A crucial decision looms over the future of Rodeo Dallas, a popular bar located in the Deep Ellum district of Dallas, as a judge evaluates whether it can reopen after being closed for a week due to public safety issues.
Dallas County District Court Judge Veretta Frazier is expected to decide on the continuance of a temporary injunction that currently prohibits the bar from operating, responding to a lawsuit from a nearby property owner who claims that Rodeo Dallas poses an unacceptable risk to both patrons and the broader community.
The judge presided over a comprehensive seven-hour court hearing last Thursday, with many anticipating a ruling by Friday. As midnight passed without a decision, uncertainty remained for the bar’s owners and the Deep Ellum community.
Jesse Moreno, the Dallas Mayor Pro Tem who represents the area, expressed frustration about the situation during a brief conversation on Saturday. ‘I was in Deep Ellum on Friday for about two hours having coffee, and multiple people approached me asking what’s going on,’ he stated.
On the legal front, Dave Wishnew, the lead attorney for Rodeo Dallas, and Benjamin Riemer, the attorney for Asana Partners— the North Carolina-based firm that owns numerous properties in Deep Ellum— did not immediately respond to inquiries following the court hearing.
Rodeo Dallas co-owner Joseph Ybanez refrained from commenting, opting to defer to Wishnew for any statements regarding the case. Meanwhile, Riemer submitted a letter to Judge Frazier proposing two potential alternatives if the injunction is not upheld.
One suggestion was to permit Rodeo Dallas to reopen, but with a new closing time of 11 p.m. instead of 2 a.m., based on the argument that most safety incidents occur after the later hour.
‘There is no reason that the defendant must stay open until 2:00 a.m.,’ Riemer asserted in his letter. ‘We believe that the majority of safety incidents occur after 11:00 p.m., so this may result in significant progress in keeping the community safe.’
The second proposal sought to extend the injunction until August 22, allowing for further discussions among involved parties and the court regarding the operational future of the bar.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the decision that remained unresolved as of Saturday morning, testimonies during the previous hearing highlighted serious safety concerns. Various city police officers, business owners, and property owners voiced their worries about the environment created by Rodeo Dallas, framing it as unsafe for customers and detrimental to the surrounding area.
The bar, which features a mechanical bull and attracts large crowds nightly, has been described as a significant factor in escalating public safety challenges in Deep Ellum, according to multiple witnesses.
One police officer suggested that the atmosphere at Rodeo Dallas was so perilous that law enforcement would avoid entering unless absolutely necessary.
After the lengthy hearing concluded, Judge Frazier requested additional time to deliberate the substantial testimony presented by both sides. Ybanez defended the bar’s commitment to enhancing security measures, mentioning that they are collaborating with the city on multiple improvements.
These include more thorough staff training, the installation of metal detectors, and other initiatives. Ybanez also cautioned that a prolonged closure could endanger the future of the establishment and jeopardize the positions of its 30 to 40 employees.
Despite these claims, Frazier remarked that the bar’s impact on public safety seemed significant, and the lack of testimony from employees about participating in the new security training raised questions.
The tension surrounding Rodeo Dallas has intensified in the backdrop of a broader conflict in Deep Ellum, a district that has seen rising violence and unrest. Residents, businesses, and local officials have begun to press for stricter measures to combat fights, shootings, and other disorderly conduct.
On July 30, the city issued a notice to Rodeo Dallas’s owners, outlining code violations that demanded immediate attention. The bar has recorded 16 alleged incidents connected to its operations between May 2024 and May 2025, some involving severe crimes like aggravated assault and murder.
A notable inspection on July 11 uncovered that Rodeo Dallas was functioning primarily as a bar and nightclub, rather than the restaurant it was permitted to be. The inspection additionally indicated multiple maintenance failures, including issues with plumbing, electrical systems, and pest control, alongside the presence of refuse.
On August 5, the bar’s landlord took drastic steps by chaining the doors shut. Following a brief court order permitting re-entry the next day, Asana Partners moved quickly to file a lawsuit requesting a temporary restraining order. This motion was granted, leading to the bar’s closure until the recent court proceedings.
In court, attorneys representing Asana Partners made strong allegations against Rodeo Dallas, including claims of over-serving alcohol, allowing entry to underage patrons, and failing to enforce sufficient security measures.
During the hearing, local law enforcement officials supported these claims, reporting that they often found themselves overwhelmed by the chaos stemming from the bar’s activities. One officer recounted incidents where police involvement was necessitated almost immediately after their exit, indicating a tangible negative change in public safety when the bar was closed last week.
Detective Andres Sanchez remarked, ‘If we’re not there for five minutes, something is going to happen within those five minutes.’
Another officer, Sr. Cpl. Hannah Moore, shared alarming accounts of her experiences dealing with the fallout from Rodeo Dallas, including multiple weapons-related arrests and serious fights that have led to injuries among law enforcement personnel.
‘Since that incident, we have made it known that we will no longer go into Rodeo unless we absolutely have to due to the amount of people and how dangerous it is for myself and the other officers on the deep Elm task force to go in there,’ Moore said, echoing the fears expressed by her colleagues in the department.
On the other hand, Ybanez countered the accusations by emphasizing of his dedication to improving the bar’s security protocols. He referenced the support received from city officials and the nonprofit Deep Ellum Foundation, which is actively involved in enhancing the safety of the area.
Ybanez also stated that security staff regularly checks IDs at the door to combat underage access but admitted that some guests had managed to circumvent these measures using high-quality fake identifications.
Recent steps taken to bolster security also include adding more lighting, utilizing metal detectors, and implementing better queue management outside the bar to control crowds more effectively.
‘There has never been a single instance where I’ve said no to something that can make us safer and better for the neighborhood,’ Ybanez asserted.
Amid this turbulent environment, the financial implications of the bar’s closure were not lost on Ybanez, who estimated a loss of nearly $200,000 due to the injunction. He disclosed his efforts to assist employees during the shutdown, including keeping some security personnel on pay.
In contrast, Bryan Austin, owner of neighboring venues, offered a different perspective, arguing that Rodeo Dallas was being unfairly criticized and had taken constructive steps toward addressing safety issues. He proposed that business owners in the area might consider pooling resources to enhance off-duty police patrols, believing that community cooperation could alleviate the situation.
The ongoing legal battles and community discourse surrounding Rodeo Dallas encapsulate the pressing issues within Deep Ellum.
As residents and local officials await the judge’s decision, the future of both the bar and the safety of the vibrant community around it hangs precariously in the balance.
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