The legal battle over a Deep Ellum bar came to a head Thursday afternoon in a Dallas courtroom.

Attorneys representing Rodeo Dallas are fighting to reopen after a series of efforts to keep its doors closed for good.

Asana Partners, one of the largest property owners in Deep Ellum, recently filed a civil lawsuit against the owners/operators of Rodeo Dallas, claiming Rodeo Dallas is ‘at the epicenter of crime in Deep Ellum.’

The plaintiffs secured a temporary restraining order against the owners of Rodeo Dallas, claiming the bar is at the epicenter of crime in Deep Ellum.

Asana Partners’ suit cites large, uncontrollable crowds, underage drinking, and escalating violence that puts the entire neighborhood at risk and causes its tenants loss of business since it opened in June 2023.

About two weeks ago, the city of Dallas also served the bar’s owners notice of abatable crime and code violations, that if not corrected, could lead the city to seek to designate the establishment as a ‘habitual nuisance property.’

Rodeo’s legal woes also include a separate fight with its own landlord, who temporarily locked them out of the building earlier this month.

In his opening statement, Asana Partners’ attorney Ben Reemer said Rodeo Dallas has repeatedly violated its duty to operate in a reasonable and safe manner, “creating an atmosphere of lawlessness that we simply cannot tolerate.”

Dallas Police Sergeant Andres Sanchez testified during the evidentiary hearing to the problems emanating from the club.

Sanchez spoke about two shootings and one stabbing incident involving patrons of Rodeo Dallas, incidents that began inside and spilled out onto nearby streets.

Police resources have had to focus more time and effort near Rodeo than other places in the neighborhood, he said.

“It just became a place we have to babysit,” he said.

In his opening statement, Rodeo Dallas’ attorney David Wishnew called the lawsuit and injunction ‘improper,’ accusing the plaintiffs of simply wanting to ‘get rid of a bar and a crowd they don’t like.’

“Rodeo Dallas does not control the streets of Dallas and does not have the duty to prevent crime outside of its establishment,” he said.

There are several people who are set to testify, including one of the owners of the bar.

Dallas County District Judge Veretta Frazier is presiding over Thursday’s hearing, which is expected to wrap up at around 8 p.m.