Peanut Butter Cup with nostalgia chaser. Photo: Tasha "Cat Lady" Tsiaperas/Axios
The cat loving dive-ish Oak Cliff bar Ten Bells Tavern is back.
Why it matters: The original location, with its corrugated tin siding and spacious patio, fell victim to the wrecking ball of progress that has transformed Bishop Arts.
Ten Bells is in a shinier space with fancier cocktails, but nostalgia can be found in the garage door, indoor decoration and wooden deck.
The latest: Dinner service resumes at 5pm today and brunch is back this weekend, 10am-3pm.
The menu will be essentially the same. We're hoping that includes the poblano mac and cheese.
State of cat: Backyard cats were a highlight of the original location. Owner Meri Dahlke moved the cats to the bar's current location before the OG building was demolished.
The cats — who have been spayed and neutered and are cared for — are still a key part of the updated Ten Bells experience.
Yes, but: Dahlke and other cat caretakers in Oak Cliff are concerned about the safety of feral cats in the neighborhood after reports that developer David Spence was trapping and dumping the cats in Grand Prairie.
According to the Dallas Observer, Spence said the traps aren't harmful and that it is his right as a property owner to capture animals causing a nuisance.
The bottom line: The return of Ten Bells brings Bishop Arts a little closer to its neighborhood roots.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a comment from David Spence to the Dallas Observer.
