Chelsea Corner opened in 1974, proving a popular haunt for many Dallasites. Over the decades, it changed hands, names and concepts, with the most recent iteration being Corner Bar before it closed in 2015. Now, a crack team of hospitality veterans has revived the old neighborhood watering hole, and after a ground-up renovation, Chelsea Corner is back and ready for its unveiling.
Len Critcher, owner of Inwood Tavern, alongside long time friend and Dallas investor Chris Camillo used to work at Chelsea Corner during their college days at SMU in ‘90s. So when the opportunity to renew the space presented itself, they jumped on it, restoring the building and the name. Critcher quickly approached friend Tracy Rathbun (Shinsei) and her husband, the Chef with No Name (first name rhymes with Rent), and the team created an authentic neighborhood restaurant and bar—one that keeps things casual while providing the food, drinks and service that discerning diners have come to expect.
This mysterious unnamed chef has created a fresh, approachable menu comprised of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and salads, with chef-driven upgrades on familiar favorites. The bar features 16 beers on tap, local craft beers, 40 different bottled beers and a great wine list, plus several specialty cocktails and a large selection of scotch and American whiskeys.
The 4,500 square foot space can host 180 people for seated dinners, with plenty more room at the bar. There’s a game room, just like at the original, and large garage doors that open to the climate-controlled patio. Wednesday through Saturday nights, rotating DJs will take over at 10pm with a sound system that rivals New York City night clubs. And if there’s a game on, just look toward one of the 15 HDTVs that pepper the interior.
The large venue includes multiple spaces that can be reserved for private events, making Chelsea Corner an ideal spot for Super Bowl parties, showers, corporate functions, birthdays and dinner parties. And the TVs and sound system are at guests’ disposal to ensure their audio/visual needs are covered.
Chelsea Corner is open now at 4830 McKinney Ave in Dallas, TX. Doors open at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday. The kitchen closes at 10 p.m., but the bar will stay open to serve the neighborhood until 2 a.m. each night.
