A Dallas judge will decide the fate of a $2.25 million bond posted to force the closure of a Deep Ellum nightclub, after the property firm that sued to shut it down withdrew its case.
Asana Partners, which owns nearby buildings, dropped its lawsuit against Rodeo Dallas, dissolving a temporary injunction that had kept the bar closed since August. The move shifts the focus to the bond, posted by Asana, which both sides now claim.
Rodeo Dallas owner JD Ybanez argued the money should cover damages from the shutdown.
“They killed it. I mean, it’s destroyed the business,” he said, calling Asana’s actions “disgusting” given its status as a “billion-dollar firm,” Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Asana contends the bond should be returned, with the lawsuit now moot. Attorney Ben Riemer said the dismissal stems from a settlement in a separate dispute between Rodeo Dallas and its landlord, Westdale Real Estate Investment and Management, requiring the bar to vacate by December 31.
“Rodeo has been in litigation with its landlord, Westdale, since before we filed our lawsuit,” Riemer said, per WFAA. “That dispute was recently settled, and as part of the settlement, Rodeo is required to vacate the Deep Ellum premises by December 31.
“Accordingly, our lawsuit is now moot, and we have dismissed it. Our focus has been on helping protect the residents of Deep Ellum and the people who go there, and we’re pleased with this outcome.”
Ybanez disputed that the Westdale case is fully resolved, saying details are still being worked out. He added that Rodeo Dallas suffered lost revenue, goodwill, and momentum during the closure.
“They’ve essentially gotten what they wanted,” he said, per WFAA. “We’ve been out of business for four months.”
Asana’s original suit claimed the bar drew crime to the area, including shootings, late-night fights, street crowds, and frequent police calls that deterred tenants and customers.
Asana was required to post the bond to secure the injunction and protect Rodeo Dallas if the order proved wrongful. Legal filings by the bar’s attorneys object to its release to Asana, citing significant financial harm.
Neighbor David Chavez, owner of Serious Pizza, said violence has decreased since the closure, with fights dropping from weekly to once or twice a month.
“As far as the crime now, it’s kind of more it’s not as prevalent, I guess is the word to use, maybe. But for me, I have noticed it’s kind of slowed down a bit, at least crime-wise,” he told Fox 4.
Chavez backs a potential Rodeo Dallas return if managed better.
“If they kind of keep it a little more professional, you know, more just kind of, they’re watching out, making sure nobody’s causing problems,” he said.
Ybanez rejected links between his bar and crime.
“Like, do I want violence and crime? Absolutely not. That is not conducive to business. So, it doesn’t make sense,” he said, according to Fox 4.
While the Deep Ellum site remains closed, Ybanez opened a smaller Rodeo location in Uptown last month. He plans another venture, Trophy, across the street from the original Rodeo spot.
“I’m going to open a lot more places in Deep Ellum, and I’m never leaving,” Ybanez said, per Fox 4. “And you know, they’re the ones that need to go back to their state and stop trying to gentrify my community.”
