BUSINESS BUZZ

The lowdown on what’s up with neighborhood businesses

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Lakewood mom launches Yard Candy

Lakewood resident Juli Perez and her sister, Park Cities resident Robyn Carter, have launched Yard Candy, a company that rents celebratory yard signs. After perusing the limited options for birthday and baby announcement yard signs for their own families, Perez and Carter figured they could do better. Out of a garage in the Park Cities, the sisters drew a cupcake on some lumber they had purchased along with a new saw, painted their creation and began renting it out for birthdays. This birthday cupcake, with a customizable nameplate, is still one of their most popular signs. The ladies now offer glitter firetrucks, new baby crowns, and even a giant AARP letter for milestone birthdays. The signs are available for rent by the day. They recently added painted party tables and chairs with change-out centerpieces to their collection.

Good 2 Go Taco owners to open new American concept on McKinney

Seems like just yesterday Colleen O’Hare and Jeana Johnson were slinging tacos out of the back of an Old Lake Highlands gas station. Sure, it was a contemporary, organic-y, biodiesel gas station, but, still, a gas station. A year or so later, after enjoying much good pub from many a media outlet, they opened up their own Good 2 Go Taco shop on Peavy (lo and behold, a handful of trendy eateries are following suit). Now, O’Hare and Johnson will partner with Barcadia and The Beauty Bar owners Brooke Humphries and Brianna Larson to debut Acme F&B, an upscale restaurant-bar at 4900 McKinney Avenue, slated to open this spring. “We’ll be doing honest, straightforward food — familiar and comfortable but with an unexpected twist that draws from our experience working in some of Dallas’ finer kitchens,” Johnson says. They’ve dubbed their concept “come-as-you-are fine dining” with white-tablecloth food but an atmosphere that’s relaxed and casual — a place where you

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can drop in after shopping without having to run home and change first. “We’re going to cook dinner the way we would at home — where we grab a baguette and pâté and a bottle of wine,” O’Hare says. “It’s about the five senses, the enjoyment of cooking, eating, of sitting down and sharing a meal and enjoying someone’s company.” Humphries and Larson will manage the bar, whose drink menu will include “hand-crafted cocktails and an extensive craft beer and wine list.”

Bicycle Café now open

The long-awaited Bicycle Cafe at Northwest and Lawther is now open. Open Tuesday–Thursday, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 6-midnight; and Sunday, 6 a.m.–10 p.m. This café offers healthy food, coffee, beer and wine. Plus, they provide locker rooms for cyclists. Of course, you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy this place.

Canal Clothing opens in former Lakewood Lighting space

Canal Clothing, formerly the staple dress and accessory shop at Salons in the Park at Skillman and Northwest Highway, has moved to Hillside Village at Abrams and Mockingbird. The independently owned boutique is temporarily located next to Romano’s Bakery, but is remodeling a larger space just to the right of Stein Mart, and, perhaps not coincidentally, next to the Salons at Hillside. Canal Clothing also holds complimentary fashion seminars in the store.

Taco Joint to open in former Sol’s space

Taco Joint will open soon in the former Sol’s spot at Mockingbird and Abrams. This will be the second location for the restaurant that serves up cheap and tasty tacos, plus migas, potatoes, burritos and such. Taco Joint will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus beer and margaritas, seven days a week.

Yard Candy Signs 214.405.6541

YARDCANDYSIGNS.COM

Good 2 Go Tacos 1146 PEAVY 214.519.9110

GOOD2GOTACO.COM

Bicycle Café 7510E.NORTHWEST DALLASBICYCLECAFE.COM

Canal Clothing 6465E.MOCKINGBIRD 214.343.6177

Taco Joint THETACOJOINT.COM

Sweet Tomatoes 5500GREENVILLE SOUPLANTATION.COM

The Hive Salon 6458E.MOCKINGBIRD 214.823.8500

Alligator Café EATGATOR.COM

The all-you-can-eat soup-and-salad restaurant Sweet Tomatoes is scheduled to open this month in the former Two Rows space in Old Town, sharing the building with Another Broken Egg. The Hive Salon recently opened next to Albertsons at Mockingbird and Abrams. Husband-and-wife owners Tracy and Jennifer Weller have more than 25 years of experience with hair color. Horne & Dekker restaurant on Henderson (next door to Veritas) has closed. Walmart will open in the former Whole Foods space on Lower Greenville. Alligator Café has closed its location on Live Oak and is currently preparing its new location in the former Franki’s Lil Europe space in Casa Linda Plaza.

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931, lakehillprep.org

OBSERVATION

March 21 & 22 and April 18 & 19

Highlander School 9120 Plano Road, Dallas, TX 75238 214-348-3220 www.highlanderschool.com

Since 1966 The Tradition Continues…

1902 Abrams Pkwy., Dallas / 214.821.2066 / schoolofcbd.com

SCOFIELD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

3K through Grade 6 / 214.349.6843 / scofieldchristian.org

SPANISH HOUSE

5740 Prospect Ave. Dallas / 214.826.4410 / DallasSpanishHouse.com