The Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas has denied Rodeo Dallas’ emergency request to lift a temporary injunction that mandates the bar’s indefinite closure.
As a result, Rodeo Dallas will remain shut until the full appeal is heard, or the case proceeds to trial in the spring of 2026.
In an order released on Thursday, Justice Jessica Lewis, along with two other justices, dismissed the request without further explanation, stating simply, “After reviewing the motion, appellee’s response, and appellee’s supplement, we deny the motion.”
This ruling reaffirms a decision made on September 9 by the Dallas County District Court which ordered the indefinite shutdown of Rodeo Ranch, following a lawsuit filed in August by Asana Partners, a neighboring property owner.
The North Carolina-based real estate investment firm claims that the bar’s operations have led to a public nuisance, citing issues such as overserving alcohol, failing to enforce gun checks, and contributing to violence in the area, all of which allegedly impact its properties and tenants.
In response to the injunction, Rodeo Dallas filed an appeal last month and subsequently sought an emergency motion to temporarily reopen its establishment while the higher court reviews the injunction challenge.
Amid this legal skirmish, a trial is set for April 2026 in Dallas County District Court, where the future of Rodeo Dallas will be determined.
Ben Riemer, an attorney for Asana Partners, expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, which he believes serves to protect the community of Deep Ellum and its visitors.
“We are pleased that the temporary injunction will continue to be enforced during the pendency of the appeal,” he stated.
As for Rodeo Dallas, its legal representation did not provide immediate comments following the ruling.
The legal troubles for Rodeo Dallas started on August 5 when they were locked out by landlord Westdale Properties, only to reopen the next day after securing a separate court order.
Just a few days later, on August 8, Asana Partners filed its lawsuit against the bar, prompting the court to issue a temporary restraining order that initially closed the establishment for several weeks.
The situation escalated after an August 14 hearing, leading to the permanent injunction announced on September 9.
In her ruling, Dallas County District Judge Veretta Frazier highlighted the bar’s history of overserving alcohol and underage drinking, along with a pattern of violence associated with its patrons, including a murder linked to the bar.
The judge noted that businesses owned by Asana Partners were forced to alter their hours to mitigate chaos stemming from crowds leaving Rodeo Dallas at 2 a.m.
Throughout the summer, investigations by Texas alcohol regulators found that Rodeo Ranch had allegedly been selling alcohol to minors.
In late July, the city of Dallas had already warned the bar to rectify several code violations by August 25 or face a court-ordered shutdown.
City officials reported that 16 crimes were tied to the bar over the previous year, and the bar purportedly had failed to address the issues raised in the city’s warnings.
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno indicated that he expected legal actions against Rodeo Dallas to follow due to the ongoing violations.
In its appeal, Rodeo Dallas argues that the injunction is unwarranted, asserting it fails to demonstrate direct, irreparable harm to Asana Partners.
The bar’s legal team contends that crime issues in Deep Ellum predated its opening in 2023 and that the complete shutdown threatens to devastate the business, which operates under a lease stipulation that could lead to termination if the bar cannot function for extended periods.
Rodeo Dallas’ motion emphasized this dilemma, asserting that landlord Westdale Properties has already attempted to remove Rodeo from the premises and likely will do so again if the opportunity arises.
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