New venue to occupy former Reata location in Sundance Square, officials say
February 23,2025
See full WFAA news article by Rachel Behrndt here.
A live music venue will soon occupy the former home of Reata, Four Day Weekend and Melt Ice Cream in Sundance Square, a spokesperson confirmed to the Dallas Business Journal.
The building, located at 310 Houston Street, is owned by Sundance Square owners Ed and Sasha Bass, WFAA previously reported. Several longtime tenants, including Reata and the comedy troupe Four Day Weekend, left the space last year after their leases were not renewed. Reata has since moved to another downtown location after its owners did not receive an offer to renew their lease from Sundance Square and management turned down their request to meet face-to-face.
“We have made the decision to search for a new home,” Micallef previously told WFAA. “A different location will not change who or what Reata is.”
The location, which is comprised of two facades, was also previously occupied by Melt Ice Cream.
The building will become a live music venue called "The Spotlight" sometime in late spring, Bryan Eppstein, a spokesperson for Sundance Square told our news partners at the Dallas Business Journal.
The venue will evoke its former occupant, the entertainment venue Caravan of Dreams.
"That's all I can say right now," Eppstein told the Dallas Business Journal.
Before Reata, 310 Houston Street was occupied by Caravan of Dreams, a performing arts center featuring a recording studio, a theater, dance studios and a rooftop garden. Caravan of Dreams also operated its own record label and released several albums. The project was financed by billionaire Ed Bass, opening in 1983 and closing in 2001.
This month, Sundance Square has been promoting events in the space produced by "Caravan of Dreams," according to the Dallas Business Journal. Sundance Square also houses a gallery named after Caravan of Dreams at 501 Houston St.
The venue hosted many live acts in the nearly two decades it was open, particularly jazz performers.
The Basses created the 35 blocks of Sundance Square decades ago and Ed and Sasha Bass still own the properties. Several restaurants and retailers have left the district over the past several years but it's unclear exactly what percentage of the downtown district is vacant.
Locations Mentioned: Caravan of Dreams Gallery, Reata Restaurant, The Spotlight, Sundance Square Plaza