Dallas County judge still undecided on fate of popular Deep Ellum nightclub
Judge still undecided on future of Rodeo Dallas
The court was told it would happen sometime Friday after a seven-hour hearing the day before. The judge has been considering whether Rodeo Dallas will reopen or if it will temporarily stay closed.
DEEP ELLUM, Texas - A Dallas County judge has yet to make a decision on the future of a popular Deep Ellum nightclub.
The court was told it would happen sometime Friday after a seven-hour hearing the day before. The judge has been considering whether Rodeo Dallas will reopen or if it will temporarily stay closed.
Rodeo Dallas awaits judgement
Rodeo Dallas
The latest:
Asana Partners, the real estate investment firm who initially filed the temporary restraining order currently keeping the bar’s door shut, did email the judge Friday morning requesting parameters be implemented if she decides to reopen Rodeo.
They asked that the bar, which has come under fire for reportedly being a hub of violence and crime in Deep Ellum, shut down early for the night, around 11 p.m. going forward.
Meanwhile, as Friday night in Deep Ellum started to pick up, Rodeo Bar and Club sat and waited to learn its fate.
Court battle over Rodeo Dallas
The backstory:
Rodeo and its attorneys had their day in court Thursday to defend themselves, claiming closing the bar will not suddenly erase crime.
Thursday's seven-hour hearing also included testimony from two Dallas police officers.
A detective said Rodeo is a place they have to "baby sit," which consumes the department's resources.
The detective also referenced two shootings and a stabbing this year that started with a disturbance inside Rodeo and then spilled out into the street.
Popular Deep Ellum nightclub briefly shut down amid violence concerns
A popular nightclub in Deep Ellum has reopened after briefly being shut down. Rodeo Dallas was the site of several recent violent crimes, which led to street closures and increased police patrols in the entertainment district.
A second officer testified she spends 80-90 percent of her shift standing outside Rodeo and has observed and cited minors being served alcohol.
Nearby businesses also took the stand with different opinions.
Revolver Taco's owner testified that, due to the escalation in violence from Rodeo, he decided to close his doors early to keep his customers and employees safe.
Club plans to combat crime
The other side:
However, Club Dada's owner next door claims to have a friendly, neighborly relationship with Rodeo.
Dada's owner believes Rodeo is being blamed for the crime in Deep Ellum and that it's not its responsibility to clean it up.
Temporary restraining order slams doors of Deep Ellum club amidst violence concerns
The club at the corner of Elm and Crowdus was hit with a temporary restraining order, signed Friday by a Dallas County district court judge.
Rodeo's part-owner and operator, Joseph Ybanez told the court that since last month's meeting with the City of Dallas, he's required more training for his staff and implemented better crowd control measures.
Ybanez also said he added floodlights to the second floor and, if allowed to open, metal detectors would soon be installed.
Dig deeper:
The City of Dallas has its own open investigation into Rodeo.
Thursday evening, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno spoke after sitting through the lengthy hearing.
"I feel that if we don't take action, that we will see dozens of other businesses close if we don't change the trajectory of what is going on at certain establishments in Deep Ellum," Moreno said.
The Source: Information in this report came from FOX 4 coverage at a Dallas County court hearing.