The dust has yet to settle from all the new businesses being built in Arlington and Mansfield, but there are a few places that have already taken root as popular hangouts for those under 40. Here are some of them (with some classics, too) …
Urban Alchemy Coffee and Wine Bar
403 E. Main St.
From private wine tasting events to wine glass painting and sip and knit sessions, this locally owned downtown destination serves a variety of tastes.
“It’s a wine and a coffee shop,” says Arlington Visitor and Convention Bureau spokeswoman Nikki Stephens. “And they brew their own beans.”
Stephens says the place is staffed by millennials but caters to a mixed crowd and offers options such as kombucha (aka tea mushroom) and food, as well. Owner Tony Rutigliano says the management team crafted the new hangout to be just that: a place to hang out. The company website says it all: “Welcome to your new living room.”
Division Brewing
506 E. Main St.
Patrons can stop by the family-and-pet-friendly Division Brewing for craft beer, board games, music and shopping.
The open-concept brewery also has an outdoor back patio for live music that connects to a music and comic book store. “It’s called Growl,” Stephens says. “And they have, like, a music curator that works there.”
Cave’s Lounge
900 W. Division St.
Division Street has a reputation for sporting some of the area’s more iconic car lots and dive bars, and among its offerings is the popular Cave’s Lounge, whose artsy exterior is somewhat of a landmark among millennials.
“There’s karaoke at night that a lot of people go to,” Stephens says. “And, then, they also do alternative music.”
“You can order pizza delivered to the bar,” she continues. “And they play cartoons and ‘B’ movies while you’re in the bar.”
Loving Hut
4519 Matlock Road
For those interested in plant-based fare, this restaurant offers gourmet food made with wholesome, vegan ingredients and “was created with a vision that all beings could live in peace, love and harmony with each other and the planet,” according to its website.
New Main Brewing Co.
3533 Marathon St., Pantego
This pet-friendly former gym offers ample space and crafted brews. To save on startup expenses, the owners rolled in some industrial spools, which serve as game tables with plenty of space for beer as well. The company is committed to serving the finest craft beverages available, tapping (as it were) the hard work of brewing brothers and sisters across the state. The brewery is in the process of gathering and assembling its own brewing equipment to begin brewing its own additions to the rich landscape of Texas craft beer.
New Main, which had its soft opening a few months ago, has already attracted a food truck, and the brewery’s owners hope to eventually host a community garden as well.
Legal Draft Beer Company
500 E. Division St.
Former trial lawyer Greg McCarthy joined forces with Curt Taylor and then hired German-trained brewmeister Henrik Orlyk to craft brews like Presumed Innocent, Chief Justice Stout and the popular Legal Blonde.
The pet-friendly venue, which offers both indoor and outdoor seating, is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays noon-6 p.m.
“It’s really affordable,” Stephens says. “It’s got a really big area to hang out, and it also has live music.”
Dirty Job Brewing
117 North Main St., Mansfield
Craft beer maker Derek Hubenak began his beer career as a volunteer at Rahr & Son’s Brewing Company in Fort Worth in the early 2000s. After lots of learning, he realized, “It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to brew it.”
His team members knew they wanted to get in on the booming craft beer scene. They also knew they wanted to explore the craft beer frontier in Mansfield. So they did.
“They’ve been open about a year now in downtown Mansfield,” says Theresa Cohagen, director of the Mansfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Mellow Mushroom
200 N. Center St., Arlington • 101 S. Main St., Mansfield
Located in the downtown sections of Arlington and Mansfield, Mellow Mushroom offers wholesome foods and a casual environment with quirky, offbeat art. Along with pizza and drinks, subs and calzones are also served at both locations.
Truth Vinyl
300 E. Abram St., Suite 190
For music lovers, Stephens says Truth Vinyl is an ideal place to visit – and then to stay a while.
“It’s new to the [downtown] area,” she says. “It’s even walkable from UTA, and they have live performances, as well.” Translation: Truth Vinyl has a market, and it knows how to deliver to it.
Orchid City Fusion
2135 S.E. Pkwy., Suite 101
Located next to Tarrant County College’s Southeast Campus, Orchid City Fusion is a popular place to hang out and grab a bite to eat, Stephens says. “It’s got typical Asian dishes but they’re mixed with traditional foods,” she says. “It’s really good.”
Vietalia
1220 S. Cooper St.
According to this restaurant’s webpage, the “rare combination of American favorites, savory Italian dishes, and authentic Vietnamese cuisines is as diverse as the community Vietalia Kitchen so proudly serves.”
Hamburgers, pho and tiramisu are among this restaurant’s eclectic fare.
Twisted Root Burger Company
310 E. Abram St., Suite 100, Arlington
109 South Main St., Mansfield
This build-your-own-burger joint initially laid roots in Dallas’ Deep Ellum before expanding across North Texas and elsewhere. Twisted Root pairs a relaxed, come-as-you-are environment with its half-pound burgers.
Yes, we said, “half-pound burgers.”
Steven’s Garden and Grill
223 Depot St., Mansfield
Steven’s, which has been in Mansfield for a while, has a popular following and connects to a trail, Cohagen says.
“It has a really big outdoor area,” she notes. “And their stage is outside.”
Mansfield has been doing some rebranding, Cohagen says, and its downtown is experiencing revitalization. “We are growing by leaps and bounds,” she says, adding that the same is true for Arlington.
By now, though, you probably figured that out. Now you just have to figure out which of the new and tried-and-true “way cool” haunts you want to visit this week.
