Nearly a decade ago, I was a UTA student looking for the cool thing to do around campus. As a bit of a self-admitted hipster, I was searching for destinations off the beaten path. I knew Arlington had so much more to offer than what my fellow students were taking advantage of, but it wasn’t always easy to find. Aside from Thursday nights at J. Gilligan’s for upperclassmen, there were very few known places for students, or anyone for that matter, to eat, study, and connect.
In fact, now that I’ve built my career around loving and shaping this neighborhood, I’ve gone back and counted just how many options there were. Twelve. There were just twelve places to find a bite to eat, to let some steam off with friends, to spend a few unplanned hours just being together. In a town of nearly half a million people, our little downtown had twelve bar and restaurant establishments. And that included McDonald’s.
Aside from the caloric volume needed to supply a college campus, there are many more reasons to build a thriving restaurant scene. From a community-building standpoint, these businesses serve as places for the community to gather and connect. We call these businesses “third places.” The thought is that you have your two main spaces you exist in—your home, where you live, and your work, where you make your living—but where do you connect with friends? Where do you linger without an agenda? The third space is best exemplified in the TV show Cheers, “where everybody knows your name.” You walk in, you don’t have to make a plan, there’s no effort in finding a seat – it’s already saved for you. The third place is where community happens.
Since my time at UTA, Downtown Arlington has evolved in nothing short of a renaissance. Those twelve pioneers set the table for over fifty bars and restaurants to take root in Downtown Arlington. Just between 2018 and 2020, Front Street found its footing, opening The Tipsy Oak, Hurtado Barbeque, and Cane Rosso, to name a few. Within the Downtown boundaries (roughly bordered by Cooper Street on the west side, Collins Street on the east, Division Street on the north, and UTA Blvd on the south), the pickings have been good.
Most recently, we’ve seen a few family favorites grace the streets of our neighborhood. On Abram Street, Rocketbelly, owned by teenager Olivia and her family, has opened next to Namoo and Flying Fish. Front Street continues to flourish with the recent addition of Mama Cuca’s. Rarely do you see a restaurant open with such strong consensus from our friends over at the Arlington Foodies Facebook page.
And then there are the places that quietly build something real. Fool’s Kava House has carved out a surprisingly organic and steady community for folks looking for the social energy of a bar without the alcohol. It’s a space that reflects a broader shift, especially among younger generations who are choosing connection without drinking. You walk in, and it feels familiar quickly. That’s the mark of a true third place.
We’ve also seen a couple of interesting rebrands. A casual favorite of mine has been Los Molcas. The variety of spicy sauces and some Al Pastor tacos have always been an easy win for us as we walk around First Thursdays. The salsa dancing is another win. And while the energy and experience many of us loved are still very much alive, I’m happy to share that the restaurant has sold, and is now known as Taqueria Acapulquito Bar and Grill.
Over on Front Street, everyone knows Salter Brothers has been the best place to stock up on beans. While that legacy remains intact, the shop has a new look and feel on the inside, and a new name to boot. Arlington Coffee Roasters has transformed the interior of Salter Brothers with a bold new mural and much more seating. We swing by most Saturday mornings before the Farmers Market, and I’m thrilled to see the same faces, with new ones each week. That’s how you know something is working: when familiarity and growth show up in the same room.
While Downtown has no shortage of great coffee options, there’s another on the way. I’m excited to share with you all that we’ll be gaining another option – Arwa Yemeni Coffee, located at 200 E Abram Street. If it’s anything like the other locations of this locally franchised chain, it’s sure to be a sleek yet welcoming experience when they open their doors later this year.
And that’s the spirit of this renaissance. It’s not just more restaurants. It’s more places to belong. Places where you can walk in without a plan, run into someone you know, or become a regular without even realizing it. Today’s UTA students won’t have to search as hard for something “off the beaten path” because Downtown Arlington has become the path. And in all the right ways, it feels like home, with a seat for everyone.
