for the bathroom doors, but those are coming with us. Then I was like, ‘Well, maybe if you up that a little more we’ll consider it,’” she says with a laugh. As for opening the new bar, the Honeas are waiting for the TABC to process their liquor license address change. They hope that will be done within a month. The countdown is on. ▼ DRINKING JUST HERE FOR THE WINE WINE BARS IN DALLAS WORTH POPPING A CORK AT. BY AAREN PRODY D allas is no stranger to abundant cocktail menus and hipster breweries. After all, what other types of wa- tering hole match up so well with the seemingly end- less supply of burgers and queso? But if you’ve had your fair share of the city’s craft beer scene, you can trade in your IPAs for a boozy afternoon by the glass. Falling atrociously under the radar, yet satisfying any sommelier, these wine bars in Dallas are ideal for your next night (or day) out. Bodega Wine Bar 6434 E. Mockingbird Lane (Lakewood) Bodega Wine Bar is a favorite hangout for vinos looking to get a quality pour or flight from serious sommeliers. While the exterior remains unassuming along with the rest of the shops in Lakewood Village, the interior is cave-like, resembling a cozy wine cellar, and it can feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem. The menu is divided into two columns of ex- pertly curated flights: whites and reds. Flights are a perfect way to get a little taste of everything; otherwise, you can order any listed wine by the glass or check the chalkboard for the sommelier picks. And to top it off? There’s plenty of parking. Veritas Wine Room 2323 N. Henderson Ave. (Knox/Henderson) Wine, charcuterie and art marry to create Veritas Wine Room, an award-winning vino pub. The interior reflects a traditional wine cellar for those serious about wine, but the trendy music and laid-back feel make the selection of nearly 400 wines accessible even for a novice. Stop by on a Monday for half off all glasses of wine or drop in for happy hour the rest of the week for $2 off wines by the glass and $1 off beers. Choose from a by-the-glass menu with 30 rotating selections or peruse the wall of wildly diverse bottles. All wines go well with the rotating selection of cheeses, meats, charcuterie pairings and Wiseman House chocolates. Bubbles Bar at Eataly 8687 N. Central Expressway (NorthPark Center) Amid Eataly’s sea of imported treasures lies the Bubbles Wine Bar. Its succinct menu boasts select rotating vintages, reds, rosés, sparkling and white varietals from Italy’s most prestigious wine regions. Most impressive is the Zardetto Prosecco DOC Brut. Can’t decide? Go for the bubbles flight and rosé wine flight, each with four to try. Afterward, you can browse the impressive Italian wine shop to bring a bottle home or roam the store for authentic Italian fare. Barcelona Wine Bar 5016 Miller Ave. Bringing the laidback Mediterranean vibe to the North Hen- derson area, Barcelona Wine Bar serves up an extensive wine list highlighting Spain and South America alongside an end- less array of tapas and charcuterie combinations. It’s one of the largest Spanish wine selections in the U.S. with more than 400 wines available by the bottle. A full page of wine high- lights sparklings, reds, whites, rosés, as well as dry and sweet sherry varietals. You can order 3-ounce glasses if you want to try many and still walk out upright, 5 ounces for a couple of your favorites or commit to a bottle from the master wine list. Neighborhood Cellar 246 W. Davis St. (Bishop Arts) A family-owned favorite of residents and visitors in Bishop Arts, Neighborhood Cellar is a go-to for its comprehensive wine collection and competitive prices. The menu has six dif- ferent tastings among sparkling, rosé, white and red varieties, each of which has a quirky name to match. We tried the “Daddy chill, what the hell is even that?”, a flight of three, chillable red wines that are light, fruity and perfect to beat the heat. If you plan to stay a while, you can order by the glass or two, or choose five wines for a tasting. The laid-back atmosphere and knowl- edgeable staff make this a comfortable spot to land no matter the occasion. You may even walk away with a bottle or two from the Cellar’s aisle of bottles from around the world. Times Ten Cellars 6324 Prospect Ave. (Lakewood) Specializing in one-of-a-kind varietals from their West Texas vineyard and California, Times Ten Cellars is the go- to for unique and approachable wines. Order them any of three ways: a fixed flight of three, by the bottle or by the glass. Get a small plate, flatbread or salad to go with, all of which can be devoured on the patio or inside at a shared or private setting. The atmosphere here is welcoming and up- scale without being pretentious, making it an ideal place to come and relax with good company. The Grapevine Bar | CITY OF ATE | ▼ Dish Aaren Prody Veritas Wine Room on N. Henderson The countdown is on for the Grapevine’s big move.
