The Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas has denied an emergency request from Rodeo Dallas to pause a temporary injunction shutting it down indefinitely, meaning the Deep Ellum bar must remain closed until its full appeal is decided or the case goes to trial next spring.
In a brief order issued Thursday, Justice Jessica Lewis and two other justices rejected Rodeo Dallas’ request without explanation, except to say: “After reviewing the motion, appellee’s response, and appellee’s supplement, we deny the motion.”
The ruling upholds a Sept. 9 Dallas County District Court order that shut down Rodeo Ranch indefinitely after Asana Partners, a neighboring property owner, sued the bar in August. The North Carolina-based real estate investment firm argued the bar’s operations — including allegations of overserving alcohol, failing to screen for guns and other weapons, and contributing to violence in the area — created a public nuisance that harmed its properties and tenants.
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Rodeo Dallas appealed the ruling last month and later filed an emergency motion to reopen the bar pending the higher court’s review of the injunction challenge.
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A trial is currently scheduled in Dallas County District Court for April 2026.
“The temporary injunction was entered for the purpose of protecting Deep Ellum and the people who visit, work, and live there, and we are pleased that the temporary injunction will continue to be enforced during the pendency of the appeal,” said Ben Riemer, an attorney representing Asana Partners. Lawyers representing Rodeo Dallas didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
Rodeo Dallas had been locked out by its landlord, Westdale Properties, on Aug. 5 but reopened the next day after obtaining a separate court order. On Aug. 8, Asana Partners filed its lawsuit, and a judge that same day issued a temporary restraining order shutting the bar down for several weeks.
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After an Aug. 14 hearing, the court issued a temporary injunction on Sept. 9, shutting down Rodeo Ranch indefinitely. Dallas County District Judge Veretta Frazier cited testimony alleging the bar overserved alcohol, allowed underage drinking, and failed to stop violence — including a March murder tied to its patrons. The judge also noted that nearby businesses owned by Asana Partners had to close early to avoid chaos when Rodeo Dallas let out crowds at 2 a.m.
This summer, Texas alcohol regulators investigated Rodeo Ranch for allegedly selling alcohol to minors. In late July, Dallas warned the bar to fix multiple code violations by Aug. 25 or face a court-ordered shutdown. The city tied 16 crimes to the bar over the past year. Despite warnings, officials said the bar failed to improve. Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno, who represents Deep Ellum, told The Dallas Morning News in September that he expected the city to sue Rodeo Dallas, as city inspections showed the bar still hadn’t met the city’s demands.
In its emergency motion to the appeals court, Rodeo Dallas argues the injunction is illegal and too broad because it doesn’t prove the bar directly caused irreparable harm to Asana Partners.
Rodeo Dallas’ attorneys also contend that crime in Deep Ellum existed before the bar opened in 2023 and that a full shutdown, instead of more narrow fixes like security improvements, would destroy the business entirely.
They noted that Rodeo Dallas’ lease with Westdale Properties allows the landlord to terminate the agreement if Rodeo can’t operate in its space for more than 90 consecutive days or 120 total days in a year.
“Westdale has already attempted to remove Rodeo from the premises,” the motion said, “and will almost certainly try again if given the opportunity.”