Popular Dallas mixologist Eddie “Lucky” Campbell has had a crazy year. He was pushed out of The Chesterfield, a sophisticated downtown cocktail den, by his partner Ed “Really Unlucky” Bailey, whose chain of opulent steakhouses Bailey’s Prime recently died a slow, painful death. His current empire of Patrizio restaurants is shrinking. The breakup of Campbell and Bailey at The Chesterfield was, and still remains (the two continue to battle for total ownership), a nasty affair.
After Campbell was forced out of his business at the Chesterfield, he bounced around town chasing a series of consulting gigs. He created cocktails for Frankie’s in Lewisville, helped Mico Rodriquez at his soon-to-open Mesero Miguel, lent his talent to Resto Gastro Bistro in Trinity Groves and Union Bear on McKinney Avenue and tended bar at The Standard Pour. In mid-August, he landed a cushy gig behind the bar at Abacus. Then his phone rang.
“I got a call from an investor and we found a place in Uptown,” Campbell says. “We’re going to open this week.” (Update: They are soft opening to friends and family this week.)
Whaaat?
“I have signed a lease on a small location at 2418 Allen St, which was formerly my friend’s bar, previously known as Four Lounge, Campbell says. “My friend who owned the Four Lounge was Keith LaBonte, who ran a beautiful little cocktail lounge there, and clearly put his heart and soul into creating passion driven cocktails & experiences. Keith passed away unexpectedly about 6 months ago and he has been Greatly missed in the neighborhood, as well as in the cocktail community. I feel that Keith was the hardest working man in the bar business, as he also hosted catering events and participated in some well known consulting jobs, such as Pepper Smash in The Shops at Legacy. I hope to honor Keith and his work with our cocktail lounge, which will be called Parliament.”
Update: He will continue to work with Abacus.
