Overnight, the Former Chumley's in Deep Ellum Became an Open-Air Venue

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Jan. 25 2012 at 8:08 AM

Categories: News, Photos Worth Sharing

Photos by Justin Terveen

The sign still says "Articles," but I'll always remember the three-story storefront on Elm and Good-Latimer as Chumley's, located at the acoustic end of Deep Ellum on the heels of Charles Francis "Chumley" Hawkins's late, great Dave's Art Pawn Shop. Everyone played there, from Aimee Mann to Cafe Noir, Lisa Loeb to Rhett Miller, all on their way up. Before that, long ago, that spot had accommodated everything from a lumberyard to a loan-maker to a paint-and-paper company.

Last I looked there was talk of it becoming an ultra-lounge; that didn't pan out. Westdale's been trying to lease the valued-at-$320,000 building ever since. But now, it's sans roof: Justin Terveen was out in the deluge last night, of course, and was there when Dallas Fire-Rescue answered the call. Wrote Justin in the note that arrived in the in-box during the wee small hours of the morning: "Place is thrashed."

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I too remember Articles and the owner Chris (Jenkins, I believe?). Nice place, nice guy.
You might be old if you can't Google http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_B._Dickman
Uh, who's James Dickman?
So glad people had happy memories of Chumley's and Dave's Art Pawn Shop...Arts & Letters Live's Literary Cafe had its start there. I remember producing Save Dave's Grounds to try to save Dave's Art Pawn Shop...
Hear, hear! He makes downtown Dallas look as good as downtowndallas.org, if not better. He is an astonishingly gifted ambassador of our city.
The owner of the building when I went in was Newt Walker. He brought it up to code for bathrooms, fire exits/markings, etc... but at that time the building was pretty solid. Once Westdale got it they did doodly-squat and as it sat empty for so many years, it would appear, never kept an eye on it. Greedy landlords squashed Deep Ellum. Why didn't good tenants, bringing commerce and life to an area, ever get any kind of rent or tax breaks? Now look at the area, how'd that work out for the landlords and the city?
This is really too bad! Such a beautiful building! I remember it as Articles, which was my favorite furniture and gift store in Dallas. The owner, Chris, always had a great eye for color and design. Really enjoyed the patio too!!
i would like to see the follow up story :)
Very very few of those buildings are up to par. They redid that space before you moved into that spot from the other if I remember right? Or did they just face it out?
The whole Deep Ellum grid is petty lols. Wouldn't have my family live anywhere near there.
Probably worth more to Westdale as a paid parking lot. Rents aren't high enough to justify a total rebuild ala Terrelli's. Besides, the building perimeter is coincidental with the lot line - no on-site parking. That means in order to satisfy parking requirements for new construction, Westdale has to secure (from other property owners) dedicated satellite (off-site) parking. It is required parking that kills most new construction deals in Deep Ellum. Existing buildings already have secured their off-site parking by existing owners, but it is very hard to do if a building burns down to this extent. Westdale has a track record in Deep Ellum of scraping buildings just to open up more parking for other properties and uses. Jammed up period buildings add to Deep Ellum's charm, but it is parking that kills lease and occupancy deal in Deep Ellum. And that depresses the value of the real estate.
Three of four corners at this intersection have been vacant for years. Deep E has a very long way to go.
I drove past it at 815pm, just after it happened. Group of dpd officers dining at my destination weren't aware of it.
I do, loved all that Chumley did with the place. Miss hanging there and miss Chumley!
Overhead power lines are not a defining part of the urban experience.
As long as Gene Simmons is still painted on the wall....... Kidding. That's sad. I remember seeing G. Love and Special Sauce there at Chumley's and it was a very special show. Mainly because it was such a great and intimate setting for their brand of hip and chill blues. I even enjoyed Articles when they were the tenants. Sad to see it in it's current state.
Just throw a bunch of really loud obnoxious looking lights on it....purple, red, green, or blue(doesn't matter) and let's call it a day!
Go back to Plano, you tool.
Implying that Westdale is actually trying to do anything, other than let that building and the Knights of Pythias building across the street rot and crumble so they can build something else there, is laughable
I was the original owner of "Articles" and that was my sign! That seems like another lifetime but I still have great memories of that building. Chumley's was cool but a funny thing about rent, you have to keep it up, so it went by the wayside before I moved in... Dave's Art Pawn was down a few doors. Great customers/friends down in Deep Ellum then. I remember they wanted around one million for the building in mid-90s. Bldg had a flat roof, no problems back then, but they must be looked after or this can happen. Anyway, unbelievable to see these pics.
Damn, hate that. Typical of how Dallas treats its old buildings, demolition by Mother Nature. Cheaper and keep the historical folks quiet.
It didnt last long, but I do remember the Fridge.
i hate to see this. I love this building always tell my husaband that i wanted to open a bussiness in this building. Said to see this happen
Ticket reference...genius
One of the best in The Texas. Thank you Westdale. (I forgot the phone number)
One word for urban landmark lovers to ponder--"a$be$to$."
Dont look great in real life either
nevermind. just got my kids' magnifying glass out and realized it does not say "chumley's" no more.
how can I buy that sign?
This must have happened fairly early in the evening. The police and fire units were in place at 9:30 or so last night when I went by the intersection.
With solid brick walls intact that good ole building should come back better than ever.
Those powerlines really need to be buried. They always look awful in pictures.
That will make a nice prime parking lot once they tear the building down.
does anyone remember it as "The Fridge"?
Dave's was great!
If City Hall really believes in urban renewal, then they will work with the owner to preserve this great building from further destruction. Endless potential waiting for a savior. Fantastic pics.
Justin Terveen is the James Dickman of The Observer. We are lucky to have him
Hate to see the loss of a great neighborhood building.