The folks behind changes at the Dallas Farmers Market recently gave us a look at exciting things in the works as redevelopment work continues. Last year, DF Market Holdings purchased the Dallas Farmers Market from the City of Dallas. It has since been redeveloping the area, bringing a new perspective to the district and spurring more development from others, including additional residential, retail, and organizational partnerships, such as the North Texas Food Bank and Grow North Texas.
The Shed (formerly Shed 1) officially opened on Labor Day weekend and now operates seven days a week. It’s home to the farmers, vendors, and artisans, and boasts new upgrades like fans, space heaters, and a stage. The Shed features a fresh focus on local farmers and transparency via clearly labeled, high-quality produce.
And just last week, we heard the official announcement of four restaurants and one Italian coffee shop that will be permanent eateries in The Market (formally Shed 2) when it reopens, fully renovated with a new interior design and patio dining, in spring 2015. This announcement reinforces what our residents, workers, and visitors can expect as part of downtown’s urban core, but also serves to strengthen and broaden the appeal of the Dallas Farmers Market as a destination for all of North Texas.
The development will be home to Rex’s Seafood and Market, which has established itself as one of the best fish markets in Dallas. And Stocks & Bondy, a concept from Chef Joanne Bondy, will provide home cooks, local chefs, and caterers with classic and modern stocks and sauces for their kitchens. Palmieri Cafe is an Italian coffee shop that will offer sweet and savory pastries, gelato, and Italian coffees. Nammi/Coolhaus, two popular food truck concepts, will come together to offer Vietnamese fusion fare and gourmet ice cream sandwiches.
A new restaurant concept from Firebird Restaurant Group will join the mix, along with a variety of new local artisan food vendors and merchants. These are in addition to the announcement earlier this year that Mudhen, a concept from Shannon Wynne of Lark on the Park and Meddlesome Moth fame, will also call the market home come spring.
Retail leasing for the project is being handled by the UCR Urban team of Jack Gosnell and Sasha Levine.
Since the transformation of the Dallas Farmers Market began last summer, the momentum has already spurred more development and foot traffic than the neighborhood has ever seen. Downtown Dallas 360, our strategic plan for downtown’s future, paints a picture of the Dallas Farmers Market District as a diverse, walkable urban neighborhood, anchored by the Dallas Farmers Market, bustling with families and businesses and drawing customers from throughout the region. These recent announcements achieve all of these goals—we are thrilled with the quality, variety, and experience coming to the area.
In addition to the recently announced establishments and retail, DF Market Holdings is adding 240 apartments, more retail, 300 free parking spaces, Futsal fields, and an urban workout area.
You don’t have to wait until spring to visit the Dallas Farmers Market; the fun has already started! The Shed operates daily with farmers, artisans, and vendors, and hosts events like free yoga and Market After Dark on Thursday nights, where you can enjoy night time shopping while enjoying a beverage.
This is another example of a successful public-private partnership—and the best is yet to come.
Visit www.downtowndallas.com for a complete list of current developments happening in greater downtown.
John F. Crawford is president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc. Contact him at [email protected].
