The Dallas community bid farewell to a cherished sports lounge and dining destination. Kanvas by Kevin Kelley permanently closed following repeated violent incidents in the Deep Ellum neighborhood.
Kanvas Closes Its Deep Ellum Location
After two years of business, Kanvas by Kevin Kelley at 2823 Main Street in Dallas, TX, has shut down its services. The popular sports lounge and dining spot served its last dinner on Sunday, July 19.
The multi-level venue featured sports viewing, a full-service restaurant, rooftop seating, and late-night entertainment. The bar began its journey in 2024.
In the announcement, Kelley thanked customers and the community for their support. Kelley also wrote, “We look forward to welcoming you to Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley, Club VIVO, or one of the many exciting concepts still to come.”
Apart from the Kanvas bar, Kevin Kelley Hospitality Group, founded by Kevin Kelley, also operates multiple concepts across Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and other locations.
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Why the Lounge Closed
Kelley said repeated violent incidents in Deep Ellum led to the decision to close the business. “We believe too much violence has occurred in Deep Ellum for us to continue operating there,” stated the owner. He noted that the safety of the bar’s guests and team members is more important than the business.
According to a Chron report, two shootings occurred on Cinco de Mayo outside of Kanvas. The tragic shooting incidents resulted in the death of a security guard and injuries to five others. The incidents happened within one block of one another, an hour apart. The reports stated, “Detectives believed that the first shooting resulted from a massive bar fight that occurred within Kanvas.”
In the post, the owner highlighted, “The violence that has repeatedly occurred in the surrounding area is a condition we did not create and cannot control—and it has made continued operation in Deep Ellum inconsistent with our standards.”
The violent activities in the neighborhood have led to the closure of Dallas’s Kanvas by Kevin Kelley. This closure marks a significant loss for the community.
