Vintage building in Deep Ellum to house retro-bar

  • 2019-12-23
The historic former gas station located at 3400 Commerce Street, will house a new business opened by already successful entrepreneur.

Kim Finch has already found success with Double Wide, an informal and fun trailer park “watering hole”, which she opened in 2003. That establishment’s success was followed by a small version of Double Wide, appropriately named Single Wide, also doing well. Her newest venture, a full-service bar, is to be called Thunderbird.

For decades, the site, located on Deep Ellum’s eastern edge next to Exposition Park, was home to Riegel’s Gulf Service, owned and operated by Maynard Riegel who passed away in 2016. Next Sam Wynne and partners came into possession of the gas station and opened Bowls & Tacos, which closed earlier this year.

In a press release, Finch explained that she and manager Joel Stephenson will honor the building’s historic architecture while also honoring its longtime owner with a gas station décor and ambiance.

After consulting with their local Print shops, food and drink establishments often carry their motif over into their Menus.

In a statement, Finch said Thunderbird goal was as follows:

"We're focused on the kind of service people offered back in the days of fill-station attendants and soda jerks who always remember your name."

The release said further that the two, Finch and Stephenson, are presently renovating the property and anticipate Thunderbird opening in Spring 2020.

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